Septics to ’pool their resources

There has not been as much subject matter for punk-charged wordsmiths since the days of the near civil war with the 1984 miners’ strike, the period the Chesterfield group were with us first time around. With total and utter financial meltdown, a country in recession freefall and the world baying for the blood of Rupert Murdoch, it’s fair to say the outlook has never been so good for rock’n’roll-style protest. And Septic Psychos are lined up for the mother of all protest-a-thons – the four-day Rebellion Festival that takes place in Blackpool this weekend. They’ll be taking their place among old school punk rock’s glitterati – like The Damned, The Exploited, GBH, The Dickies and scores more. Thousands are set to descend Blackpool’s Winter Gardens for the annual event that seems to get bigger every year. As well as the music set across a myriad of stages there’s also an art show and literary festival. “If you told me back in 1982 we’d be playing to bigger crowds nearly three decades later I’d be thinking you’re having a laugh,” says Chiz, Septic Psychos frontman. “But it’s true. “We’ve performed everywhere from Paris to Venice in the past year and demand for our music has never been so strong.” There aren’t that many bands that get to pick things up where they left off nearly three decades on, but that’s precisely the case for these punk veterans. Momentum was gathering in a big way for the band in the early 1980s when they were picked to appear on Sheffield-based Pax Records’ compilation album Punk Dead - Nah Mate, The Smell Is Jus Summink In Yer Underpants Innit alongside the likes of Mau Maus and Anti System. “Things were just starting to happen for us 28 years ago after we appeared on the Pax compilation, but we split up. Now we are carrying on where we left off.” Chiz and his guitarist brother Mick are what remains of the original line-up and they’ve drafted in new blood in the shape of Pete on bass and Rich on drums. This weekend Septic Psychos will be airing songs from their new EP, Two Wrongs Make A Riot, out now on Dirty Old Man Records. The 2011 Rebellion Festival is also graced by one of the movement’s true originators for the first time – Glen Matlock. The original Sex Pistol took time out in 2009 to launch Take It To The Limit – the book that chronicled Sheffield’s own contribution to the movement in the shape of West Street’s Limit venue that ran from 1978 to 1991. He’ll be performing at Blackpool with his band, the Philistines. Rebellion continues at the Winter Gardens until Sunday. Tickets are £120 for the weekend. Day tickets are also available at £40 per day. The event is open to all ages. www.rebellionfestivals.com