Ever Heard Of Blackpool?

Yo! Any of you Punkers ever heard of Blackpool? Well, if you happen to watch trash TV like RTL II or other similar crap you’ll probably know it as the beachfront city on the Northwest coast of England where young idiots celebrate embarrassing bachelor and hen parties, people laying drunk in the streets in their own puke, drugs and rapists, whatever ... Bullshit! Yeah, this town has a somewhat negative party image, but it’s really an excellent, very clean, and friendly seaside getaway to partake in the most famous and important punk event in the world ... The Rebellion Festival.

Never heard about that one either? WTF? The Rebellion Festival is the world’s best DIY Punk festival, the Mecca for real punk rockers of every type, and a „must“ at least one time in your life to fulfill your Master’s Degree in the punkrock life you’ve chosen. I’ve made it 5 times now, and there’s no end in sight for me. 2016 will see the 20th anniversary of this event, coinciding with the 40th year of Punk music, so imagine what that line-up will look like. It all started back in 1996 as the now infamous Holidays In The Sun Festival. First in Blackpool, moved to Morecambe Bay, and then back and forth, also being presented in many other countries, and also under the name of „Wasted“. In 2007 after a positive change of the concept to prevent it from becoming a „retro“ festival, it became „Rebellion“, and opened it’s doors to every genre of punk, old and new, alternative and hardcore, political or fun. Organizers Darren & Jennie Russell-Smith have kept this a DIY event and their team of „Family“ consists mostly of punkrock (famous) musicians and friends running everything from booking, stages, PR and organization. Awesome!

Showing up at the Winter Gardens in the middle of Blackpool’s pedestrian and shopping zone is always a special feeling. Punks lining the streets, familiar faces from all over, untouchable punk legends drinking and talking with the normal concert-goers waiting outside. One huge historical building built in 1878, complete with 6 stages that will host over 250 international bands and performers in the next 4 days. Bars, cafes, restaurants, merch stands, art exhibitions, literary stage, and a cinema showing classic punk films and documentaries. And all under one big roof, so leave your umbrellas and festival mud boots at home.

Thursday. Arrival, and after checking into my small hotel room across the street, it was right into the venue to see where I would begin. Not an easy choice, like a kid in a candy store. Today, only about 70 bands playing in the next 12 hours ... geez! I started right at the main stage, the Empress Ballroom, built in 1896, and that’s how it still looks today ... amazing with chandeliers and loges. EVIL BLIZZARD was just finishing, and then my Berlin buddies TOXPACK took over from there. Decided to stay put there and watch SICK OF IT ALL blow all the older punks minds with their N.Y. Hardcore. Many musicians that had never seen them before later told me how „bloody fookin’ great!“ they were. Agreed! Watched THE BUSINESS, then ran quickly to the smaller Arena Stage to catch LOADED 44 with sexy Beki. Dude! They rip. Went back to the Empress for TV Smith, who played the first Rebellion here, and probably everyone since then. Hung for some Neville Staple, the ex-frontman from THE SPECIALS turns the place into a skankster’s ballroom. CHOKING SUSAN and DRONGOS FOR EUROPE played same time at two different venues, so I did half/half. Last show for me since I was dragging from flying and training it from Berlin right after a night shift, was ANTI-FLAG, and they were super. Normally, I’m not the biggest fan, but tonight they convinced me. I’m off to bed to charge my batteries for the next three days.

Friday. Wow! It worked. Up at 7am, walked down to the beach and picked up a tasty Costa Coffee on the way. Back at the Winter Gardens for IN EVIL HOUR, DIRT BOX DISCO, GIMP FIST, and FUNERAL DRESS. Next show in the Empress, a must. Not only because it was PETER AND THE TEST TUBE BABIES, but because my great pal Beano, who is also stage manager there, jumped in to replace their drummer who injured his foot. Never before played with them, one 15 minute practice before the show, and pages of notes on the ground ... and he pulled it off! My hero! Saw THE DERITA SISTERS’ probably last show ever in the Arena, saw the CYANIDE PILLS (finally!), SUBHUMANS, RUTS DC, and then took a beer break for the coming onslaught. Yes, check this out: UK SUBS, THE DAMNED, and SHAM 69 one right after another. Am I dreaming? Nope. Just at the Rebellion. Finished that off with LAST RESORT and KNUCKLEDUST, THE RESTARTS, and GANG OF FOUR. That’s it! The rest of the „morning“ belongs to the bar and a few ciders with the Berlin gang.

Saturday. Should I just list the bands I saw? Unbelievable. Of course I’m trying to see more than most because I’m also taking photos. LOUISE DISTRAS BAND (yup, with band), GOLDBLADE, BAR STOOL PREACHERS, 999, ARGY BARGY, RAZORS, CRASHED OUT, and THE BOYS, just to name a few. The next must, Berlin’s CHURCH OF CONFIDENCE in The Pavilion, regulars here, and well visited. Then THE ADICTS and THE LURKERS before my liquid nutrition break. I missed Hugh Cornwell, and wished I had missed THE BOOMTOWN RATS. Never liked them, and know I’ve confirmed that. Band is great, „Sir“ Bob is a ... never mind. Thankfully, THE BUZZCOCKS came on after, the worthy headliners, and they saved the night with their brilliant show, true legends! Wait, still saw FRANTIC FLINTSTONES, CHELSEA, and ended it at 2:30 am back in the Casbah stage with MDC. No external bar shows for me now, just brewskies in a hotel bar with 20 famous punks until 6:00 am ... lights out!

Sunday. Missed church. Again! Nice noon wake-up and perfect to start in the Almost Acoustic bar to Deia Russell-Smith and then Jennie’s band THE CROWS. It quickly got harder though with VICE SQUAD, MAID OF ACE, and THE AVENGERS. Are all front-men still sleeping, or what? Waking to women is cool though. SICK ON THE BUS in the Casbah. Definitely hangover material. Then GLITTERTRASH from Detroit. The eye opener for all. I’m now awake! Back to the Empress to see O.C. locals IGNITE wake the rest. Next, SNUFF, with the drummer from THE TOY DOLLS, another first for me. Off to the Pavilion for some great Irish punk from Canada’s THE MAHONES, and then to the next show where I thought, „you gotta be kidding?“ THE SWEET? But, the longer I stayed, the more embarrassed I internally became because I realized I could sing almost all of their songs. „That’s from them too?“ Shit! What a great band. The end is near. THE MEMBRANES, THE CREEPSHOW, THE PARTISANS, and finally LESS THAN JAKE were the final blow for me. I came, I saw, and I got my assed kicked again with a punkrock overdose. And I only saw about 1/3 of what was offered. Heaven!

Always a treat, like a big family gathering. Thanks to all involved, especially Jennie & Darren, Dod, Andy, Dave, Fishbone, Beano, ALL bands, and the entire team. Stay DIY, stay punk. C-ya next year ... 20 and 40 years! Let’s see what ya got!

rebellionfestivals.com