London
11 July 2025
It’s Friday night in London, and it’s hot as BALLS. Yeah, I know there are lots of places that get hotter, but as an Englishman I am the result of a process of evolution making me best suited to deal with drizzle and drizzle only. And it’s even hotter inside the New Cross Inn, which is full of people who are ready to rock and roll.
Think Pink Fairies, or The MC5 (indeed, we get a rousing cover of their “The American Ruse”, preceded by a righteous rant about the importance of Europe fighting against the fascism that is already consuming America). Indeed, a quick Google later informs me that Johnny Walker, formerly of Soledad Brothers, also played with DKT-MC5, which tracks. They’re really good, and get things really moving even among this sea of sluggish overheated Brits (did I mention it was quite warm?).
Hot as we are, though, nobody can be hotter than Guitar Wolf. And I mean that in a literal sense. Clad in his trademark black leather, he takes the stage to begin his traditional pre-gig ritual of chugging an entire beer in one, and of all the times I’ve seen them, this is the time I think he’s probably needed it most. I mean, I know it gets hotter in Japan, but they have, like, air-conditioning and stuff.
I must confess I’m a few albums behind, so I don’t recognise a fair bit of the set, but it’s all fucking great. And the mid-set triptych of “UFO Romantics”, “Jet Generation” and “Summertime Blues” kicks, not to put too fine a point on it, motherfuckin’ ass. We get the first proper crowdsurfing I’ve seen in YEARS (most venues in this Godforsaken country having made it illegal) and not only from the band. Bass Wolf and Drum Wolf may have changed over the years, but Guitar Wolf himself is the exact same guy I first saw some twenty years ago. The crowd, however, is wonderfully mixed. There are the middle-aged like me, and there’s the somewhat taken-aback kid he gets on stage to play guitar, and pretty much everything in between. (Also a very nice crowd too, I see a guy with a Neubauten tattoo, point out mine to him, he cheers and gives me a hug).I think the reason it works, always has worked, and just keeps working is that Guitar Wolf, like Motörhead, don’t fuck with the formula. And, like Motörhead, they take rock’n’roll, strip it back to its basics, and do it faster, louder and, most importantly, COOLER than anyone else. And somehow end up in a totally different place than Motörhead did, but one equally as pure and authentic that hits the same buttons. And it’s fucking gold. (As Dave says, “it’s like seeing Motörhead in a tiny pub”).
Absolutely phenomenal. They always are, but somehow it always comes as a surprise just how good they are. And, most importantly, just how FUN they are. Only Shonen Knife (who do pretty much the same trick but with a dash more Ramones, anime and animals) do gigs quite this joyful. Brilliant. Not an unsmiling face in the house.Now, lads, about that Wild Zero sequel?
-Words: Justin Farrington-
-Pictures: Dave Pettit-
