The UK Subs have announced that the band’s drummer Jamie Oliver has been sacked with immediate effect following his “extremely misguided attempt at satire.”
Following a social media post by Subs drummer Jamie Oliver on Friday that ‘seemingly celebrated’ the murder of Tory MP David Amess and the subsequent backlash from fans, The UK Subs have parted ways with their drummer ‘with immediate effect’.
In a band statement on the UK Subs Fan Club Facebook page Alvin Gibbs said:
“It gives me no pleasure to announce that following his post seemingly celebrating the tragic and abhorrent death of Conservative MP David Amess, by the hands of a terrorist, Charlie Harper, Steve Straughan, and I have decided Jamie Oliver will no longer continue as drummer for the UK Subs.
“Jamie has already been informed of this and completely understands why it’s necessary. Today we discussed Jamie’s rationalisation for his post as a tasteless joke at length and jointly concluded it’s simply not viable enough an excuse for us to continue to work with him.
“It gives me no pleasure to announce that following his post seemingly celebrating the tragic and abhorrent death of Conservative MP, David Amess, by the hands of a terrorist, Charlie Harper, Steve Straughan and I have decided Jamie Oliver will no longer continue as drummer for the UK Subs. ” Alvin Gibbs, UK Subs
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“I put up a post yesterday offering what he told me was his motivation for the things he wrote, which I believe is a genuine if an extremely misguided attempt at satire, but as some of you commented thereafter, it is simply not good enough.
“Jamie has been a stalwart of the UK Subs for many years now, a major figure in the band. He is one of the finest drummers in the world, and his playing and musical input will be greatly missed.
“It’s sad that things have come to this, but we must all take responsibility for our words as well as our actions. The UK Subs will fulfil all future gig and touring commitments with a replacement drummer. “
In a post on Saturday, the UK Subs asked fans “Who’s coming” to their ‘Subs Winter Tour’, and many fans replied that in the light of Jamie’s post, they now wouldn’t.
“Been a fan of the subs since the 80s! But what your drummer posted today makes you ask yourself will you bother to go to their gigs again!” said one fan Mark Henshaw. “I ain’t a fan at all of politicians either side hate em all, but to make fun of a victim of a terrorist attack is wrong! Everyone condemned the Paris attacks, yet this attack was in the same cause! So the drummer’s comments are in the poorest tastes ever! Do I want to continue to support them is a question I have to ask myself now!”
“I agree. I’m never going to bother again,” replied another fan
“Not unless you change your drummer…… disgrace,” commented another.
However, not everyone agrees with the band’s decision to sack Jamie.
Fan Kuba Czarnecki said in his Facebook response, “Welcome to the new era of cancelling everyone! Best drummer they ever had, period, and the coolest guy ever.”
Rich Totters posted, “You dropped a massive bollock sacking Jamie.”
“This ain’t punk!” said another fan.
The onslaught of comments was such that Alvin Gibbs posted a further statement.
“OK, let me clarify a few things for you regarding my post about Jamie Oliver’s parting from the UK Subs. First off, I’m just the messenger… this does not mean it’s my responsibility to take the criticism for whatever we’ve decided to impart alone. This was a band decision based on a conversation with Jamie himself, who agreed it was the best way to go and even himself suggested not doing next weeks shows in France.
“Part of the rationale for this was that we had received solid information that Jamie was going to be targeted by certain elements who intended to do him serious harm at forthcoming gigs because of his post.
“Being in a band makes you visible, anyone can just look at your touring schedule and see where you’re playing and turn up to inflict violence on whoever, and we didn’t want that to happen to Jamie.
“We had received solid information that Jamie was going to be targeted by certain elements who intended to do him serious harm at forthcoming gigs because of his post. Being in a band makes you visible, anyone can just look at your touring schedule and see where you’re playing and turn up to inflict violence on whoever, and we didn’t want that to happen to Jamie.” Alvin Gibbs UK Subs
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“We also have a 77-year-old singer who needs to be protected, and we’re not in a financial position to hire bodyguards to care for Charlie for when these goons decide to turn up – and believe me, if Jamie was still doing shows with us, they would have and he and others could have been seriously hurt.
“Secondly, will people please stop adding comments like ‘this isn’t Punk rock’ – this is reality, not social media bullshit; and anyway, I’ll take no lectures on what Punk rock is from anyone…”
Read Alvin Gibbs’ full statement here
Punktuation has reached out to Jamie Oliver for comment and will update this news story when we receive a reply.
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I’m a London born and bred music journalist, a mediocre bass player and the occasional strummer of the guitar. In the ’80s I worked in recording studios and made a few records you’d probably recognise. I have written a couple of books and made the odd media appearance as a music commentator. I now call Brisbane home.
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