UK Subs detained and denied entry into the United States
Members of the legendary punk rock outfit UK Subs have been denied entry into the United States, where the band was due to play a series of live shows. While vocalist Charlie Harper was permitted entry, allowing the band to play their scheduled show in Los Angeles with a line-up of stand-in musicians, the remainder of the band were deported back to the UK.
Yesterday, the band’s bassist, Alvin Gibbs, revealed the details of the band’s deportation and gave his recollection of the events that took place when the punk band landed at LAX Airport. “There were two reasons given: first, they claimed I did not have the correct visa for entry; second, there was another unspecified issue that they refused to disclose,” he shared.
UK Subs, as a pioneering punk and hardcore outfit, have never been afraid to make political comments in their music or during their live performances. On multiple occasions, the band have crticised the actions of current US President Donald Trump.
“I can’t help but wonder whether my frequent, and less than flattering, public comments regarding their president and his administration played a role,” Gibbs questions, “Or perhaps I’m simply succumbing to paranoia.”
“Two police officers escorted me to another section of LAX, where I found Stefan [Häublein] and Marc [Carrey] already detained in a cold holding pen, along with a group of Colombian, Chinese, and Mexican detainees,” the bassist shared, via Dorset Eye. “My luggage, phone, and passport were confiscated.”
This ordeal extended for 25 hours, according to the musician, before the band members were separately deported back to the UK, seemingly without much explanation as to why they had been denied entry. “By the time we were escorted onto the flight at 8pm the next day, I had gone without sleep for well over a day, surviving only on a pot noodle and a couple of cups of tea.”
“Ultimately, while I never expected to be thrown out of America at the age of 67, I find myself somewhat proud of the fact,” the punk rocker concluded. “It seems my relationship with the country is over for the foreseeable future.” He ended this bizarre tale by sharing a classic punk track by The Clash: ‘I’m So Bored of the USA’.
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