The Subways have come a long way since setting out on their rock ‘n’ roll journey in 2005 – and they’re celebrating 20 years as a band in style.
The Welwyn Garden City trio made a sensational breakthrough with their gold-certified debut album Young For Eternity, which included their best-known song, Rock & Roll Queen.
They have also done extensive global headline tours, particularly in the UK and Germany, with a running total of 1,059 gigs across 40-plus countries – with more to come.
They have also played shows as guests to everyone from Oasis to Foo Fighters via AC/DC, and hit just about every major festival around, from Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage and main stage sets at Reading and Leeds in the UK to major international events such as Rock Am Ring/Rock Im Park, Lollapalooza and Sziget.
Now, five albums deep into their career, The Subways celebrate their 20th anniversary with When I’m With You, a selection of singles and fan favourites from their journey so far. It will be released on October 17.
They’re also looking to the future by including two brand new songs, and have announced a major UK and European headline tour, The Subways For Eternity, to commemorate the anniversary.
‘When I’m With You’ bursts into life with the band’s debut single ‘Oh Yeah’ and the running order unfolds to capture the energy and dynamism of a live set – the environment where they excel.
Every moment of their journey so far is represented, from early highlights ‘With You’, ‘I Want To Hear What You Have Got To Say’ and ‘Kalifornia’, through to mid-era fan favourites and live staples ‘We Don’t Need Money To Have A Good Time’ and ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’, and into key songs from 2023’s acclaimed ‘Uncertain Joys’, such as the title track and ‘You Kill My Cool’.
It closes with the classic ‘Rock & Roll Queen’. The track’s cultural impact was immense, taking in performing in Guy Ritchie’s ‘RocknRolla’ and the famous teen drama ‘The OC’ as well as soundtracking a major Rimmel campaign starring Kate Moss.
The twi new songs are I Need To Feel You Closer, which they debuted during last year’s live shows, and Passenger’s Side. The new songs also mark the album debut of drummer Camille Phillips, who joined founder members Billy Lunn (vocals/guitar) and Charlotte Cooper (vocals/bass) in 2023 after original drummer Josh Morgan departed for family reasons.
The collection features the band’s work with some of the most influential producers around, including Butch Vig (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Stephen Street (The Smiths, Blur) and The Lightning Seeds’ Ian Broudie (Echo & The Bunnymen, The Coral), as well as Billy Lunn.
Lunn says: “Reaching 20 years in itself is really special for us, because it means we’ve been doing what we love so deeply for such a long time. But the true test of the joy we’ve been lucky enough to experience over the last two decades is the friends we’ve acquired along the way.
“Seeing faces old and new in the crowds at the shows is everything to us. We’d be nothing without our fans, and we love that The Subways’ songs are theirs as much as ours. It is with them that we’d like to celebrate this milestone, and we can’t wait to do so properly in the chaos of the mosh pit on the upcoming tour!”
Charlotte adds: “We’ve been on this wild ride for 20 years now and I’ve so enjoyed looking back over all the things we’ve been part of. I’ve loved it all, from the small sweaty gigs to the big festival stages. Seeing the world. Creating albums I’m hugely proud of. Making lasting friendships.
“We are so excited to celebrate with the fans who have kept us going all this time. Those who have been coming to shows for years; those who are now bringing their children along! We are eternally grateful and we are the luckiest people. See you down the front!”
When I’m With You’ is available to pre-order HERE and will be released on double vinyl, CD and digital formats. Fans who pre-order the album by will receive access to a pre-sale for tour tickets, with remaining tickets going on general sale from 9am on Thursday 10 April.
‘The Subways For Eternity’ will see the band tour extensively across the UK and Europe, and includes a London show at the Electric Ballroom. Recent years have seen them continue to take their explosive shows on the road with highlights including co-headline tours with The Enemy and Ash as well as festival dates spanning Truck to Hurricane. In the meantime, they will return to the summer festival circuit for select dates including a UK show at Y Not? on August 2nd.Indie idols Wet Leg announce second album Moisturizer and live dates
