Interviews: CHUB

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Metal/Punk band CHUB from the UK. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or did it just come out like that?

We wanted something 2 syllables max that would make people laugh. I think we sat down at the pub in Eastbourne, each with a pen and paper, and made a list of name suggestions, then read them out to each other. We really liked “CHUG”, but decided it was a bit too on the nose? So we ended up settling for CHUB (we are all thick boys after all).

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We formed as a direct result of the 2019 election. The Tories had been in power for our entire adult lives, and it really seems like the country has been getting worse and worse. We were in absolute disbelief that Boris got voted in he made a dancing clown of himself in the media for years prior and all of a sudden people thought he was fit to run the country? And the slandering that Jeremy Corbyn received from the media was enough to make us despair.

We’re big fans of modern punk’s tongue-in-cheek attitude while sticking to their morals and shedding light on important issues. So we decided to give making some music together a try for a bit of fun! None of us expected things to snowball like they have.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Yeah, we’ve all been friends for like, 15 years! Zakk and Ben have been friends since they were kids, Kyle and Zakk met in year 8 of secondary school, and Greg met the rest of us hanging out at our local park being yutes and causing trouble. We’ve been fast friends ever since, really bonding over our love of music and nerd shit.

4. Each band member’s favourite band?

Kyle: Top 3 are Mastodon, Opeth and Gojira.

Zakk: Either Airbourne or Alestorm!

Ben: Interpol still have a special place in my heart, but my favourites right now are either Killswitch Engage or Make Them Suffer.

Greg: Top 3 gotta be System of a Down, Protest the Hero, and Rage Against the Machine. Although I’ve also recently become obsessed with Closure in Moscow.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Our main topics are political and social issues. Beans is an ode to public sector workers as Ben’s mum and dad were both nurses. QUIT was inspired by a friend of ours having to cancel our first ever gig because his shit boss made him come in on the day of, threatening to fire him otherwise, and he was so hard up that he needed the job. Covid Kingpins is about the profits that massive corporations and corrupt governments made from our mutual suffering throughout the pandemic.

But we also like to touch on less serious topics, like Dungeons and Dragons, frogs, and smashing bevs with the boys. Our most recent single, Carolina Reaper, emulates the mouth-blistering experience of eating the world's hottest chilli.

6. Where was your last gig?

We went on our first-ever mini-tour last month! Four dates across the South coast, including Bristol, Bridgwater, Southampton and London. We had such a sick time seeing returning faces from our Bloodstock gig, as well as plenty of new faces that either took a chance on us or knew us from Zakk and Claire’s YouTube channel Mead and Metal! The whole experience was vlogged and is on the channel now. Can’t wait to get back on the road next year- we’ll be hitting the Midlands, North and Scotland next. Follow our socials for news on that, @chubtheband on everything 😉

7. Where would you like to play?

We’re not keen on attending as punters any more as it’s become a bit too corporate and oversold for us, but we’ve got so many fond memories at Download, it would be a lifetime achievement and an unforgettable experience.

We went to Graspop in Belgium for the first time this year and it’s definitely up there with the best festival experiences we’ve ever had, such an AMAZING weekend with an unbelievable line-up and some of the best organisation and facilities we’ve ever seen. PORCELAIN TOILETS IN THE CAMPSITE!

The coolest venue is Red Rocks over in the States, that would be a dream come true… More achievable perhaps is Brixton Academy? I think all of our first-ever gigs were there!

8. Who would you like to support?

The Chats, Idles, and Soft Play are probably our favourite bands, and they fit the style we go for! Though we’re moving towards more metal energy these days, maybe crossover thrash like Municipal Waste? That would be SUCH A SICK DAY!

9. Who not?

Uhhhh, I dunno, Madonna? In fact, that would be great fun as well… Not many dickheads in the punk and metal scenes! Besides people like Ronnie Radke and Alex Terrible, they’re not really our style either 😅

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Oh yeah, I think for our first ever gig at Blue Bar in Eastbourne Zakk and Ben were so nervous they had to do a few laps around the block to take their minds off of it! Ended up sharing a bottle of Frosty Jack’s for a bit of Dutch courage.

Our biggest gig yet was at Bloodstock, and we were all bricking it. Zakk had a bit of a headache so he asked some of our pals at camp if they had any painkillers. They asked him “how open minded are you?” and gave him some THC droplets to put on his tongue, which definitely did the trick! We had so long to prepare for it though- if you’ve practised a lot and played a bunch of gigs, you generally know how things are going to go. Believe in yourself, understand that you’ve done it before, and prepare as well as you can, so give it your very best shot! And if it’s your first few gigs, understand that people know that and aren’t going to be hyper-critical. Be kind to yourself!

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

In terms of shared loves and big influences on our sound, probably The Chats, The Offspring, Misfits, IDLES, and Bad Nerves. But we all contribute to writing, we all have our own say in what we end up doing, and we all write what we want to hear. So it’s a super eclectic mix of everyone’s tastes!

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Aw, our fans are all actually super respectful! We had Dan come all the way from Leeds to Bristol for his 33rd birthday just to see us on tour. He got so battered he missed our set, but it’s the thought that counts 😂

We’ve had people do squash bongs with us, somebody with Fibromyalgia brave the London underground just for us, and commenters from as far as Korea and Brazil showing their support. It’d be a total dream to tour internationally and meet all of these lovely people!

There was one weird Instagram account called “CHUB in strange places”. We’d only been a band for a few months during the pandemic, and this person who none of us knew started poorly photoshopping us next to the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben… Just way too keen for a band that didn’t even have any music uploaded!!!

13. What do you think of your fans?

Shit.

JUST KIDDING WE LOVE OUR CHUBBLIES ETERNALLY 💜🧡💙💚 It means the absolute world that people give this silly little band from the middle of nowhere so much love. We started this band to have fun with the boys, and we’ve forged beautiful friendships, made unforgettable memories and heard so much INCREDIBLE music over the last few years. Seriously, GO TO LOCAL SHOWS and support your local bands! There is so much talent that hasn’t had the chance to break through yet, so many kindred spirits in your community, and so many hilarious nights to share with new friends.

People are so sweet and so supportive, we’ve been welcomed with open arms everywhere we’ve gone. It’s made our outlook on lives so much more positive, finding kind hearted alternative people all over the country! Can’t wait to travel further and further.

14. What do you think of our site?

We hadn’t heard of you before but we’ve followed now! Super clean and well presented, we really love how easy it is to navigate and find new bands based on specific criteria, and the horns cursor is a nice touch 😉 Truly an honour to be represented, thanks for the opportunity!

15. Something to add?

CAROLINA REAPER is out on the 25th of October, alongside a music video where we eat the chillies and suffer through oral hell for YOUR ENTERTAINMENT! You can pre-save it here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/chub4/carolina-reaper and watch it here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNLjJq5Q1zo

We’re stepping on the gas in 2025 with tours all over the UK, festival appearances, and hoping to dip our toes into mainland Europe as well. Best way to stay up to date is to follow our social media- we’re @chubtheband on everything, and you can keep up with our backstage and daily antics on Youtube.com/meadandmetal.

Much love 💜🧡💙💚