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The Restarts

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London street-punk lifers going since the mid-90s — DIY squat-scene politics, breakneck tempos and a refusal to clean anything up.

The Restarts formed in London in 1995 around drummer Darragh O'Neill, bassist Kieran Plunkett, previously of Armed and Hammered, and guitarist Mik Useless, playing initially as a trio. Useless left in 2002 and was replaced by Alan Campbell, who recorded the System Error LP with the band before his commitments to the UK Subs pulled him away. Robin Licker, formerly of the Short Bus Window Lickers, joined on guitar in April 2003.

They have operated within the city's DIY punk and squat scene ever since, playing street punk and hardcore with overtly political lyrics. Their records have generally come out through small independent labels, and they have toured widely on the international DIY circuit rather than through conventional booking channels.

Touring has taken them repeatedly through Europe and the United States, sharing stages with bands including Born/Dead, Limp Wrist, The Accüsed, Strychnine, Dr. Know and Monster Squad. Members have carried the same politics into activism outside the band; guitarist Robin Licker, for instance, is a member of the campaign group Elbit Eight.

Musically the band works fast and direct: short songs, shouted group vocals and a rough production approach that has changed little across their catalogue.

The current lineup pairs Plunkett and Licker, both handling vocals alongside bass and guitar, with drummer Jeremy Hayat completing the group. An earlier drummer, Bram Provoost, held that position between 2008 and 2015.

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