It’s hard to believe, but two decades have passed since The Subways exploded onto the scene — progressing from tearing up tiny clubs to commanding some of the world’s largest stages. Their debut album, Young for Eternity, launched a journey that has taken them across the UK, Europe and beyond, building a reputation for raw energy and unforgettable live performances.
To mark this anniversary, the band is releasing When I’m With You (grab your copy HERE)— a setlist-shaped celebration of their two-decade evolution, charting every riff, roar and raw nerve that has defined their career so far.
Alongside selections from their entire discography — including their most recent studio album, Uncertain Joys — the release features two brand-new tracks: “I Need to Feel You Closer” and “Passenger’s Side.” Both were recorded with drummer Camille Phillips, who officially joined the band in 2023. These additions offer an exciting preview of the group’s present-day energy, affirming that, even after twenty years on this wild ride, The Subways remain as creatively driven as ever.
A standout moment in The Subways’ career came with the massive success of “Rock & Roll Queen,” a track that became an anthem of the mid-2000s indie rock scene. Its infectious energy propelled it onto TV adverts, major video games like Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, and radio playlists, cementing the band’s place in the wider cultural landscape.
Known for their electrifying live shows, The Subways have graced some of the UK’s most prestigious stages, including multiple appearances at Glastonbury Festival. Over the years, they’ve toured relentlessly, supporting heavyweights like Oasis, Foo Fighters, and AC/DC, as well as sharing headline bills with contemporaries such as Ash, The Libertines and Arctic Monkeys. Their sound has also been shaped by collaborations with iconic producers, including Ian Broudie (The Coral), Stephen Street (The Smiths, Blur), and Butch Vig (Nirvana, L7, Smashing Pumpkins), who have helped capture the raw power and edge that define the band.
To celebrate the album’s release tomorrow, 17 October, CinemaChords’ Howard Gorman sat down with frontman Billy Lunn to reflect on the past two decades and discuss how the band has kept its fire burning — whether powering through writer’s block or locking in with Phillips, who Lunn says keeps him on his toes, surprising him in the best possible ways. Evidently as passionate about the early material as the new songs, it is clear The Subways are far from ready to slow down — and few would argue with that.
