U.K. Subs Denied Entry to U.S. for Punk Festival Performance

Members of U.K. Subs faced denied entry into the U.S. for their performance at the Punk Invasion festival in Los Angeles.

Denied Entry at Customs

Members of the veteran punk band U.K. Subs found themselves in a challenging situation when they were denied entry into the United States for their show at the Punk Invasion festival in Los Angeles. The bassist, Alvin Gibbs, took to Facebook on Wednesday, March 19, to share the unfortunate news. He revealed that he, along with bandmates Stefan Häublein and Marc Carrey, was detained at customs upon their arrival in LA and subsequently deported back to the U.K.

Solo Performance by Charlie Harper

Interestingly, frontman Charlie Harper was the only band member permitted to enter the U.S. He managed to perform at the scheduled show at The Belasco, enlisting stand-in musicians to complete the lineup. This unforeseen turn of events left many fans wondering about the circumstances that led to the band's detention.

The Detainment Experience

In his detailed post, Gibbs elaborated on his experience upon landing at Los Angeles airport. He mentioned that he and his partner were flagged for two unspecified reasons. Gibbs was informed that his visa was incorrect, but authorities remained tight-lipped about the second reason for their questioning.

“I can’t help but wonder whether my frequent, and less than flattering, public comments regarding their president and his administration played a role – or perhaps I’m simply succumbing to paranoia,” stated Gibbs.

He recounted the uncomfortable experience of being escorted to another section of LAX by police officers. There, he found his bandmates already detained in a cold holding pen, alongside individuals from various backgrounds, including Colombian, Chinese, and Mexican detainees.

A Grueling Wait

Gibbs detailed how his partner endured a grueling 25-hour wait for his release from detention. “By the time we were escorted onto the flight at 8 PM 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,” he shared.

Reflecting on the incident, he expressed, “It seems my relationship with the country is over for the foreseeable future.”

Charlie Harper’s Performance Video

If you want to see Charlie Harper's performance at the LA festival, check out the video here:

Controversy Surrounding Detention

This controversial detention comes amidst reports of other individuals with public criticism of Donald Trump facing similar fates. Recently, the Guardian reported that a French scientist was turned away at immigration after officials searched his phone and discovered anti-Trump messages. The White House later denied that these messages influenced his case.

Philippe Baptiste, the French minister of higher education and research, commented on the incident, saying, “This measure was apparently taken by the American authorities because the researcher’s phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration’s research policy.”

FAQs

• What happened to the U.K. Subs at customs? Members of the U.K. Subs were detained and denied entry into the U.S. upon arrival for the Punk Invasion festival.
• Who was allowed to perform at the festival? Charlie Harper, the frontman, was the only member granted entry and performed with stand-in musicians.
• Why were the band members detained? They were flagged for questioning due to issues with visas, although the specifics were not disclosed.
• How long was Alvin Gibbs detained? Gibbs was held for over a day, with his partner waiting 25 hours for his release.
• Is this the first time artists have faced similar troubles? No, reports suggest that other individuals publicly criticizing Trump have also been denied entry to the U.S.

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