One of the strengths of the famous Coachella festival, which takes place annually in Indio, California, is what we can call the eclecticism of its lineup. Of course, the band selection will always appeal more to some and less to others, but it's undeniable that, despite a generally more pop feel, it has a little bit of everything. From reggaeton to rap, from funk to folk, rock, indie, and so on.
And in this eclectic spirit, those who also had the chance to revel in the two Saturdays of the festival, the same days that Tyler, The Creator was the headliner, were fans of classic punk rock. Playing for the first time at the Festival, the legendary band from Ipswich, England, The Adicts , formed in 1975, took over the Sonora stage, a closed and dark pavilion, perfect for shows with a more "underground" vocation, so to speak. To give you an idea, it was on this same stage that we saw Amyl and The Sniffers and Viagra Boys in 2022.
Beyond the theatricality, a hallmark of the band (starting with the visual inspired by the Droogs from the film A Clockwork Orange), The Adicts delivered a precise and energetic performance of several classics accumulated over almost 50 years since the group's founding, and they seemed to be in ecstasy at the end of their second and final Coachella performance, which was the one we witnessed up close.
There was a punk mosh pit, stage diving, lots of plastic balloons raining down on the crowd, and the charismatic frontman Keith “Monkey” Warren , coming down from the stage at the end of the show to mingle with the most excited fans.
Pete Dee Davison , founder, original member and guitarist of the band, answered some questions for us exclusively. Here is our short interview:
Wikimetal: Pete, please tell us about your experience at Coachella this year.
Pete Dee Davison : We'd never played Coachella before. And it was pretty impressive. Our shows were great and the crowd was killing it! I got to see some really great bands play.
WM: You've come a long way as a band. Do you have a different approach to music and performance today compared to when the band started in the 70s?
PDD: I'm sure it's a little different because of time and progress. I still feel the same way as before. The only difference is that nowadays I can play guitar and sing much better.
WM: Where do you prefer to play: smaller clubs or large festivals? Why?
PDD: It makes no difference to me, both are equally relevant and important.
WM: How do you, as artists, balance the desire to create something you're passionate about with the need to build an audience?
PDD: Interesting question. But that's never been a problem or on our agenda. We just do what comes naturally and go from there.
WM: Are there any Brazilian songs or artists that you admire or are familiar with?
PDD: My good friend Supla is from Brazil and keeps me updated on the Brazilian rock scene. Great music and culture. We love it!
WM: What's on your creative agenda for the near future? What kind of topics or projects do you plan to tackle?
PDD: Currently I'm full of opinions about politics, so I should stay away from that for a while. It's an ugly area… I'm more concerned about the health of the planet. So I'll do my part to try to help… who knows, maybe I'll invent a cure for stupidity… haha
WM: Any plans to tour South America? Brazil?
PDD: We've already been asked to come back, and it's a possibility. We'd love to…
