Punk rock legends The Skids announce Sunderland gig

Punk legends The Skids have announced what is thought to be their first Sunderland performance.

The Scottish band, renowned for hits such as Into The Valley and The Saints Are Coming, are booked for an unplugged gig at The Peacock on Friday, February 12, next year.

The city centre pub and music venue, whose landlord is The Futureheads’ singer Barry Hyde, has also announced when it is to reopen later after closing in March due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Barry said: “I know the singer, Richard Jobson, because he is also a film director and he used our music in one of his films.

"He is a great bloke and we are very delighted to have such a prestigious band from the original punk scene.”

Jobson formed The Skids in 1977 and the group’s hits also include Masquerade and Working For The Yankee Dollar.

They disbanded in 1982 after co-founder Stuart Adamson left to form Big Country.

The late Adamson’s Big Country colleague Bruce Watson is now part of The Skids after the band began touring nationwide again in 2017.

The Peacock, which has also booked rhythm and blues legends Dr Feelgood to appear at its first-floor music venue, expects to reopen across the August bank holiday weekend.

Barry, who took over running the pub with Dan Donnelly last autumn, said: “We were prepared to open at the start of July but just felt it was too soon in terms of the virus being present in Sunderland.

"Now at least the figures are getting more positive and I cannot wait to reopen.”

Tickets for The Skids cost £24.75 and are available from www.seetickets.com