Twenty years ago, The Subways burst onto the UK indie scene with “Young for Eternity“, a riotous debut that sounded like it was made for sticky pub floors, festival mosh pits, and the front row of teenage rebellion. Now, two decades on, the Hertfordshire trio – fronted by Billy Lunn, bassist Charlotte Cooper, and now drummer Camille Phillips – are revisiting their roots with renewed fire.
The band commemorates the album’s anniversary by releasing a re-recorded version of their seminal hit “Rock & Roll Queen”. It’s a revitalized anthem that shows how far The Subways have come, and how fiercely they’ve held onto the energy that made them stars in the first place.
“It was punk, it was pop, it was everything we loved about music”, says Billy, reflecting on the original track’s explosive debut in 2005.
A Rock Resurrection
The new “Rock & Roll Queen” is a battle cry. Re-forged in the studio, the track now packs a modern punch with thunderous breakdowns and a sharpened vocal edge. But its signature earworm chorus and driving guitar hooks remain intact – proof that some songs are timeless, especially when delivered with fresh venom.
The video, released alongside the track, is a love letter to the band’s enduring live presence. Featuring footage from their storming sets at Deichbrand, Open Flair, and Germany’s legendary Rockpalast, it also includes behind-the-scenes energy from a shoot at Manchester’s Gorilla club. It’s a tribute to the power of live music – and the bond between band and fans that keeps The Subways charging forward.
While the past is being honored, the future is calling. On October 17, The Subways will release “When I’m With You“, a 24-track collection chronicling their journey from teenage chaos to seasoned stage veterans. It opens with debut single “Oh Yeah”, revisits early favorites like “With You” and “Mary”, and weaves in more recent highlights from “Uncertain Joys“, such as “You Kill My Cool”.
Two brand-new tracks – “I Need To Feel You Closer” and “Passenger’s Side” – signal that this isn’t a farewell, but a reaffirmation. They also mark the first album appearance of Camille Phillips, who joined the band in 2023, bringing a tighter, more powerful rhythm section to the fold.
“I always think of ‘Rock & Roll Queen’ as the song that’s taken us around the world,”, says Charlotte. “We’ll always be grateful for that.”
The compilation will be released on deluxe CD, digital formats, and collector’s vinyl editions, including a white-and-black marbled set with signed inserts. Pre-orders also come with early access to tickets for what might be their most ambitious tour yet.
“For Eternity” – A Tour That Spans Generations
Kicking off in November 2025, The Subways launch the “For Eternity” headline tour across the UK and Europe. With stops in Bristol, Glasgow, London, Paris, Berlin, and beyond. The Subways still want to blow the roof off every venue they touch.
“When everyone starts bouncing, dancing, and singing along… it’s impossible not to be infected by it”, says Camille of performing “Rock & Roll Queen” live.
The tour closes out in Frankfurt mid-December, promising to finish the year on a high for longtime followers and a new generation discovering the band through TikTok playlists and vinyl reissues.
“Rock & Roll Queen” has long outlived its indie club origins. It’s soundtracked a Kate Moss-fronted Rimmel campaign, lit up Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla, and earned the band slots on The OC, The Late Show with David Letterman, and beyond. The track has now passed 100 million streams and been played at nearly all of their 1,059 gigs to date.
But even with such milestones, The Subways remain one of the UK’s most down-to-earth bands – eternally grateful, fiercely independent, and still chasing the rush of the live show.
“Reaching 20 years… the true test… is the friends we’ve acquired along the way“,declares Billy. “We’d be nothing without our fans.”
Catch them this summer at Harlow’s Sunset Sessions (July 5) and Y NOT? Festival (August 1), or lock in your tickets for the For Eternity tour before they vanish into memory. For details, visit www.thesubways.net.
