Skids & Theatre of Hate will come together this Autumn for an explosive UK co-headline tour
Two era-defining artists in their own rights, for over five decades, both bands have blazed a trail for punk and post-punk.
Still firmly flying the flag in 2026, they will embark on a mammoth tour of 32 dates across 3 months in the UK. Kicking off Southampton's Engine Rooms on 20th October, the shows will see both bands digging deep into their rich catalogues as they go head to head at venues across England, Scotland and Wales. Not the first time the band’s creative minds have joined forces, the shows follow a wildly successful tour of the UK when Skids and Kirk Brandon’s other guise Spear of Destiny shared stages back in 2024 - and these shows promise to be just as unmissable as Richard Jobson of Skids says: “We’re off on tour again with one of my favourite bands again Theatre of Hate…
“I just feel that the way things and in the overall scheme of things, this is going to be a great night out. Skids. Theatre of Hate. A cracking night out. I’m really looking forward to it”.
The Skids formed in 1977 in their hometown of Dunfermline, Scotland by Richard Jobson, Stuart Adamson, Bill Simpson & Tom Kellichan. After releasing an independent single the band were played by John Peel, supported The Clash in concert and then were signed to Virgin Records in 1978.
Their first singles were “Sweet Surburbia”, “The Saints are Coming” and “Into the Valley” – the latter reaching the UK Top Ten in early 1979. Their seminal debut album “Scared to Dance” came out in 1979 which was quickly followed by two chart singles – “Masquerade” and “Working for the Yankee Dollar”. Both singles were taken from the Bill Nelson produced second album “Days in Europa”.
The album also featured new member Rusty Egan of Rich Kids & Visage fame after the departure of Tom Kellichan. The band released two more albums “The Absolute Game” (1980) and “Joy” (1981) before splitting. The current Skids line up see’s the lineup stripped back to an explosive 4 piece with Richard Jobson, Peter Byrchmore (Membranes), Hernandez (Drums) & Connor Whyte (Guitar).
In 1980, Kirk Brandon formed ‘Theatre of Hate’ from the ashes of heralded punk band The Pack. Joining Kirk on vocals were notable punk musicians Stan Stammers and Luke Rendall, along with old school friend, Steve Guthrie and Canadian born John “Boy” Lennard, who revolutionised the band’s sound with his haunting sax lines. Theatre of Hate’s debut double-A-side single, “Legion”/”Original Sin”, topped the independent chart in 1980, and “Westworld”, their debut album, produced by Mick Jones from The Clash and released in 1982, held the number one position for 21 weeks.
The single taken from the album, “Do You Believe In The West- world?” has become an anthem and is still widely played in clubs and on international radio, as well as featuring on numerous compilation albums. Theatre of Hate imploded in 1982, with Kirk taking Stan forward to form Spear Of Destiny, but the band has resurfaced over the years to play some very special shows across the UK, Europe and the USA.
Coming to a town near you, the full list of Skids and Theatre of Hate shows are as follows:
Skids & Theatre of Hate - Double Headline 2026 UK DATES:
Tuesday, 20 October Southampton Engine Rooms
Wednesday, 21 October Dover Booking Hall
Wednesday, 28 October Lewes Con Club
Thursday, 29 October Leicester The International
Friday, 30 October Dumfries The Venue
Saturday, 31 October Liverpool Hanger 34
Sunday, 1 November Lancaster Kantenna
Thursday, 5 November Galashields Macarts
Friday, 6 November Newcastle Boiler Shop
Saturday, 7 November Dunfermline Glen Pavilion
Sunday, 8 November Aberdeen Drummonds
Wednesday, 11 November Hitchin Club 85
Thursday, 12 November Gloucester Guildhall
Friday, 13 November Frome Cheese & Grain
Saturday, 14 November Totnes Civic Hall
Sunday, 15 November Newport Corn Exchange
Thursday, 19 November Sheffield Corporation
Friday, 20 November Nottingham Metronome
Saturday, 21 November Norwich Waterfront
Sunday, 22 November Southend Chinnerys
Thursday, 26 November Carlisle Old Fire Station
Friday, 27 November Manchester Academy 2
Saturday, 28 November Chester Live Rooms
Sunday, 29 November Stoke Sugarmill
Wednesday, 2 December Bedford Esquires
Thursday, 3 December Oxford Bullingdon
Friday, 4 December Birmingham Castle & Falcon
Saturday, 5 December London Dome
Sunday, 6 December Worthing Factory Live
Tuesday, 8 December Bristol Fleece
Wednesday, 9 December York Crescent
Thursday, 10 December Ayr Pavilion
Friday, 11 December Leeds Brudenell
Saturday, 12 December Huddersfield Parish
Sunday, 13 December Lincoln Drill
Catch The Skids and Theatre of Hate touring together this Autumn.
