Pioneers of punk The Skids have got back together with a new album and UK tour more than 40 years after they first skated Into The Valley of the music industry.

The musicians are currently on a two-year tour having already played Blackpool’s Rebellion Punk Festival, London’s Roadhouse and the Isle of Wight Festival. They will be stopping off in Swindon on Friday, January 18, 2019 at the Meca in Regent Circus before the grand finale of the tour with The Buzzcocks in the Royal Albert Hall.

The band were formed in 1977 by Stuart Adamson who went on to have a huge success with Big Country, and Richard Jobson who became a film director. They had several top 20 hits including Into The Valley, Working For The Yankee Dollar, Masquerade.

Their current album, out now, is called Burning Cities. It was produced by Youth who worked with Verve and Primal Scream.

Richard said: “I didn’t want to be part of the nostalgia trail, so we’ve made a new record. Youth from Killing Joke got in touch and offered to produce and help to write some songs. With Burning Cities we’ve made something that’s fresh and contemporary but still reflects the band’s era.''

“I’m incredibly excited about this album. This music is at the heart of everything our band is about: Truth, revolution, loud guitars and a refusal to keep quiet as the establishment tries to smother chances for anyone other than its own.”

Richard was the archetypal angry young man at just 17-years-old when they first appeared on BBC TV’s Top of the Pops, with their song Sweet Suburbia.

The Dunfermline band echoed the ethos of the time full of brooding anthemic pop rock and causing controversy. They won the attention of John Peel in 1878 recording a session that included The Saint Are Coming, Of One Skin and Contusion.

“We were fearless in the beginning,’’ said Richard.

The new wave band influenced such rock names as Green Day, Manic Street Preachers and U2. The Edge from U2 and Green Day got together in 2006 to perform The Skids’ single The Saints Are Coming as a charity single in aid of Hurricane Katrina victims.

When they come to Swindon’s Meca, they will be supported by Charred Hearts and Slagerij. Charred Hearts are old school punk who also performed at Blackpool’s Rebellion Festival, and opened for Sham 69, The Buzzcocks, UK Subs and Anti-Nowhere League. Slagerij, formed in 2007 and have supported bands such as Dead Kennedys, Anti-Nowhere League, UK Subs, Buzzcocks and Stiff Little Fingers. Tickets are £25 in advance £30 on the door and are available from Swindon MECA, Swindon Central Library. Doors open at 7.30pm. - Flicky Harrison

Picture by Stephen Gunn Photography