Alt-Rockers Fightstar To Play Wembley Arena

by | Nov 6, 2023

Fightstar became one of the biggest cult sensations in the UK’s early 2000s alt-rock scene with a Top 10 breakthrough hit (Paint Your Target), two Top 20 albums (Be Human and Behind The Devil’s Back) and two Kerrang! Award nominations (for Best British Band and Best British Newcomer). Although they haven’t played since 2015, there has always been a devoted fanbase clamouring for their return. Now those calls have been answered with the news that Fightstar will play their biggest ever headline show – and their first gig in over eight years – at Wembley Arena on March 22nd.

Fightstar

Fightstar (Chazz Adnitt)
Fightstar (Chazz Adnitt)

Fightstar still consists of its original line-up – Charlie Simpson (vocals/guitar), Alex Westaway (guitar), Dan Haigh (bass) and Omar Abidi (drums) – who formed the band to explore their shared passion for influences such as Deftones, Taking Back Sunday, Silverchair and Mono.

Charlie Simpson says, “Next year marks 20 years since Fightstar played our first show in a tiny night club in Northampton, mainly in front of friends and family. To be sat here today about to play our biggest ever headline show at London’s legendary Wembley Arena is something that is hard for us to comprehend. We are so thankful to all our fans who have been so loyal to us and we can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with them. This will be a very special night for all of us.”

Fightstar debuted in 2005 with the EP They Liked You Better When You Were Dead, which they followed with four albums: Grand Unification (2006), One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours (2007), Be Human (2009) and Behind The Devil’s Back (2015). Tracks such as Palahniuk’s Laughter, Paint Your Target, Overdrive and The English Way attracted a die-hard following, leading to headline shows including the Brixton AcademyThe Troxy and the Kentish Town Forum, as well as festivals such as Download, Reading and Leeds.

Since they were last together in 2015, Charlie Simpson has returned to fill arenas with Busted, continued a successful solo career and won The Masked SingerAlex Westaway and Dan Haigh have released two further albums with their band Gunship, who have collaborated with everyone from John Carpenter to Dave Lombardo, while Omar Abidi has established a successful career as a sound engineer for a variety of major events, featured in Guy Ritchie’s version of Aladdin and drummed in a viral Argos advert campaign.

Tickets for the show will go on sale HERE from 9AM GMT this Friday, 10th November and will be joined by special guests Twin Atlantic and Loathe.

Busted Still Bouncing In The Year 2023

Mumford & Sons @ The O2 (Kalpesh Patel)

Mumford & Sons Return Home Renewed And Reignited At The O2 Arena

Mumford & Sons often still conjure images of waistcoats, banjos and the folk revival that erupted in 2009, but...
Albums of the Year 2025

Albums Of The Year 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, it’s impossible not to marvel at just how rich, varied and boundary-pushing this year has...
The Last Dinner Party @ O2 Academy Brixton (Neil Lupin)

The Last Dinner Party: Brixton Triumph Caps A Meteoric Rise

The Last Dinner Party close out 2025 on a remarkable high, returning to London for a two-night stand at O2 Academy Brixton that feels less like the end of a tour and more like the coronation of Britain’s most talked-about new band. Photos from the first night on 7th December — captured by photographer Neil Lupin — show a group not merely riding a wave of hype, but commanding it.

Silica Gel (Press)

Silica Gel Return With Expansive New Single ‘BIG VOID’ As Their Global Ascent Accelerates

Korean alternative innovators Silica Gel have released their new single BIG VOID, marking another major milestone in...
D:Ream (Press)

D:Ream Announce First London Headline Show in 15 Years Plus Leeds Date for May 2026

‘90s dance icons D:Ream are set to return to the stage next spring, announcing two headline shows in London and Leeds for May 2026. The news follows the release of their acclaimed 2025 comeback album Do It Anyway, which marked a powerful creative resurgence for the duo of Peter Cunnah and Al Mackenzie.

The Last Dinner Party @ O2 Academy Brixton (Kalpesh Patel)

The Last Dinner Party Turn O2 Academy Brixton Into A Cathedral Of Chaos And Harmony

It’s a homecoming tonight. The Last Dinner Party step onto the stage at O2 Academy Brixton for the first of two...
Teenage Cancer Trust 2026 - Lineup Poster

Teenage Cancer Trust Returns To The Royal Albert Hall In 2026 With Robert Smith–Curated Line-Up

Teenage Cancer Trust’s historic annual concert series returns to the Royal Albert Hall from 23rd–29th March 2026,...
Sabaton @ The O2 (Catherine Beltramini)

Sabaton Ignite The Stage With An Historic, Explosive Spectacle At The O2 Arena

Few bands embrace spectacle with the conviction and ambition of Sabaton, and their latest live performance proves once again that the Swedish power-metal titans have elevated historical storytelling into an art form all its own. Renowned for transforming pivotal wartime chapters into thunderous anthems, the band delivered a concert that felt more like an epic saga brought to life, complete with firepower, orchestral majesty, and immersive theatre.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing