Forty-five years on, Desperate Measures remain as combustible as ever. Presented by Vive Le Rock Magazine, this anniversary party at The Hope & Anchor on Saturday 24th October 2026 brings the New Zealand punk veterans together with two energetic support acts for a night of fast guitars, furious vocals and unapologetic attitude. Having reformed in London around a decade ago, the band are now preparing for a homecoming tour of New Zealand next May. First, though, there is unfinished business to attend to on home turf.
Desperate Measures @ Hope and Anchor
First up are Palermo-based punk five-piece Semprefreski, named after a Sicilian speciality sandwich. They arrive with enough energy to suggest each member has downed half a dozen double espressos, launching into a frantic set of lean, mean guitars and rapid-fire hardcore. Although the Italian lyrics remain something of a mystery, their intent is unmistakable. A sizeable mosh pit quickly develops, with plenty of air punching as the band drive through their short, sharp bursts of punk fury. They finish by bulldozing their way through The Ramones’ The KKK Took My Baby Away, leaving the room suitably warmed up.
Next are Bournemouth five-piece The Mistakes, whose brash hardcore attack wastes little time getting underway. Opening with Seams, they deliver a performance bursting with energy and attitude. Frontman Ross is soon declaring himself a maniac during Brainstorm, which carries a similarly unhinged intensity to Dirtbox Disco. Heathens takes us deep into the band’s Dorset occult roots, with James and Shane casting their spells through a pair of frenetic guitars.
They ask us all to Think It Over while racing through The Hope & Anchor like speed demons. Standard Definition takes things back to basics, with a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that perhaps high-definition images might make them look less beautiful. Life’s Too Short encourages everyone to live life to the fullest, although its message carries a bitter edge of regret for friends who have left too soon. I Savage features brutally crisp drumming from Lewis, who clearly hasn’t been borrowing any of Johnny Depp’s scent. During this smash-and-grab assault, Ross makes it clear that Quitters Get Nothing. The band show no intention of quitting their mission to deliver speedy, catchy hardcore anthems, closing with Walk Tall and one final piece of advice: don’t give a damn what anyone thinks of you.
Soon it is time for Desperate Measures to take the stage, and they launch straight into Scars & Memories, with founder member Eugene Butcher immediately displaying the hyperactive presence that makes him such a compelling frontman. Rich-Tual takes a pointed swipe at the billionaire class, with Calle Englemark’s guitar sounding suitably angry, before Sublime Destruction brings some excellent harmony backing vocals from bassist Phil Roadkill and Calle, as Eugene turns his attention to urban regeneration.
The first cover of the evening is a wonderfully poppy take on UK Subs’ classic Limo Life, prompting almost everyone in The Hope & Anchor to join in. Eugene then explains that the band haven’t played Flames In The Street live for more than 40 years. Given everything currently happening in France, its subject matter feels uncomfortably topical, and the performance burns with renewed intensity. James Sherry’s drums drive the band into Agony, another older song they rarely play, which carries a satisfyingly dark edge.
Generation Gap turns attention to the differences between generations, something that is perhaps particularly noticeable at older punk gigs such as this. Eugene is soon raging against his parents with the fury of an out-of-control teenager, just as he originally did on the Broken Bottles album.
The evening gets another lift when Eugene invites two special guests onto the stage. Kit Swing joins on backing vocals, while Michael Gaffney adds an extra guitar for Enjoy The Ride. The additional voices and guitar bring a fresh burst of energy, with Calle and Michael exchanging glances and pushing each other as the song gathers momentum. They then return to the familiar four-piece line-up for a second UK Subs cover, a particularly lively romp through Tomorrows Girls, which the band clearly enjoy.
Back To The Rats delivers some proper New Zealand street punk, fighting for the right to survive, while 1984, one of the band’s earliest singles, sounds sadly relevant in its depiction of societal collapse and the need to find new ways of doing things. As usual, Eugene introduces Seven Sisters as a song about the band’s neighbourhood, making it a fine salute to an often underappreciated part of London.
Gaff returns to the stage for a suitably heavy version of The Stooges’ I Wanna Be Your Dog, with one of Semprefreski also joining in on backing vocals. The performance becomes gloriously messy towards the end, exactly as it should.
For the encore, Desperate Measures reach for the final two songs from the Broken Bottles album. Borstal Breakout is delivered at a frenetic pace, although not quite as heavily as Extreme Noise Terror’s version, much to the apparent disappointment of James Sherry, who seems keen to push it further. They close by racing through No Govt, a plea that feels increasingly reasonable in the current climate.
As the band leave the stage, fans are already clamouring for autographed setlists. It is a fitting end to a celebratory night that captures everything that makes punk endure: urgency, irreverence, community and an unwillingness to stay quiet. Desperate Measures may be marking 45 years, but there is nothing nostalgic or comfortable about their performance. They remain a fiercely vital band, and this birthday party proves they still have plenty to say.
Live review by Simon Phillips and photography by Louise Phillips at The Hope & Anchor, London on 24th October 2026.
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