Charlie Manning Walker, AKA Chubby, on why his band’s fast and furious songs are what the world needs right now
“My parents were punks, back in the 70s,” says Charlie Manning Walker, otherwise known as Chubby Charles, the leader of UK punk’s most exciting new band, Chubby and the Gang. “They went to all the Rock Against Racism shows. They saw some horrible stuff. But they’ve said to me: ‘Son, what’s happening now is far worse and far scarier than it ever was back then.’ I tend to believe them. Things are scary out there, aren’t they?”
Manning Walker is speaking via Zoom on his phone. He doesn’t own a computer. “I’m not bothered with that stuff,” says the 30-year-old. “I don’t want to get home from work and sit in front of a computer. I just want to be left alone to make music.” Much of the conversation takes place looking up the singer and sometime electrician’s nose; several framed Ramones posters come into view. “They’re yours if you want them,” he says. “Give us your address.” He sits with the hood of his top pulled up over his head and spins on his chair, his demeanour as agitated as his band’s music.