Thee Headcoats - Irregularis (The Great Hiatus)

The undisputed kings of garage rock are back! After a 22-year silence, Billy Childish, Bruce Brand, and Johnny Johnson reunite as Thee Headcoats for Irregularis (The Great Hiatus) — a brand-new studio album that proves true rock ’n’ roll never dies, it just takes a nap. Recorded at Ranscombe Studios in Rochester, this comeback record roars with the same stripped-down grit, biting humor, and wild spirit that made the Medway trio one of the most authentic bands to ever plug in a guitar.

Time might have passed, but the chemistry remains electric. As Billy puts it, recording together again was “fab” and “gear,” while Bruce notes that the strangest part was “how weird it wasn’t” — as if no time had gone by at all. The album captures exactly that energy: a joyful reconnection between old comrades, full of snap, fuzz, and the kind of instinctive rhythm that can only come from decades of shared racket-making.

Among its highlights is “Oh Leader We Do Dig Thee,” a heartfelt tribute to Don Craine of The Downliners Sect — one of Thee Headcoats’ biggest inspirations and a close friend. The connection runs deep: back in the late ’70s, the band discovered the Sect’s first LP reissued as Punk From The Vaults, instantly recognizing in it the raw, fearless sound they’d later make their own. Years later, they coaxed Craine down to Rochester to record, cementing a bond that echoed through the generations of British garage rock.

Irregularis (The Great Hiatus) isn’t a nostalgia act — it’s a continuation. Thee Headcoats sound as vital, funny, and ferocious as ever, proving that “maximum drums and racket” still beats in their blood. For long-time fans, it’s the triumphant return of one of Britain’s most beloved underground institutions. For newcomers, it’s a perfect entry point into the world of Billy Childish — raw, real, and proudly irregular.