By HOLLY LENNON

IT’S quite fitting that ska-punk band Ex-Cathedra have chosen 2017 to make their comeback.

The punk subculture they were part of was born out of political angst and disillusionment, which is as evident now as it was in 1970s.

After a long 25-years away from the music scene, the five-piece have finally found the right time to reunite and are currently preparing for what is likely to be a celebratory show at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut.

“Punk blew my mind and showed me an alternative to the norm in the 70’s which was by and large religious bigotry, casual racism and territorial violence which seemed to pervade life in Glasgow at the time”, lead singer Alex explains. “I was 14 in 1977 and I think the sound of this new, exciting music, the onset of adolescent hormones and the desire to breakaway from Little Britain attitudes made for a wild ride.”

Alex and the rest of the band, Andy Chalmers (vocals), Stiff Marron (bass/vocals) Jenny Divers (saxophone) and Tommy Duffin (drums /vocals) were a popular outfit

Alex adds: “A lot of the punk music evolved from political angst and disillusionment which is still relevant today because there always seems to be something fundamentally wrong with society.

“In some ways we have come a long way with fighting things like racism, gender politics etc but in other ways nothing has changed with people like Donald Trump and his hateful supporters always looking for a scapegoat to blame.

“But politics aside, there is nothing in the world like hearing the adrenalin rush of fast, loud, joyous punk rock. Ye cannae beat it!”

When sax player Jenny, who emigrated to Australia about 10-years ago, announced she was jetting back to Scotland for a summer holiday, the call was sent out to Andy, who lives in Italy and Stiff, now based in Holland, to get rehearsing.

“Our sound is usually described as ska-punk but we’re really just a punk band who started doing ska bits in the early days and just became our thing.

“When we started back in 1990, there wasn’t many people doing it.

“It was before bands like Rancid and that came along.

“In fact we first met Lars before Rancid, when he was playing in UK Subs and we supported them. We’ve been friends ever since.

“There’s so many amazing memories that era.

“I remember when Green Day first played in Glasgow in the 13th Note when it was in Glassford Street.

“Stiff our bass player’s first band The Grubs supported them and Andy was working behind the bar. There was about 30 people there!” A far cry from the band’s recent (almost) gig at Bellahouston Park.

During their peak, Ex Cathedra were touring with the big hitters on the punk scene including Rancid and Stiff Little Fingers but it was playing the ‘squats’ that they enjoyed the most, according to Alex.

He says: “I loved playing the small punk squats in Europe and playing in Ireland is probably the best parties ever.”

For their comeback shows, there’s been a warm welcome from fans who have grown up with the band.

Alex describes the crowd as being more like ‘mates’ rather than ‘fans’.

But there has also been a few younger faces who he says “must have been knee high to an entrail back in the day”.

As well as a reunion show at King Tuts Wah Wah hut on August 12, Ex Cathedra will be taking to the stage at Rebellion punk festival in Blackpool.

The group will be opening the stage for one of their favourite bands, The Skids.

“Hopefully we’ll get through the set without bringing out the zimmer frames”, the frontman says.

“There’s a lot of great Ska bands in Scotland at the moment.

“The Amphetameanies and Big Fat Panda are great, but my fave is Esperanza who just played a blinder in McChuills last week.

“Funnily enough their bass player the wonderful Jess E Ska is filling in on bass for us at Rebellion because Stiff can’t make it.”

For their last ever gig, the band will be travelling to the GGI Festival in Ireland.

“It will be the perfect end to a fantastic journey”, Alex adds.

“There’s not many tickets left at King Tuts - the last I heard there was 50 or 60 and they won’t last long, so get cracking people!”.

Ex-Cathedra will play King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut on August 12.