The Fleece, Bristol, 3rd August 2025
Sunday 3rd August saw the return of legendary two-tone ska outfit Bad Manners to The Fleece, celebrating an incredible 50 years of the band. For a group that began life in the mid-1970s during the rise of punk and ska revival, to still be touring with such energy and charisma is a testament to their enduring appeal.
Bad Manners formed in 1976 at Woodberry Down Comprehensive School in North London and quickly became one of the most recognisable faces of the British ska revival scene. While The Specials and Madness might have carried more of the mainstream limelight, Bad Manners always stood out thanks to their cheeky humour, raucous energy, and of course, the unforgettable frontman Buster Bloodvessel. With his bald head, oversized tongue, and flamboyant stage presence, Buster became a pop culture icon during the 1980s.
The band gained widespread attention in the early ’80s with a string of hits including ‘Lip Up Fatty’, ‘Special Brew’, ‘Walking in the Sunshine’, ‘My Girl Lollipop’, ‘That’ll Do Nicely’, ‘Can Can,’ and ‘Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu’. Their appearances on TV — including being infamously banned from Top of the Pops after Buster painted his head bright red — only helped cement their status as ska’s rowdiest ambassadors.
Fast forward five decades and Bad Manners are still going strong, regularly performing at festivals and venues up and down the country. One such venue they hold particularly dear is The Fleece in Bristol. Buster proudly announced during the set that this was their most-played venue — and that they had no intention of ever stopping.
From the moment Buster hobbled on stage with a damaged knee and launched into My Girl Lollipop, the party atmosphere was instant. The crowd — a joyous mix of longtime fans in Fred Perry shirts and Doc Martens — erupted into dance, skanking from the first note. Despite the injury, Buster was every bit the charismatic showman, his booming voice and tongue-waggling antics as iconic as ever.
The band blasted through hit after hit in a tight, energetic set. The brass section was particularly impressive — the musicians clearly still relishing every solo and syncopated breakdown. Between songs, Buster offered cheeky anecdotes and banter with the crowd, mixing nostalgia with the unfiltered humour fans have come to love.
A standout moment came when Buster momentarily left the stage, only for the crowd to erupt in a classic chant of “YOU FAT BASTARD!” — the affectionate rallying cry that’s been synonymous with the band for decades. Naturally, Buster returned to rapturous applause and launched into ‘Lip Up Fatty’, arguably their most iconic track. At that point, it was impossible not to join the crowd in dancing. Even the more reluctant audience members were swept up in the infectious energy.
Just when you thought the night couldn’t get any more surreal, they closed the set with their infamous ska-reggae rendition of ‘The Can-Can’ — a whacky, crowd-pleasing finale that had everyone kicking and clapping along in full panto spirit. It was the perfect way to end a night that felt like a true celebration, not just of one band, but of the joyful chaos of ska itself.
There was a real sense of community in the room — a shared love not just for the music, but for everything Bad Manners represent: irreverence, unity, humour, and good old-fashioned fun. There’s something quite special about seeing a band who don’t take themselves too seriously but still deliver a tight, professional and engaging show night after night.
With more dates still to come on this anniversary tour, including their much-anticipated annual Christmas show at The Fleece on 26th December, now’s the time to see Bad Manners in their natural habitat: in a sweaty, bouncing venue packed with fans ready to skank the night away. I’ll definitely be there, and I recommend grabbing a ticket while you can — there’s nothing else quite like it.
Words and photos: David Jeffrey-Hughes
TrueStyleMusic 