INTERVIEW: BAD NERVES IN CONVERSATION WITH BOBBY NERVES
Interview by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
Good Things And Australian Headline Tour with Dead Poet Society
Billie Joe Armstrong called Bad Nerves “the best new band in England right now” and I would have to agree. The band is hot off tours with The Hives, Spiritual Cramp, Green Day, amongst others.
Bad Nerves is one of the most talked about bands in modern punk. I caught up with Bobby Nerves, before the chaos of the Crowbar headline gig in Sydney kicks off tonight, and then they launch into the Good Things 2025 festival madness. We talked about what fans can expect at their gigs, the sounds and scenes that shaped them, and the advice he has for younger musicians trying to make music in an oversaturated world.
The garage punk-rock band Bad Nerves are really on the rise and if you have listened to their albums ‘Bad Nerves’ and ‘Still Nervous’ or the new single ‘Loner’ you will know why they are so musically hot. Bad Nerves play punk-rock music. It’s fast, with unremitting speed, song after song, not a chance to draw breath – you need to get into training to go to the gigs. “We are full of punk energy,” stated Bobby Nerves, the songwriter and front man of the coolest modern punk band out there. “We just hope people want to come out and see us play live. We are excited to be here in Australia. I mean we played to nobody for like 6 to 7 years. Now we are here”.
Bad Nerves comprises of vocalist and songwriter Bobby Nerves, guitarist Will Phillipson, guitarist George Berry, bassist Jonathan Poulton and drummer Samuel Thompson. The band is from Essex, in England, but is really London based and have that distinctive punk-rock sound influenced by former generations of American, Swedish and British punk-rock bands. “I think we’re most influenced by The Ramones,” stated Bobby Nerves. “I mean we love The Clash, Green Day and we learnt so much from The Hives. They are the best rock band in the world. We just love The Beatles and how they wrote and innovated in music”.
The UK punk five-piece are barrelling full-speed into their upcoming performances across Australia. Bad Nerves is about to play Good Things 2025 and they have three side shows one in Sydney, then Melbourne and Brisbane. The band is playing with the Los Angeles based young guns Dead Poet Society. “We hope everyone comes along for a good time,” said Bobby Nerves. “Nothing beats that live music feeling. It an escape from normal life where you can be immersed in the music. We play fast, no gaps and blast through it”.
How to describe Bad Nerves music? It’s melodic punk with drive, passion and a lyrical core. “Where we can go from harder songs like ‘Loner’ that didn’t fit on our last album to sounding like the Beach Boys on speed,” explained Bobby Nerves. “I think that we are playing best we have ever played at the moment. If fans are listening to our music, there is nothing like the live experience. It’s heavier and has that feeling”.
“I love songwriting. I love playing live too, but it’s that creative impulse – writing – it’s my favourite thing to do ever,” Bobby Nerves explained. “I will jam out riffs like on ‘Sorry’ or ‘Can’t Be Mine’. Those songs came together in the studio over a couple of hours. I sat on the drum kit and imagine in other instruments. If you are over-critical of yourself and your song writing – you’ll make nothing. I know some of my demos sound crazy and shit. I can give the band a heart attack when they hear my early ideas. And I write loads of average stuff. But I keep song writing and I go for it. That’s the great thing about punk. Everyone’s welcome and from 3 or 4 chord songs - magic can come”.
“For young song writers – don’t be over critical,” explained Bobby Nerves. “Innovation and not knowing what you are doing can be good. I know I can throw in key changes and other strange sounds to change things up. If you over think it – writing can stump you. Let your intuition take you”.
If you haven’t heard of Bad Nerves yet, it’s only a matter of time. The band are well known in the UK for their high energy live shows and breakneck pace – so let your intuition take you and don’t miss this band.
Power rock-punk band from Essex Bad Nerves and Los Angeles based rock band Dead Poet Society are set to tour Australia for the first time. See them at:
Tuesday, 2 Dec 2025 – Crowbar – Sydney, NSW
Wednesday, 3 Dec 2025 – Max Watts – Melbourne, VIC
Friday, 5 December 2025 - Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne (16+)
Saturday, 6 December 2025 – Sydney Showground, Sydney (16+)
Sunday, 7 December 2025 - Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane (16+)
Monday, 8 Dec 2025 – The Triffid – Brisbane, QLD
Tickets for Good Things 2025 are on sale now and the sideshows are also available.
