BAND: SUICIDE BOMBERS
VENUE: Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
DATE: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER: Rich “The Meister” Dillon
So as much as I’ve extensively travelled in the UK, Stoke or Stoke-on-Trent is not a place I’ve ever been. No time like the present as I once again follow the music to a live gig. This time, I was after a band I’ve listened to for quite a few years, but never seen live. Even though I knew I’d be catching them a few days later at Call Of The Wild, tonight’s entertainment would be provided by Norway’s Suicide Bombers.
Perhaps not the best choice of band name, I admit, but fantastic sleaze outputs. Knowing that I have my “ear to the ground” so to speak, many friends often ask me for new music that’s captured me. Back in May of last year, I recommended Suicide Bombers and their All For The Candy album to a friend….he subsequently received Google warnings and self-help pages as a result of his search. So be careful when looking up this Norwegian sleaze outfit.
Moving on, I personally have been listening to their albums for several years. Frontman Chris Damien Doll is also involved in a project with Canadian Sandy Hyde called Dirtbag Republic. But tonight marks the first time I’ve witnessed him on a stage. With a few days in between Wildfest in Belgium and Call Of The Wild in the UK, I was searching for something to do. A friend pointed out the Suicide Bombers gig in Stoke. Sold!
SUICIDE BOMBERS at ELEVEN in Stoke
So after delays galore during the trip up from London, I finally arrived at the Eleven venue in Stoke. Big cheers to Jo Crosby and John Bibby for the lift! Approaching the doors, it was clear that the band had already launched into the set. I flooded into the area and began photo-capturing all the stage action, wondering how many songs I’d missed. Side note: it was great fun seeing the surprise on another photographer’s face, never expecting to see a 🇨🇦 here. Cheers, Jason Samuels….you never know where I’ll turn up, but pleasure to work with you here and at COTW!
Suicide Bombers were sounding great as they ripped into “Let’s Rock n Roll“, my camera clicking away. Band leader and frontman Chris Damien Doll is an imposing figure. He’s quite towering, large in stature (especially standing next to him later on) and personality which shined through from the stage. With camera in hand and elation at finally seeing the band live, my setlist notes are sketchy at best, so hopefully I haven’t made any errors or omissions. “Ready For Tonight” from the 2017 release, Suicide Idols was served up next.
The sound in this venue was top notch and smiles were all across my face as I rocked out to these songs I’ve listened to for years. It was pretty cool to see the support out here at Eleven on a Tuesday evening to rock out. I don’t know what it’s normally like here, but for what I’m used to back home, a Tuesday is a hard sell for attendance. I picked off local (I guess) iconic rock n roller and frontman of Wrathchild, Rocky Shades in attendance. Awesome to see a band support another artist as well!
KABOOM BOOM BABY!
Up next flowed the title track from the excellent 2024 album All For The Candy. The album, I think, is the strongest to date from this Norwegian outfit and it placed at #13 on my Best of 2024 list! Ahead of “Murder Couture” Chris took the mic and addressed the audience. He informed that the band had some extra t-shirts that the manager had approved for him to give away, one each show. Opening up a hot pink coloured “girlie” t-shirt that wouldn’t fit my right leg, Chris read the print: “Kaboom Boom Baby“. Throwing the shirt out to a young lady in the front row launched the song. Announcing that he had it on good authority that all the cool people from Stoke, from UK were here tonight started “Tonight Belongs To Us“. Hey Chris, cool peeps from Canada are here too……lol
The set continued showcasing songs across the Suicide Bombers‘ catalogue. “So Bad” came with an overly long intro that was (intentionally) literally so bad….lol. From time to time as well, folks from the audience would hand a beer across the barrier for Chris throughout the set. I think I counted three beers bought for him from the audience. Now here’s where my notes really fail me, at COTW a few days later (as you can tell I’m writing this after both shows are completed), they played “Suicide Idol“. It’s not marked down here and I literally can’t remember if they played it or not in Stoke! But after band intros, they wrapped things up with “Bladerunner (Tokyo Nights)” off the 2015 Sex Tapes album. Great high energy and super fun set!
FACEBOOK / LINKS (Merch & Tix)
AFTER THE GIG
After the show, I had the opportunity to chat with the guitarist whom I’d randomly met and hung out with a little bit at Sweden Rock Festival last summer. Chris also was quite open and friendly and spent some time talking with us as well. Awesome to meet both guys and thanks for a great set…..see you at Call Of The Wild (COTW) in a few days!
The venue ELEVEN was also a pretty cool joint. Through a set of double doors at the back of the room found the bar, toilets and a small seating area with some sofas and chairs. There was quite a lot of rock memorabilia adorning the walls, some really great stuff and I learned that it was actually owned by one of the guitarists from Demon. If you get a chance, catch a gig here for sure.
Cheers,
The Meister
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