Iggy Pop gained fame as frontman of The Stooges, a highly influential four-piece known for its aggressive sound and rebellious spirit. (Bjorn Tagemose)
Time to tease up your mohawk.
Iggy Pop, Bad Religion and three founding members of the Sex Pistols are slated to headline PUNKSPRING when the highly anticipated Japanese music festival returns in March.
With a lineup packed with legendary acts and fan favorites, the event promises two unforgettable days of high-energy, raucous performances in Osaka and Tokyo.
The raw power begins Saturday, March 29, at INTEX Osaka, with the Sex Pistols (featuring Frank Carter on vocals), Bad Religion, Yellowcard, Pennywise and other surprises. Doors open at 11 a.m., and the first band hits the stage at 12:30 p.m.
On Sunday, March 30, the festival moves to Makuhari Messe Convention Center just east of Tokyo, where the godfather of punk, Iggy Pop, takes top billing alongside the aforementioned bands. Doors open at 10 a.m., with music starting at 11:30 a.m.
The Sex Pistols are set to perform in Japan for the first time since 2008. Frank Carter will be on vocals when the iconic group plays the upcoming PUNKSPRING festival in Tokyo and Osaka. (Sex Pistols)
Bad Religion is an American punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1980. (Bad Religion)
Note that Iggy Pop, who’ll turn 78 a few weeks after this performance, will not appear at the Osaka show. The cultural icon gained fame as frontman of The Stooges, a highly influential four-piece known for its aggressive sound and rebellious spirit.
The Sex Pistols — drummer Paul Cook, guitarist Steve Jones and bassist Glenn Matlock — last performed in Tokyo on Dec. 8, 2008, with original vocalist John Lydon (also known as Johnny Rotten) at the helm.
Carter — former frontman for Gallows and current leader of Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes — first took on the Rotten role for fundraisers in August and a mini-tour of England in September. Music critics have praised his ability to channel Lydon’s raw energy, noting his dynamic stage presence and vocal prowess.
Pennywise, which took its name from Stephen King’s “It,” formed in Hermosa Beach, Calif., in 1988. (Josh Coffman)
Yellowcard is a pop-punk four piece that formed in Jacksonville, Fla., in 1997. (Yellowcard)
Presale PUNKSPRING tickets are available thru Jan. 30 at https://ib.eplus.jp/punkspring25. Regular ticket sales begin Feb. 1 and last until a week before showtime — or until they sell out.
For the Tokyo show, Gold Standing tickets are 20,000 yen, or about $130, and include access to an exclusive admission lane, front-viewing areas, and a fast lane for merchandise sales. Regular standing-room admission is 15,000 yen.
The Osaka show costs 15,000 for Gold Standing and 10,000 for regular admission.
See punkspring.com/english for further details.
