Punk pioneers UK Subs' drummer Stevie Ze Suicide takes his own life aged 68

Publish date: 2024-10-25

Legendary punk rocker and ex-drummer for UK Subs' Stevie Ze Suicide has passed away after reportedly taking his own life.

The musician, 68, also known as Stephen Roberts, played in several bands during 1970s and rubbed shoulders with icons including David Bowie.

But despite his incredible talents, Stevie was known to suffer from bouts of depression, and friends said he'd also had problems with alcohol in the past.

Speaking about his shock passing last Saturday (October 8), his wife Jude said she was devastated by the loss of the 'kind and gentle' performer.

She said: 'I'm devastated. He was a gentle and kind man, who was always saying: 'Love you. Are you all right?'

The musician, 68, also known as Stephen Roberts, played in several bands during 1970s and rubbed shoulders with icons including David Bowie

The musician, 68, also known as Stephen Roberts, played in several bands during 1970s and rubbed shoulders with icons including David Bowie

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Paying tribute to him, Stevie's manager, Mike Harris, said he had had a 'talent as a drummer and a songwriter and he was always driven to aspire for more.'

He said he had first met Stevie when he was playing bass with Eric Faulkner's Bay City Rollers, when the band was rehearsing in his Hastings studio.

He said: 'What I saw then was a very lively character, full of life and creating a buzz around himself.'

Speaking about his shock passing last Saturday (October 8), his wife Jude said she was devastated by the loss of the 'kind and gentle' performer (Picture: UK Subs circa 1978, Stevie Ze is not in the photo)

Speaking about his shock passing last Saturday (October 8), his wife Jude said she was devastated by the loss of the 'kind and gentle' performer (Picture: UK Subs circa 1978, Stevie Ze is not in the photo) 

'Years later we worked together on an Internet radio show and, although not meeting up again due to the distance between us, he began to talk in more depth about his past, and continuing, problems with depression and alcohol - and also how he really wanted to make a name for himself.'

Mike said that after taking Stevie on with his company, TaM Management, ten years ago, he introduced him to Trevor Bolder - David Bowie's former bass guitarist - and they recorded a number of songs.

He said: 'I suggested that he started writing about his problems to help him come to terms with the issues.'

'This writing eventually became three books about his life, his problems, anecdotes accrued through meeting many international artists while working with MGMM music video company, and scattered throughout, many of his ascerbic poems and well-crafted drawings.'

Mike said Stevie had styled his name from David Bowie's song 'Rock and Roll Suicide', not from any desire for it to end in the ironic way it had, adding: 'Rock on StevieZe - King of Noize.'

Despite his incredible talents, Stevie was known to suffer from bouts of depression, and friends said he'd also had problems with alcohol in the past

Despite his incredible talents, Stevie was known to suffer from bouts of depression, and friends said he'd also had problems with alcohol in the past

He added that when he recently went to hospital to get his foot examined for possible damage from half a century of stepping vigorously on drum pedals, a group of nurses had asked him for selfies.

He quipped: 'As David Bowie said to me, 'the future belongs to those who can hear it coming,' and yes, I can just see where I'm going.'

The pioneers of punk: who were the UK subs?  

UK Subs are an English rock band who have been active for almost fifty years.

The group formed in 1976 as 'The Subversives' with singer Charlie Harper fronting the band.

The line-up eventually expanded and included Nicky Garratt on guitar, Paul Slack on bass and a variety of different drummers including Stevie Ze.

The band regularly changed their members - having gone through hundreds in 40 years.

At the start of their career they also fiddled with the name and shortened the original UK subversives to UK subs. 

UK Subs never had a massive hit but produced several singles which made the Top 30 in the 1970s, including  'Tomorrow's Girls', a cover of The Zombies classic 'She's Not There' and 'Warhead'.

The band remained true to their sound while similar acts were breaking up - whether that be the Sex Pistols or Generation X - while others like the Clash were going through major transitions.  

Two months ago UK Subs played what was billed as their last ever show, where they performed at Voodoo in Belfast.  

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