Legendary British punk band U.K. Subs was set to rock the L.A. Punk Invasion festival on March 15. But things didn’t quite go as planned for some band members.
While the band’s frontman Charlie Harper made it into the U.S. without issue, bassist Alvin Gibbs, drummer Stefan Haublein, and guitarist Marc Carrey were not so lucky. The trio found themselves detained by U.S. immigration officials.
Gibbs didn’t hold back on social media, sharing his thoughts on what may have caused the hold-up. And his suspicions? Donald Trump’s administration might have had something to do with it.
According to Gibbs, they were told that “something had flagged (us) which required my being taken away for questioning.” The singer revealed there were two main issues preventing their entry: 1) Gibbs allegedly didn’t have the correct visa, and 2) an undisclosed issue the officials wouldn’t explain.
Feeling frustrated, Gibbs couldn’t help but wonder if his past outspoken criticisms of Trump had caught the attention of immigration officials. He shared his thoughts on Facebook, jokingly attributing the situation to “paranoia” but hinting that it could have played a role.
“They took me to another part of LAX, where I found Stefan and Marc along with other detainees. My passport, luggage, and phone were all confiscated,” Gibbs continued. “At 4 a.m., after hours of questioning, a kind immigration officer helped update my situation and gave me flight details for my return trip.”
Despite the frustration, Gibbs admitted to feeling a bit proud of his rebellious exit. “At 67, I never thought I’d be kicked out of America, but hey, looks like my time there is done for now,” he quipped.
The band’s fans are left wondering if the punk rock scene might face more barriers in the future—especially with outspoken musicians like Gibbs in the mix.
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