When Amyl And The Sniffers came to town, we headed up the dreaded hill of Ally Pally to meet the band’s most dedicated fans and find out why their razor-sharp ruckus strikes at the heart of punks everywhere…
Amyl And Sniffers have been blazing a trail across the globe with their infectious, sarcastic, antagonistic-yet-buoyant brand of punk rock. As their latest tour rolled into London’s Alexandra Palace on a rather chilly Saturday night, we headed along to meet the fans of Australia’s hottest export to find out why Amy Taylor and co. mean so much to the capital’s alternative community.
How long have you been a fan of Amyl And The Sniffers?
“I wanna say since 2023.”
What is it you love about them so much?
“It's really refreshing to see a modern take on punk music and it's great to see it coming back. I've always been into classic punk, and the punk scene coming out of Australia is really interesting to me – I think it's amazing.”
What other Australian punk bands do you like?
“I like The Chats – I mean, they're the main one. And, of course, Amyl.”
How did you get into them?
“I really don't know. I think it was just when you're on the internet and you see stuff floating around. It's like, 'I wonder what that is?' And it grabs your attention. Then you're searching for it and end up down a rabbit hole.”
What's the worst thing you've ever sniffed?
“Don't snort salt. It burns.”
What is your most punk trait?
“My human decency.”
What other bands are you listening to?
“I am really into bands like The March Violets, Bauhaus, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Specimen, Christian Death, 45 Grave. I'm more of a goth myself, but I also really like classic punk.”
What's your outfit today?
“So, starting from the bottom, I left my Docs at home. I wasn't meant to, I was still wearing my driving shoes, so went to Primark this morning and got these boots. The skirt is from a charity shop and this is a Sonic Youth T-shirt: ‘Girls Invented Punk Not England’.”
How long have you been a fan of Amyl And The Sniffers?
“I think since 2024.”
What is it you love about them so much?
“I like the upbeatness. When I got introduced to them, we were playing the original Doom games and obviously it's a shooter, it's gory. Doom is designed for upbeat songs and Amyl fits that perfectly.”
What's the worst thing you've ever sniffed?
“I have this really distinct memory of a really bad smell from secondary [school] and I think it was someone. Well, it was someone, to be honest. Because it was always when I was behind them.”
What is your most punk trait?
“Honestly, I'm not quite sure what I'd say is punk about me. If it's in terms of, like, styling culture, I think I'm across multiple cultures. Maybe similar to what Sydney said: basic human decency. It's like, just let people do what they want to do. At the end of the day, it's not affecting you. Let people be different or weird.”
What other bands are you listening to?
“As I say, I'm across quite a lot of different subcultures, but recently I've been getting into Nothing But Thieves. I also really like Christian Death and Specimen, but I'll listen to all music as it's all a form of art and I appreciate it all.”
What's your outfit today?
“These trousers, I actually got them from one of my friends who was giving them away because she grew out of them. I like all the lace stuff at the side. This is a belt I just got from a charity shop. This jacket is nice and stretchy, and I'm wearing this crop top I decided to cut the sleeve off because it looks nice with certain outfits.”
How long have you been a fan of Amyl And The Sniffers?
“Only about one year, so pretty fresh! They appeared through, and I'm sorry to say this, my Spotify recommended. I discovered Lambrini Girls last year at an IDLES concert and I really, really got into them. I fucking love them, they're incredible live, they're really good with crowd work, it's amazing.”
What is it you love about Amyl so much?
“Honestly I'm really tied to them because [the song] Knifey made me cry. I go to art school and I made a print dedicated to the song because it's a really strong message I resonate with. I also just love the music. I love guitar solos. I love her voice. I just love all the energy. It just makes me feel good. It's amazing.”
What's the worst thing you've ever sniffed?
“Powdered sugar. In middle school, with my religion professor, she just said, 'You want to sniff it?' And we sniffed it. I'm not going to sniff anything else in my life, so I might as well just do that one, you know? Get it out of the way.”
What is your most punk trait?
“I don't give a shit. That's it. I think that's punk enough. I've worked my whole life to make sure I get to express myself without fearing what people think. I had to fight with my mom a lot: she goes to therapy just to be at peace with my piercings. No joke.”
What other bands are you listening to?
“I really like FEET. I fucking love FEET. There's a song that just goes, 'Hot dog, hot dog, hot dog, hot dog, hot dog' in a really intense way. I love English bands. And I have to admit, like, not in a normy way, but I fucking love the Arctic Monkeys. I've gone to five concerts. I spent all my money on them and I'm broadening my horizons now that the tour is over.”
What's your outfit today?
“It's all thrifted. I only thrift. This jacket, I am so proud of it because I cut it up and I painted it. This skirt, it's the first time I'm wearing it. The jacket says ‘Love is the Fing’ on the back of it, which is kind of the main message of the new IDLES album [TANGK]. I really, really like them as lyricists and the music they make – the new album is great and they really researched new sounds. I hope they don't do anything problematic!”
How long have you been a fan of Amyl And The Sniffers?
“I bought tickets to this a year ago, so about then. My dad showed me a video of Amy Taylor and I've been listening since.”
What is it you love about them so much?
“I quite like punk music and I don't know, I just really like her. Also she was really entertaining when she went on Ru Paul's Drag Race! It was so fun watching her be a judge.”
What's the worst thing you've ever sniffed?
“My brother made some dish in food tech that he left in his room for a long time. It absolutely stunk and he smelled of it. It had eggs in it and they were rotten.”
What other bands are you listening to?
“I like Radiohead. Big Radiohead fan.”
What's your outfit today?
“I made these jeans, and then just an overshirt with this scarf. And I've got a hoodie on underneath.”
How long have you been a fan of Amyl And The Sniffers?
“A few years now – I'm from New Zealand, so I've known about them for a while. Seeing how vibrant their energy is really inspired me to follow my own music as well. I'm in a band called Livid and I'm a female metal singer bringing back the riot grrrl energy – all girls at the front, y'know? And Amy is my biggest inspiration.”
What's the worst thing you've ever sniffed?
“Probably a mosh-pit, so I'm going to see how stinky this one is.”
What is your most punk trait?
“I'm not afraid to be myself: I'll say what I want, I'll wear what I want, I'll do what I want. I don't care. I'm not performing for anyone apart from myself.”
What other bands are you listening to?
“I love Hole, Babes In Toyland, Kittie – just any female-fronted, angry band. I love Amyl And The Sniffers, of course. I got to crowdsurf to Kittie when I saw them.”
What's your outfit today?
“I'm wearing a troll face T-shirt that says, 'Problem?' I'm wearing these lace-up jeans – protecting the puss, y'know? I've got these kind of dog buckles on the side and my make-up is inspired by Amy. I've got the blue eyeshadow and red lips on in honour of her.”
How long have you been a fan of Amyl And The Sniffers?
“I haven't known about them for a super long time. I'm quite big into Bob Vylan and I think they toured together, but they dropped a song together called Dream Bigger and it was based on a song that Bobby had before. So that got me into them.”
What is it you love about them so much?
“I don't really know, to be honest! I know that's really boring, but also the politics; they have strong political expression.”
What's the worst thing you've ever sniffed?
“Also probably a mosh-pit. And some of the people that are in Lynn's band's mosh-pits. Livid fans are stinky fans!”
What is your most punk trait?
“The people I surround myself with. And a lot of the shit I went to in Brighton, like the Livid gigs.”
What other bands are you listening to?
“Definitely Bob Vylan. It is punk no matter what people fucking say. I listen to a lot of SNAYX, too.”
What's your outfit today?
“Well, I was quite hungover and it was literally the first thing I found on the floor. This is all just random. I like the cropped top with the jacket – I'm trying to show off my new belly button piercing!”
How long have you been fans of Amyl And The Sniffers?
Jess: “I'm quite new to the band; Juraj introduced me about 18 months ago. I've had to listen to the back catalogue and I love female-fronted bands. I've been on board ever since and I'm really looking forward to this!”
Juraj: “I've listened to them for about a year and a half – about the same time as Jess. But I don't really know that many songs. Only a few, to be honest.”
What is it you love about them so much?
Jess: “Obviously, it's her voice. She rules. She kind of reminds me of like Brody [Dalle] and Courtney [Love] back in the day. And I think their live performances are what really give them their edge, it's such an experience for the fans. I think they're a brilliant band. Amazing.”
What's the worst thing you've ever sniffed?
Jess: “We just got on the Overground and there was a man next to us, he smelled like he was decaying.”
Juraj: ”Like, how the hell are you still walking?”
What is your most punk trait?
Jess: “Show him your hair.”
Juraj: “My hair?”
Jess: “Yeah, your mohawk! That's his. I hate Mondays. I like to drink. I also like the idea that there's something else that isn't the status quo. I like the alternative group, and how you can feel a part of the community. And it's full of people who want a good time, to have fun. I think punk gets a bad rap – people think there's racism, violence, anti-royal – but actually punks are some of the nicest people.”
What other bands are you listening to?
Jess: “I listen to a lot of indie bands, so a lot of old stuff. I listen to Fleetwood Mac, Deep Purple, and whatever is playing on Radio X. I like the Editors, Babyshambles, etc.”
Juraj: “I like a lot of ’70s and ’80s bands, stuff like The Exploited, GBH, old bands like The Adicts.”
What's your outfit today?
Juraj: “I got my jeans, my shoes. I've got a little scarf on for protection against the cold, and my jacket I've had for 15 years.”
Jess: “I'm layered-up this evening – I've got the leather jacket and the furry layer. Leather leggings, boots, and I've just walked up the hill in heels, which was not a good idea. I always have a bit of leopard print, and I got a little bit of spice to match with the red lip.”
How long have you been fans of Amyl And The Sniffers?
Mustafa: “I saw them at the Hella Mega Tour in 2022 when I went to see Green Day, and I've been following them since. They opened that day and I thought they were cool.”
Sydney: “I only got introduced to them this year, so I'm a baby listener, but I haven't stopped listening to them since.”
What is it you love about them so much?
Mustafa: “To be fair, I do like the genre in general, but obviously hearing a female voice in the scene is a breath of fresh air. But they're fun, upbeat and they help me concentrate. I love the vocals, the riffs and shit, heavy guitars, the bass is there, the drums are smacking. Everything you could want.”
Sydney: “I just love alternative music in general, so finding someone new, even if they've been around for ages, is really cool. And being able to show other people their stuff and be like, 'Look at these guys, people!' They just go at it, do their own thing and rock on.”
What's the worst thing you've ever sniffed?
Mustafa: “Honestly, any time someone's had some food on the underground and it's fucking hot – stifling. Any time someone's had some fucking crisps – any vinegar-y crisps. Also, any alley in Enfield just smells of piss.”
Sydney: “Probably just the smell of piss!”
What is your most punk trait?
Mustafa: “I don't know… I got told I was too radical on an exam once.”
Sydney: “Probably me trying to be more sustainable with my fashion, and being a fashion designer.”
What other bands are you listening to?
Mustafa: “My staple is Fall Out Boy – they've been there since day one. Other than that, I listen to a lot of Turkish rock.”
Sydney: “Siouxsie And The Banshees! I love Ashnikko too, I've been listening to their new album.”
What's your outfit today?
Mustafa: “The jumper is purely for warmth. I've got a Green Day T-shirt, Green Day bandana, some earrings, a Hello Kitty bracelet I got from Syd. And some jeans with chains on, and my lovely Converse!”
Sydney: “I just bought this belt, it's cool! We went to Camden Market for my first time ever today, and I just bought everything. I got these trousers that are PVC with velvet in the middle. The jacket I've made and altered over time with different patches.”
