The Molotovs Set to Ignite In Newcastle

Adam Kennedy speaks with Mathew and Issey Cartlidge from The Molotovs ahead of their upcoming Newcastle date.

With a band name like The Molotovs, it's no surprise that the group have exploded onto the new music scene. The dynamic outfit have already sold out a UK tour earlier this year, shared the stage with the Sex Pistols at the Royal Albert Hall and garnered their first number-one single all inside the first six months of 2025.

Following a sold-out show at Ku in Stockton earlier this year, the group are preparing to return to the North East next week with an eagerly anticipated date at Think Tank in Newcastle. Despite their hectic schedule, the band have been taking this year in their stride. "It's a bit different for us this year because we're so used to playing two, three times a week,” explains Issey. “We've been going for five years, and we've done over 500 gigs together. So, it's been pretty, full-on. And this year, it's just having a tour. And even though it'll be 20 dates in a row, we're going, oh, this is easy. This is the light work. This is the easy bit. But we've really enjoyed having a bit more space between shows to focus on the writing and for the creative behind the scenes.”

The band’s debut single ‘More, More, More’ rocketed into the top of the charts. “It was the first group of shows we've done with a song out, which is our first single ‘More, More, More’,” said Issey. “We've always had people singing the lyrics back to us, but not knowing every single one. It's always been a bit of a jumpy karaoke measure. But this time you have people properly into it and knowing really what to do.”

The response to the band's new music has been widespread from fans and the media alike, with high-profile outlets such as Kerrang!, Clash, and The Mirror all featuring the band. But have The Molotovs been overwhelmed with the response so far? “I just think when all this has happened, we've been obviously over the moon with it. But we have felt ready for it. And we feel like we've spent a long time just playing live and only getting recognition from our fans and the live fan base. So, it's really good to get some proper weight behind the gigs and add to our growing fan base,” said Mathew. “It's amazing to have a song out finally. And the response to the gigs whenever we play ‘More, More, More’, that's where it is. It's incredible the response we get.”

Whilst The Molotovs are still in their teens, the group has already ticked off a bucket list item by performing at the Royal Albert Hall as support to the Sex Pistols. “It was a kind of pinch-me moment. And you're trying to keep present while you're on stage so you can really soak it all in,” said Issey. “It was quite an honour to share the stage with such an iconic band, and also a band that's been so supportive of us. We’ve done tours with them. And especially Paul Cook, the drummer, he's been at loads of our gigs independently and even got on stage with us in London at Bush Hall. And he played the drums with us on God Save the Queen. So, it's been a good support for us.”

If you look at press shots of The Molotovs, one thing that is immediately apparent is their striking image. But how important are fashion and style to the band? "We don't get styled; we all do it ourselves. And it's just a mix of what we like, our influences. But then it all comes from the music we like. We didn't like the clothes first. It was the music first, and then the clothes came along,” said Mathew. “For instance, I'm a massive Paul Weller fan, and with The Jam, The Style Council and his solo career, I've seen so many great outfits and great styles from him. And it's just been a real inspiration. I think a lot of style gets neglected, but music and fashion have always gone hand in hand for me. And in history, you see the way bands dress, and you're able to tell if someone's in a band just by the way they dress as well. And I think that's an important thing looking the part, doing rock and roll, if you will. I think it's a bit crass to say that, but it does what it says on the tin when you dress like it.”

Issey adds: “We've been about the aesthetics from the very start, even when we began by busking around London and our local area. We were always dressed up like we are now. It was all the sharp lines. Every shoot was very much deep in that kind of early mods subculture. Now, we've kind of branched out. I'm more of a fan of the new wave thing going on in New York in the late 70s. And the punk scene at the same time in London. But we’ve always had a strong sense of image, and it kind of made us stand out from everything else that was going on. And Mod always had such a loyal fan base. And that's really helped us get a leg up, especially in the beginning.”

Earlier this year, the band caused quite a stir in Soho when they performed a guerilla gig on the back of a truck in Bewick Street, London. “We needed some publicity around the single to make it go to number one like it did. I suppose just to boost awareness about it and beyond our fan base and social media. We've always come from a background of busking and guerrilla gigs. So, it sort of took us back to our roots,” said Mathew. “We didn't know what to expect. It's the first time we played on a little trailer as well. Our old drummer's dad's a builder, and he had this little trailer. So, it was people on the back of it. And we thought maybe a few of our fans would show up, and a couple of people walking by would go into the shop and just buy the record. But it wasn't like that at all. The whole street was rammed.”

The band’s debut single went into the charts at Number 1. But how did that feel for the group? “When we found out, it was on tour, and our manager told us in the van,” said Mathew. “We were all sort of high-fiving in the back. It was a really good feeling.” Issey adds: “And especially after we saw Ariana Grande was number two. That was a real victory for guitar music.”

The Molotovs have been headhunted and commended by many legendary acts including Blondie, Adam Ant and Green Day. The Libertines have also championed the group whilst on tour. “The Libertines are real champions of the grassroots scene,” said Issey. “I like the fact that they pick loads of different acts, and they give everyone a chance. And they don't pick one big band to support them. But just seeing how sociable and down-to-earth they are backstage, the Libertines, and how they're sort of willing to help,” adds Mathew.

Issey continues: “Even afterwards, on an interview with Peter Doherty, he said, I reminded him of a cross between Nico and an acrobat, which I'm pretty fond of. I'll probably be putting that on my gravestone.”

The group are presently preparing to release their new single ‘Today’s Gonna Be Our Day’ on the 20th of June. Speaking about the song, Mathew said: "The sub context of it is hope, but I suppose it talks about the apathy of this generation. And it's a call to arms to get off you’re a** and do something. Do something about problems and don't sit about complaining. I mean, don't get me wrong, you've got to get it off your chest somehow. But at the end of the day, there's got to be unity and expression amongst us and a neutral feeling amongst the generation to make something happen.”

The Molotovs are signed to Marshall Records. The history of Marshall is something that resonates with the group. “It just felt like a natural partnership. Marshall has a great heritage in those original 60s acts. Like The Who, they had a massive partnership with them. So, it kind of felt organic and the way forward. Like the legacy continuing into the 21st century felt fitting,” said Issey. “All the bands I like played Marshall. Oasis played Marshall, The Jam played Marshall, and The Libertines played Marshall. It's just a classic British sound that really resonated with me. I just think it looks great as well,” elaborates Mathew.

The Molotovs will soon reunite with the Sex Pistols as tour support on their upcoming US run. Matthew said: “We've only been to the States once before, and that was for South by Southwest, and we went to Austin, Texas. And that was great fun. But other than that, we have no concept of what the rest of the States are going to be like. I mean, it feels like a million miles away, really. Not time-wise, but just like, it's a completely different culture and different people. And, we'll be, I suppose, out of our depth in some ways. But I suppose when we get on stage, we prove what we can do. And that's the most important thing.” Issey adds: “Even in Austin, we'd look out at the crowd, and it was all kind of long hair, baggy jeans, sort of not really our typical kind of crowd. It was a little bit more tailored. But as soon as we started playing, they all got on board pretty quickly. So, we were quite surprised by the reaction. So, we are hoping for that too on the rest of the tour.”

The Molotovs are looking forward to their show in Newcastle next week. “I'll tell you what, more often than not, they're better crack up north,” said Mathew. “I suppose stranger things happen, and it makes it interesting, more memorable. When we did Stockton recently, the people were just mad.”

The Molotovs will perform at Think Tank in Newcastle on Monday, 16th June. For ticket information and further details, please visit https://www.thinktankncl.co.uk/.

Words by Adam Kennedy