The Exploited

On 16 June 2026, The Exploited are set to take the stage at Knust in Hamburg. Founded in the late ’70s in Edinburgh, the band led by singer Wattie Buchan is known for fast, direct UK82 punk that sits between street punk and hardcore. Early singles like “Army Life” and “Exploited Barmy Army” set the tone; with the albums Punk’s Not Dead (1981) and Troops of Tomorrow (1982) came short, aggressive riffs, chanting slogans, gang vocals and lyrics about unemployment, urban violence and distrust of institutions. This was followed by Let’s Start a War… (1983), Horror Epics (1985) and Death Before Dishonour (1987). From The Massacre (1990), through Beat the Bastards (1996) and Fuck the System (2003), a harder, thrash-influenced edge came to the fore without abandoning the punk vocal delivery. The band regularly tours across Europe and beyond, delivering a direct, uncompromising performance. In Hamburg, expect a set that brings together early songs and the more metallic phase—raw, loud and pared down to the essentials.