The Babes was formed in 2015 in London, originally as a three-piece featuring Mao Holiday (bagpipes and lead vocals), Matt Ren Ex (bass and lead vocals), and Marvin (drums). The band plays a unique blend of Hardcore, Crust, and Punk — all driven by the powerful sound of bagpipes. They are now based in Paris.
The members met at a sound engineering school, where they were known as a group of misfits eager to play what they called “happy punk.” They began rehearsing in a garage in Twickenham (Southwest London), then moved to Overdrive Studios in Deptford. It wasn’t long before The Babes were ready to take their music to the world.
Their journey began with the release of their debut single, “Tomorrow Seems So Far Away,” followed by extensive tours across England, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Wales, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, Lebanon, Mexico, and Colombia.
After a COVID-related hiatus and the tragic loss of their brother Matt Ren Ex, Mao Holiday reformed the band in 2023, returning to the road with a powerful new lineup:
Adrien de Mieux on drums (Skarface, The Toasters, Nausea Bomb)
Oscar Herbas on bass (Blitz, Scandals)
Jimmy Fox on guitar (Kriminal Pogo)
That same year, they played 20 cities in 5 countries.
2024 kicked off with a tour across Mexico, including shows at Ecatepunk Festival, Tianguis El Chopo, Oaxaca, a surprise gig at Discos Venas Rotas, and appearances at Gato Calavera, Discos Denver, and Bam Bam Records. In May and June, they toured Ireland and France, with a special performance in the Catacombs of Paris.
2025 started strong with a mini tour in Mexico and Colombia alongside The Restarts, the release of their latest split album, and preparations for their 10-year anniversary, marked by a new full-length album and an international tour across Asia, Europe, and the Americas in 2026.
To date, they’ve released three full-length albums, all recorded and produced by Mao Holiday:
Greetings from London (2017): an experimental album featuring only bass, bagpipes, and drums — a far cry from their current sound.
Joint (2022): a split with British punk legends Disorder, introducing guitar into their compositions.
Pulso (2025): a split with Colombian band Sin Pudor, regarded as their hardest-hitting and most live-representative record to date.
Throughout their career, The Babes have shared stages with legendary bands such as:
The Varukers, Icons of Filth, The Exploited, Disorder, Agathocles, Warwound, Anthrax, The Restarts, The Kids, Disturbance, Total Chaos, Omega Tribe, Blatoidea, Solución Mortal, Acidez, Human DogFood, Breakout, The Adicts, Mau Maus, Conflict, Hagar the Womb, Nausea Bomb, Lobotomía, Left for Dead, Jabul Gorba, Grand Collapse, Rebeld'punk, Rabies Babies, The Nilz, Vómito Nuclear, Excluded, Anti-Clockwise, and many more.
They’ve also performed at major festivals including:
Rebellion Festival, Bearded Theory’s Spring Gathering, Convoy Cabaret, No Dirty Rules Fest (BL), Morecambe Festival, Tianguis El Chopo (MX), Strive for Live Fest, Borderline Fest (FR), Punks n’ Freaks (FR), Día Internacional del Punk (MX) and many others.
See you in the pit!
Mao Holiday
The Babes
Photo credits: Maciej Bąkowski
Top to bottom
*Matt Ren Ex: Bass, vocals
*Marvin: Drums
*Mao Holiday: Bagpipe, vocals
Original photo for album cover “Greetings from London” (2017)