The Exploited @ The Rockpile Bar & Nightclub
Toronto, Canada
October 19, 2025
PUNKS NOT DEAD – 45 YEARS TOUR 2025
The OGs of punk rock, The Exploited, all the way from Edinburgh, Scotland, kicked off their 2025 Canadian Tour in Toronto, Canada, and I was there to capture it!
Growing up in Montreal, surrounded by my metalhead friends, I always had a secret passion for punk rock. It was the mid-’90s — I was just a teen — when I came across their 1990 album The Massacre in a shop selling used cassettes and CDs. I was hooked instantly! And if you’re wondering, yeah, I bought the cassette — CDs were still too expensive for me back then.
The show kicked off with three great opening acts, but Spades GT really warmed up the crowd with the perfect mix of high-energy crossover punk and thrash.
The moment The Exploited struck that first chord — and shirtless Wattie Buchan, sporting his signature red mohawk, stormed the stage — the crowd went absolutely wild!
This was my first time seeing the band, and let me tell you, the room heated up fast. The pit got a little rough as fans pressed against the lower stage, fists pumping toward the band. Wattie shared his mic with the crowd, letting fans sing along — everyone knew the words. It felt like one big party with old friends.
Let’s talk about the current lineup, starting with drummer Garry Sullivan. If you watch him live, pay attention to how he kicks off each song — his tempo drives the pit and the crowd’s reaction. In punk, that opening beat sets the entire track’s energy, and Garry nails it every time.
Bassist Robert Halkett, a.k.a. Irish Rob, absolutely owned the stage. Rob has this incredible way of connecting with the crowd — locking eyes, flashing cheeky grins, and feeding off their energy. From bouncing across the stage to hammering out those gritty basslines, he’s the heartbeat of the band, and you can’t help but get swept up in the madness.
Guitarist Robbie “Steed” Davidson locks in perfectly with Garry and Rob. He doesn’t play over the rhythm section — he is part of it. That’s what makes The Exploited’s live sound feel so massive without needing layered guitars. Robbie went full punk mode, using his mic stand as a slide and scraping it across his guitar — a classic punk-meets-metal expression. Punk shows thrive on visual chaos as much as sound, and Robbie’s hair swings amplify that sense of wild abandon. I really enjoyed capturing it on camera!
The four of them play in perfect sync, feeding off each other’s energy. Wattie commands with raw fury, Garry’s drums drive the pace like a hammer, Irish Rob’s bass shakes the floor, and Robbie’s riffs slice through it all. Pure punk synergy.
One of my favorite moments was when the band invited fans on stage to sing along to the anthem “Sex & Violence.” The stage turned into a full-on punk riot — bodies, voices, and noise all crashing together. That’s what punk’s all about: raw energy and pure connection.
By the end, everyone was drenched in sweat and grinning like they’d just survived a riot. Punk’s not dead — it’s alive, screaming, and wearing a mohawk.
Setlist October 18, 2025
1. Let’s Start a War (Said Maggie One Day)
2. Fight Back
3. Dogs of War
4. The Massacre
5. UK 82
6. Chaos Is My Life
7. Alternative
8. Troops of Tomorrow (The Vibrators cover)
9. Noize Annoys
10 .Class War
11. Never Sell Out
12. I Believe in Anarchy
13. Dead Cities
14. Beat the Bastards
15. Cop Cars
16. Porno Slut
17. Fuck the System
18. Army Life
19.Fuck the USA
Encore:
20. Sex & Violence (Vocals by fans on stage)
21. Punks Not Dea
22. Was It Me
All photos by @front.row.fans
