Formed as The Mocktales

The band was formed in 2020 and initially consisted of siblings Mathew Cartlidge (vocals, guitar) and Issey Cartlidge (bass, vocals), as well as drummer Ice Dob. Originally called The Mocktales, they adopted their current name a year later, which refers both to the Molotov cocktail and, according to Mathew Cartlidge, to the band’s “rebellious energy”. Mathew and Issey Cartlidge had previously played in various bands. With all concert venues closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic , The Molotovs played their first gigs on streets and in parks across London. This allowed them to circumvent the age restrictions of some clubs. Through 2024, they had a residency at the Spice of Life in Soho. On May 10th 2024, they were joined on stage at London’s Bush Hall by Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook , playing ‘ God Save the Queen ’. By January 2025, the band had played over 500 gigs, including opening for The Libertines , Blondie , Iggy Pop and The Damned .