Cockney Rejects

 

Cockney Rejects

Cockney Rejects are an Oi! punk band that formed in the East End of London in 1977. Their 1980 song "Oi, Oi, Oi" was the inspiration for the name of the Oi! music genre.

Their biggest hit record in the United Kingdom, 1980's "The Greatest Cockney Rip-Off",was a parody of Sham 69's song "Hersham Boys". Other Cockney Rejects songs were less commercial,partly because they tended to be about hard-edged topics such as street fighting or football hooliganism. The band members are loyal supporters of West Ham United F.C.,and pay tribute to the club with their hit cover version of "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles",a song which has been sung by the West Ham supporters at the match since the 1920s. Other singles to chart in the UK were "Bad Man," "We Can Do Anything," and "We Are the Firm" (all 1980).

The violence depicted in their lyrics was often mirrored at their concerts, and the band members often fought to defend themselves (often from supporters of opposing football teams) or to split up conflicts between audience members. Jeff and Mick Geggus (who are brothers) had both been amateur youth boxers, and had fought at the national level. 

Cockney Rejects expressed contempt for all politicians in their lyrics, and they rejected media claims that they had a British Movement following, or that the band members supported the views of that far right group. In their first Sounds interview, they mockingly referred to the British Movement as the "German Movement" and stated that many of their heroes were black boxers. Jeff Turner's autobiography Cockney Reject describes an incident in which the band members and their supporters had a massive fight against British Movement members at one of Cockney Rejects' early concerts.

Cockney Rejects released their most recent album Unforgiven on the G&R London in dependent record label in May 2007.

Beginnings

The Cockney Rejects were formed in 1978 by, brothers, Jeff Turner and Micky Geggus, with their brother-in-law Chris Murrell on bass and Paul Harvey on drums. Their first demo 'Flares n' Slippers' caught the attention of Small Wonder Records owner Pete Stennett, who introduced the band to Bob Sergeant. With Sergeant, they recorded their single "I Wanna Be A Star"; the song was a huge success and sold out its first pressing.

At this point, the brothers replaced Murrell and Harvey with Vince Riordan, on bass, and Andy Scott, on the drums, from fellow East End band, The Tickets. This would be known as the Cockney Rejects 'classic' lineup, and its debut at the Bridge House in Canning Town in June 1979 is considered a turning point for the band. In September of that same year, the band signed with EMI and released their 'Greatest Hits, Vol. 1' in February 1980. 

Band members

Original line up (1978-79.)

    * Jeff Geggus, aka Jeff Turner, aka "Stinky" Turner (vocals)
    * Mick Geggus (guitar)
    * Chris Murrell (bass guitar)
    * Paul Harvey ( drums)

1979

    * Stinky Turner (vocals)
    * Micky Geggus (lead guitar)
    * Vince Riordan (bass)
    * Andy " Atlas " Scott (drums)

1980

    * Stinky Turner (Vocals)
    * Micky Geggus (Guitars)
    * Vince Riordan (Bass)
    * Nigel Woolf (Drums)

1980–83

    * Stinky Turner/Jefferson Turner (vocals)
    * Mick Geggus (guitars)
    * Vince/Vinnie Riordan (bass)
    * Keith "Stix" Warrington (drums)

1984–1985

    * Jeff Turner (vocals)
    * Mick Geggus (guitars)
    * Ian Campbell (bass)
    * Keith Warrington (drums)

1987–1991

(See line-up 4)

1999

    * Jeff Turner (vocals)
    * Mick Geggus (guitar)
    * Tony Van Frater (bass)
    * Andrew Laing (drums)

2000–2006

    * Jeff Turner (vocals)
    * Mick Geggus (guitars)
    * Tony Van Frater (bass)
    * Les "Nobby" Cobb (drums)

Present line up (2007)

(See 1999 Line Up)
Previous band members

    * Micky Burt (drums) (1989) (Didn't actually play any gigs; he wasn't available for the May 1989 gig in Berchem, Belgium, so Keith Warrington was brought back)
    * (Record producer Peter Wilson played drums on the "Flares & Slippers" EP)

Discography

Albums

    * Greatest Hits Volume 1 (EMI, 1980) UK #22
    * Greatest Hits Volume 2 (EMI/Zonophone, 1980) UK #23
    * Greatest Hits Volume 3 (Live & Loud) (EMI/Zemaphone, 1981) UK #27
    * The Power and the Glory (EMI/Zonophone, 1981)
    * The Wild Ones (AKA1, 1982)
    * Quiet Storm (Heavy Metal Records, 1984)
    * Unheard Rejects (Wonderful World Records, 1985)
    * Lethal (Neat Records, 1990)
    * The Punk Singles Collection (Dojo, 1997)
    * Greatest Hits Volume 4 (Rhythm Vicar, 1997)
    * Out of the Gutter (Captain Oi Records, 2003)
    * Unforgiven (G&R Records, 2007)

EPs and singles

    * "Flares & Slippers" (7-inch, EP) (Small Wonder, 1979)
    * "I'm Not a Fool" (7-inch single) (EMI, 1979) UK #65
    * "Bad Man" (7-inch) (EMI, 1980) UK #65
    * "The Greatest Cockney Rip Off" (7-inch. Limited Edition in Yellow Vinyl) (EMI/Zonophone, 1980) UK #21
    * "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" (7-inch) (EMI/Zonophone, 1980) UK #35
    * "We Can Do Anything" (7-inch) (EMI/Zonophone, 1980) UK #65
    * "We Are the Firm" (7-inch) (EMI/Zonophone, 1980) UK #54
    * "Easy Life" (7-inch, Live EP) (EMI/Zonophone, 1981)
    * "On the Streets Again" (7-inch) (EMI/Zonophone, 1981)
    * "Till the End of the Day" (7-inch) (AKA 1982)
    * "Back to the Start" (7-inch) (Heavy Metal Records, 1984)

Compilations

    * Oi! The Album (1980)
    * "Total Noise" (7-inch EP) (1983)
    * Oi! Oi! Oi! (Castle, 1997)
    * Lords Of Oi! (Dressed to Kill, 1997)
    * Back on the Street (Victory Records, 2000)[Reissue of " Greatest Hits Vol4 "]
    * Addicted to Oi! (2001)

Official website