Cockney Rejects

Cockney Rejects

Cockney Rejects are an English punk rock band from London, formed in the East End in 1977 and active from 1978 to the present. The group’s line-up has included Mick Geggus, Jeff Turner, Andy Scott, Vince Riordan, Nigel Wolfe, Keith Warrington, Ian Campbell, Andrew Laing, Tony Frater, Les Cobb, Michael Algar, Ray Bussey and John Pearce.

Origins and line-up

The band forms in 1977 by brothers Jeff and Micky Geggus, with their brother-in-law Chris Murrell on bass and Paul Harvey on drums. Their first demo, “Flares n’ Slippers”, attracts the attention of Small Wonder Records owner Pete Stennett, who introduces the band to Bob Sergeant. With Sergeant, they record “Flares n’ Slippers”, and the single sells out its first pressing. Murrell and Harvey are later replaced by Vince Riordan on bass and Andy Scott on drums, forming what becomes known as the classic Cockney Rejects line-up. Their debut at the Bridge House in Canning Town in June 1979 is considered a turning point.

Oi! and football culture

Cockney Rejects are associated with oi, punk and punk rock, and their 1980 song “Oi, Oi, Oi” inspires the name of the Oi! music genre. The band are supporters of West Ham United and record a version of “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”, a song traditionally sung by West Ham supporters, as a tribute to the club. Their lyrics often deal with street fighting and football hooliganism, and their concerts sometimes involve violence or fights among audience members and attempts by the band to break them up.

Recordings and releases

In September 1979 the band sign with EMI, and in February 1980 they release Greatest Hits, Vol. 1. Their biggest UK single is 1980’s “The Greatest Cockney Rip-Off”, a parody of Sham 69’s “Hersham Boys”. Other UK singles from 1980 include “Bad Man”, “We Can Do Anything”, “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” and “We Are the Firm”. EMI later releases the retrospective Join the Rejects, the Zonophone years ’79–’81, a three-disc set of their EMI recordings, Peel sessions and rare demos, with a booklet by Micky Geggus. In 2013 the band releases the film East End Babylon and an album of the same name.

Band history and related facts

Jeff and Mick Geggus are brothers and both have amateur boxing backgrounds, competing at national level. Vince Riordan’s uncle is Jack “The Hat” McVitie, a Cockney gangster murdered by Reggie Kray. The band state contempt for politicians in their lyrics and reject claims that they support the British Movement, describing it mockingly and saying that many of their heroes are black boxers. Jeff Turner’s autobiography Cockney Reject includes an account of a fight between the band, their supporters and British Movement members at one of their early concerts. Tony Van Frater dies in October 2015, and Vince Riordan rejoins the band in 2016.