The Cockney Rejects formed in London's East End in 1979. Their first recording was the Flares and Slippers E.P. released on the independent label Small Wonder. The initial band line-up on this E.P. was....
Jeff "Stinky" Turner - Vocals Mick Geggus - Guitar Vince Riordan - Bass Andy Scott - Drums
Following the success of the E.P. the band were quickly signed to EMI Records.
The first single for EMI I'm Not A Fool was released in December '79 reaching number 65 in the national charts. Years later the song would be used on national television in a Levis advert!
The second EMI single released barely two months later, Bad Man also reached number 65 in February 1980.
The band broke into the top thirty with their third single The Greatest Cockney Rip Off which peaked at number 21 and spent 7 weeks in the national charts.
This was followed by a top forty placing for the next single, the West Ham inspired anthem I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles which reached number 35.
Amazingly the band would have another two minor hits that year with We Can Do Anything reaching number 65 in July and We Are The Firm reaching number 54 in October.
The band's first album the cheekily titled Greatest Hits Volume 1 quickly followed by the next album Greatest Hits Volume 2 saw the band attracting a massive skinhead and punk following all over Britain and Europe.
There was a line-up change by the time the 2nd album was recorded with drummer Nigel Woolf replacing Andy Scott.
It was a song on this album Oi,Oi,Oi that gave a name to the new form of street punk evolving at the time that became known as "Oi Music".
The punk scene suddenly had a whole host of Cockney Rejects inspired bands popping up around the country.
There was another change in drummer by the time of the band's third album with Keith "Sticks" Warrington joining the band.
The album Greatest Hits Vol 3 - Live and Loud was actually recorded live in the studio in front of a rowdy invited audience.
The Rejects had always been influenced by rock music and the fourth album The Power and the Glory was a crossover album which was much more rock influenced, with a more rocky sound and much better production. The songwriting and musicianship on the album was top notch but not all previous fans of the band accepted it.
The Rejects headed further into rock music territory with the Wild Ones album which was produced by Pete Way, bass player of rock band UFO and released in 1982.
Other albums included the relatively low key release Quiet Storm.
The band disbanded in 1985 but returned briefly in 1990 to release the album Lethal.
A few years ago the band decided to reform with a view to return to live work and also to recording again.
The new line-up featured current Red Alert guitarist Tony Van Frater on bass and ex-Red Alert member Les Cobb (aka Nobby) on drums.
A re-recorded Best Of was released before the band recorded a brand new album entitled Out of the Gutter on the Captain Oi label.
The band has recently played live in England, Wales, Spain, Germany, Norway and Japan. Further dates in England, Spain, Germany and Belguim are booked and the band are well and truly back.
The current band line up is: Jeff Turner - Vocals Mick Geggus - Guitar Tony Van Frater - Bass Les Cobb - Drums
