Cockney Rejects
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Cockney Rejects are an English punk rock band that formed in the East End of London in 1978.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Their 1980 song "Oi, Oi, Oi" was the inspiration for the name of the Oi! music genre.<ref name="Bushell">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band members are supporters of West Ham United, and pay tribute to the club with their hit cover version of "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", a song traditionally sung by West Ham supporters.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Career
Formed in East London in the late 1970s, the Cockney Rejects rejected the art-school punk scene, delivering a fiercely working-class sound. Their lyrics reflected the realities of inner-city life—police harassment, street battles, and football—striking a chord with the youth of the time.Template:Citation needed
Signed by EMI after just four gigs, the Cockney Rejects quickly rose to fame with sell-out UK tours and a chart-topping debut album. Their wild antics on Top of the Pops earned them a ban from the show, adding to their rebellious reputation. In 1980, they recorded the iconic "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" to celebrate West Ham United's FA Cup final appearance.<ref name="LarkinHR">Template:Cite book</ref>
In the 1990s, the Rejects gained new fans as bands such as Rancid and Green Day cited them as inspirations.Template:Citation needed Returning to the stage in 2000, they have since performed to audiences worldwide, known for their high-energy live shows.Template:Citation needed
In January 2024, the band evolved, with lead singer Jeff "Stinky" Turner now fronting a revitalized line up featuring Olga (Toy Dolls) on guitar, JJ Kaos (Last Resort, Anti-Nowhere League) on bass, and Ray Dust (The Business, Argy Bargy) on drums. This "punk rock supergroup" is bringing the Cockney Rejects’ legacy to fans across the globe.Template:Citation needed
Members
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- Current members
- Jeff Geggus ("Stinky" Turner) – vocals (1978–present)
- Michael Algar (Olga) – guitar (2024-present)
- JJ Pearce – bass (2024-present)
- Ray Bussey – drums (2024-present)
- Former members
- Mick Geggus – guitar (1978–2024)
- Vince Riordan – bass (1979–1983, 1987–1991, 2015–2024)
- Chris Murrell – bass (1978–1979)
- Paul Harvey – drums (1978–1979)
- Andy Scott – drums (1979–1980)
- Nigel Woof – drums (1980)
- Keith Warrington – drums (1980–1985, 1987–1991)
- Ian Campbell – bass (1983–1985)
- Tony Van Frater – bass (1999–2015; died 2015)
- Andrew Laing – drums (1999–2000, 2007–2017; died 2023)
- Les Cobb – drums (2000–2007)
- Joe Perry Sansome – drums (2017–2024)
Timeline
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Colors =
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BarData =
bar:Jeff text:"Jeff Geggus" bar:Mick text:"Mick Geggus" bar:Olga text:"Michael 'Olga' Algar"
bar:Chris text:"Chris Murrell" bar:Vince text:"Vince Riordan" bar:Ian text:"Ian Campbell" bar:Tony text:"Tony Van Frater" bar:JJ text:"JJ Pearce"
bar:Paul text:"Paul Harvey" bar:Andy text:"Andy Scott" bar:Nigel text:"Nigel Woolf" bar:Keith text:"Keith Warrington"
bar:Andrew text:"Andrew Laing" bar:Les text:"Les Cobb" bar:Joe text:"Joe Perry Sansome"
bar:Ray text:"Ray Bussey"
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width:11 bar:Jeff from:start till:01/11/1985 color:Vocal bar:Jeff from:01/05/1987 till:01/05/1991 color:Vocal bar:Jeff from:01/02/1999 till:end color:Vocal bar:Mick from:start till:01/11/1985 color:Guitar bar:Mick from:01/05/1987 till:01/05/1991 color:Guitar bar:Mick from:01/02/1999 till:06/03/2024 color:Guitar bar:Olga from:06/03/2024 till:end color:Guitar bar:Chris from:start till:01/03/1979 color:Bass bar:Vince from:01/03/1979 till:01/10/1983 color:Bass bar:Vince from:01/05/1987 till:01/05/1991 color:Bass bar:Ian from:01/10/1983 till:01/11/1985 color:Bass bar:Tony from:01/02/1999 till:29/10/2015 color:Bass bar:Vince from:30/10/2015 till:06/03/2024 color:Bass bar:JJ from:06/03/2024 till:end color:Bass bar:Paul from:start till:01/03/1979 color:Drums bar:Andy from:01/03/1979 till:20/05/1980 color:Drums bar:Nigel from:20/05/1980 till:30/11/1980 color:Drums bar:Keith from:01/12/1980 till:01/11/1985 color:Drums bar:Keith from:01/05/1987 till:01/05/1991 color:Drums bar:Andrew from:01/02/1999 till:01/10/2000 color:Drums bar:Andrew from:01/02/2007 till:01/02/2017 color:Drums bar:Les from:01/10/2000 till:01/02/2007 color:Drums bar:Joe from:01/02/2017 till:06/03/2024 color:Drums bar:Ray from:06/03/2024 till:end color:Drums
</timeline>
Discography
Albums
- Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (EMI, 1980)
- Greatest Hits Vol. II (EMI, 1980)
- The Power and the Glory (EMI, 1981)
- The Wild Ones (A.K.A. Records, 1982)
- Quiet Storm (Heavy Metal Records, 1984)
- Lethal (Neat Records, 1990)
- Out of the Gutter (Captain Oi Records, 2002)
- Unforgiven (CD - G&R Records, 2007 / Vinyl LP - Cadiz Music, 2024)
- East End Babylon (CD, LP - Cadiz Music, 2012)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Power Grab (CD, LP, Boxset - Cadiz Music, 2022)
EPs and singles
- "Flares & Slippers" b/w "I Wanna Be A Star" / "Police Car" (7-inch, EP) (Small Wonder, 1979)
- "I'm Not a Fool" b/w "East End" (7-inch single) (EMI, 1979) UK No. 65
- "Bad Man" b/w "New Song" (7-inch) (EMI, 1980) UK No. 65
- "The Greatest Cockney Rip Off" b/w "Hate Of The City" (7-inch. Limited Edition in Yellow Vinyl) (EMI/Zonophone, 1980) UK No. 21
- "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" b/w "West Side Boys" (7-inch) (EMI/Zonophone, 1980) UK No. 35
- "We Can Do Anything" b/w "15 Nights" (7-inch) (EMI/Zonophone, 1980) UK No. 65
- "We Are the Firm" (7-inch) (EMI/Zonophone, 1980) UK No. 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)<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">Template:Cite book</ref>
- "It's Gonna Kick Off!" (7-inch, EP) (Cadiz Music, 2016)
- "Goodbye Upton Park" b/w "Bubbles" (7-inch) (Cadiz Music, 2016)Template:Citation needed
- "Bubbles" b/w "The Rocker" (7-inch Picture Disc) (Cadiz Music, 2019)
- "Chapecoense" b/w "Boss Of Bosses" (7-inch) (Cadiz Music, 2019)
Compilation and live albums
- Greatest Hits Vol. 3 (Live & Loud) (1981)
- Unheard Rejects (1985 - collection of demo tracks recorded between 1979 and 1981)
- We Are The Firm (1986)
- The Best Of The Cockney Rejects (1993)
- The Punk Singles Collection (Dojo, 1997)
- Oi! Oi! Oi! (Castle, 1997)
- Greatest Hits Volume 4: Here They Come Again (Rhythm Vicar, 2000 - reissued as Back on the Street - Victory Records, 2000)
- Join the Rejects, the Zonophone years '79-'81 (EMI, )
- Hammer - The Classic Rock Years (4CD Box - Cadiz Music 2013)
Appearances
- Oi! The Album (1980)
- Total Noise (7-inch EP - 1983 - as Dead Generation)
- Lords Of Oi! (Dressed to Kill, 1997)
DVDs
- East End To The West End - Live At The Mean Fiddler 2007 - DVD & CD
- East End Babylon - The Story Of The Cockney Rejects - DVD