Cockney Rejects
East End Babylon (clear)
Formed in the turbulence of late Seventies East London as an answer to the art school punk that had dominated until then, the Cockney Rejects soon cornered their patch with their timeless brand of terrace singalong classics and white hot live set. In recent years the band were discovered by a new fanbase, such as US bands Rancid and Green Day. The Rejects were fiercely working class in stance and attitude, the band eschewed the political ramblings of punks first wave and sang about their own circumstances - police harassment, street battles and football to name three. Signed by EMI after playing four local gigs (less than The Pistols!) they found themselves playing sell out tours the length and breadth of the UK and seeing their debut album storm the charts. Top of the Pops appearances followed, which became the stuff of legend as the band generally ran amok in the hallowed White City studios, finally getting banned from the show for their boisterous behaviour. The band's renaissance was duly set with the release of this fearsomely good album and acclaimed documentary film that secured their legendary status and won them a whole new generation of fans. Now available as a very limited edition of 500, numbered copies pressed on clear vinyl.