The 4-Skins

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The 4-Skins
The classic 4-Skins line-up, McCourt, Pear, Jacobs and Hodges, outside Tower Hill tube station, 1980
The classic 4-Skins line-up, McCourt, Pear, Jacobs and Hodges, outside Tower Hill tube station, 1980
Background information
Origin East End of London, England
Genre(s) Oi!, Punk Rock
Years active 1979 - 1984, 2007 -
Label(s) Clockwork Fun
Secret Records
Syndicate Records
G&R London
Members
Gary Hodges
Steve 'H' Harmer
Mick Geggus
Andy Russell
Former members
Hoxton Tom McCourt
Roi Pearce
Paul Swain
Ian Bramson
Gary Hitchcock
Steve 'Rockabilly' Pear
John Jacobs
Tony 'Panther' Cummins
Pete Abbot

The 4-Skins are a working class Oi! punk rock band from the East End of London, England. They formed in 1979 and disbanded in 1984, although a new line-up has formed in 2007.

Prior to the release of the band's debut single, "One Law For Them", The 4-Skins contributed songs to the first three Oi! compilation albums, alongside bands such as Cockney Rejects, Cock Sparrer, The Business and Angelic Upstarts.[1] Other well-known songs include: "Sorry", "Evil", "Chaos", "Plastic Gangsters" and "A.C.A.B." (All Coppers Are Bastards). Many of their songs dealt with violent topics, but the band has claimed they were discussing the realities of inner city life, not promoting violence.[2] Other 4-Skins song topics include police harassment, political corruption, war and unemployment.

Most of the original four band members were or had been skinheads, thus the double meaning of the band's name. However, Steve Pear had a rockabilly style, and Hoxton Tom McCourt — who was a suedehead — was one of the leading faces in the mod revival.[3][4] Initially the band members had known each other from football, or from following bands such as Sham 69 and Menace.

The 4-Skins went through many personnel changes during their five-year existence, only bassist/songwriter 'Hoxton' Tom McCourt being present in every line-up of the band. Notable former members include frontman of The Last Resort, Roi Pearce, and guitarist Paul Swain, who later joined white power band Skrewdriver.[5][6]

In 2007, the band reformed with two of the original members - lead singer Gary Hodges and bassist Steve 'H' Harmer, plus the Cockney Rejects' Mick Geggus and Andy Russell on guitar and drums respectively. The new line-up has been recording an album for the independent record label G&R London. This new line-up appeared on the G&R London compilation album Kings of Streetpunk, with the songs "Chaos 2007" and "Glory Days".[7]

Despite having originally stated that they would not perform live, Gary Hodges, fronting the band Indecent Exposure as Gary Hodges' 4-Skins, has played two shows, one in Berlin at the Punk and Disorderly festival and the other in Allentown, PA at the East Coast Oi Fest.[8][9] Most recently they have been confirmed to play the Blackpool rebellion Punk festival.[10]. In April, 2008 Gary Hodges 4-Skins' released two songs for free on their official web page. Both are covers of Slade songs, namely "Cum on Feel the Noize" and "Thanks for the Memories".


Contents

[edit] Band members

The 4-Skins, Hodges, Pear, Jacobs and McCourt in 1980 at Aldgate East, East London.
The 4-Skins, Hodges, Pear, Jacobs and McCourt in 1980 at Aldgate East, East London.

[edit] (1979-1980)

  • Hoxton Tom McCourt (guitar)
  • Gary Hodges (vocals)
  • Steve 'H' Harmer (bass)
  • Gary Hitchcock (drums).

[edit] (1980-1981)

  • Hoxton Tom McCourt (bass)
  • Gary Hodges (vocals)
  • Steve 'Rockabilly' Pear (guitar)
  • John Jacobs (drums)

[edit] (1981-1983)

  • Hoxton Tom McCourt (bass)
  • Tony 'Panther' Cummins (vocals)
  • John Jacobs (guitar)
  • Pete Abbot (drums)

[edit] (1983-1984)

  • Roi Pearce (vocals)
  • Paul Swain (guitar)
  • Ian Bramson (drums)

[edit] (2007-)

  • Steve 'H' Harmer (bass)
  • Gary Hodges (vocals)
  • Mick Geggus (guitar)
  • Andy Russell (drums)

[edit] Partial discography

Hoxton Tom McCourt and Roi Pearce of The Last Resort, and later 4-Skins, outside the Bricklayers Arms, Shoreditch 1983.
Hoxton Tom McCourt and Roi Pearce of The Last Resort, and later 4-Skins, outside the Bricklayers Arms, Shoreditch 1983.

[edit] Oi! compilation appearances

  • "Wonderful World", "Chaos" – Oi! The Album (EMI, 1980)
  • "1984", "Sorry" – Strength Thru Oi! (Decca Records, 1981)
  • "Evil" – Carry On Oi! (Secret Records, 1981)
  • "On The Streets" – Son Of Oi! (Syndicate Records, 1983)
  • "Clocwork Skinhead, Plastic Gangster, Summer Holiday"- Lords Of Oi! (Dressed To Kill, 1997)

[edit] Singles/EPs

  • One Law For Them / Brave New World (Clockwork Fun (CF 101), 1981)
  • Yesterdays Heroes / Justice/Get Out Of My Life (Secret Records (SHH 125), 1981)
  • Low Life / Bread Or Blood (Secret Records (SHH 141), 1982)

[edit] Albums

[edit] Compilations

  • A Few 4-Skins More, Vol.1 (Link Records, 1987)
  • A Few 4-Skins More, Vol.2 (Link Records, 1987)
  • The Wonderful World Of The 4-Skins (1987)
  • The Best Of 4-Skins (1989)
  • Clockwork Skinhead (2000)
  • Singles & Rarities (Captain Oi! Records, 2000)
  • The Secret Life of the 4-Skins (Captain Oi! Records, 2001)

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Oi! the Web Site
  2. ^ The History of the 4Skins
  3. ^ The History of the 4Skins
  4. ^ A Fistful of Feedback
  5. ^ Skrewdriver reviews, music, news - sputnikmusic
  6. ^ Diamond in the Dust - The Ian Stuart Biography
  7. ^ The Official Cockney Rejects website for news, tourdates, photos, merchandise and much more
  8. ^ PuNk AnD dISoRdErLY - The Festival
  9. ^ Downtown Sound Productions |
  10. ^ Rebellion Festival News

[edit] External links

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