The 4Skins

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The 4Skins lineup 1980
The 4Skins lineup 1980

The 4Skins are a Nationalist 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 and left winged, Angelic Upstarts. 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. 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. 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 former frontman of The Last Resort, Roi Pearce and guitarist Paul Swain, who later joined Skrewdriver.

In 2007, the band reformed with two of the original members - lead singer Gary Hodges and bassist Steve 'H' Harmer, plus the Cockney Reject's Mick Geggus and Andy Russell on guitar and drums respectively. The new line-up has been recording an album for the 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".


[edit] Discography

Full Length Albums

  • The Good, The Bad & The 4-Skins (Secret Records (SEC 4), 1982)
  • A Fistful Of...4-Skins (Syndicate Records (SYN 1), 1983)
  • From Chaos to 1984 (Live) (Syndicate Records (SYN LP 5), 1984)

EP's

  • 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)

Compilations

  • "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)
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