I only recently discovered this ‘70s punk band, very much of the Oi! tradition, a musical and cultural tradition borne of white, British, working class ennui mixed with pub rock structures and pure, early-punk ferocity and immediacy. From one page:
Cock Sparrer (Cock Sparra/Cock Sparrow) formed in 1974 as a pre punk pub band they acquired and retained a largely skinhead following as they sped up like so many other bands at the time, with the onset of punk. An aggressive sounding band in the Small Faces / Slade tradition. East End boys singing about tough times and football violence in cockney accents.
I’ve listened to their first three albums. Very good material, especially on the band’s 2nd album, Shock Troops (1983).
Musically, fans of early Clash, Sex Pistols, and Sham 69 will dig Cock Sparrer.
They’re still out there, keeping the faith alive. And — it figures — they just played two shows in NYC earlier this month (their only two U.S. appearances), 15 years after their last U.S. appearance, and a mere week before I discovered them. (Some great photos of the shows here.)
Sigh…
Three choice cuts from the Shock Troops album:
Shock Troops has a slew of other great songs. I highly recommend you stream the whole album:
Why haven’t I heard of these guys before?
