The 4-Skins Explained

The 4-Skins
Background:group_or_band
Origin:East End of London, England
Genre:Punk rock, Oi!,[1] [2] ska
Years Active:1979–1984
2007–present
Label:Clockwork Fun
Secret Records
Syndicate Records
G&R London
Randale Records
Clockwork Firm
Alias:Gary Hodges' 4-Skins
Current Members:As Gary Hodges' 4-Skins
Gary Hodges
Graham Bacon
Tom Brennan
Sedge Swatton
Past Members:Hoxton Tom McCourt
Roi Pearce
Paul Swain
Ian Bramson
Steve 'Rockabilly' Pear
John Jacobs
Tony 'Panther' Cummins
Pete Abbot
Steve 'H' Hamer
Mick Geggus
Andy Russell

The 4-Skins are a punk rock band from the East End of London, England. Originally composed of Gary Hodges (vocals), 'Hoxton' Tom McCourt (guitar), Steve 'H' Hamer (bass) and John Jacobs (drums), the group was formed in 1979 and disbanded in 1984 – although new line-ups formed in 2007 and 2008. 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.[3] Other 4-Skins song topics include police harassment, political corruption, war and unemployment.[4]

Career

The band members first met each other through mutual interest in football or in bands such as Sham 69 and Menace. Most of the original four band members were or had been skinheads, thus the double meaning of the band's name.[4] However, Steve Pear had a rockabilly style, and Hoxton Tom McCourt — who was a suedehead — was one of the leading participants of the mod revival.[3] [5] 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.[6] The 4-Skins went through many personnel changes during their initial five-year existence, with only bassist/songwriter 'Hoxton' Tom McCourt being present in every band line-up.[4] Other former members include Roi Pearce, who was also the frontman of The Last Resort, and Paul Swain, a guitarist who later joined white power rock band Skrewdriver.[7]

In 2007, The 4-Skins reformed with two original members — lead singer Gary Hodges and bassist Steve 'H' Harmer, plus guitarist Mick Geggus and drummer Andy Russell of Cockney Rejects. This line-up recorded two songs, "Chaos 2007" and "Glory Days", for the compilation album Kings of Streetpunk,[8] released by the independent record label G&R London.

In 2008, Hodges formed a new version of the band under the name Gary Hodges' 4-Skins. This line-up played three shows – one in Berlin at the Punk and Disorderly festival, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the East Coast Oi Fest[9] [10] and as the headlining act on the final day of the Blackpool Rebellion punk festival in August 2008.[11] Two newly recorded tracks were also released for free on The 4-Skins' official web page. Both were covers of Slade songs – "Cum on Feel the Noize" and "Thanks for the Memories". Following this, the band decided to continue recording and touring. On 4 April 2010, they released a studio album, The Return, on German label Randale Records.[12]

Band members

1979–1980

1980–1981

1981–1983

1983–1984

2007

2008–present

Partial discography

Albums

Collections

Singles and EPs

Compilation appearances

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Laing, Dave . One Chord Wonders: Power and Meaning in Punk Rock . May 2015 . 978-1629630335 . 151. PM Press .
  2. Book: One Love Two Colours: The Unlikely Marriage of a Punk Rocker and His African Queen . Smith. Oshindele Smith . Bobby. Margaret . 2007 . Troubador Publishing Ltd . 85 . Along with The Business and Cock Sparrer, the 4-Skins were the most culturally important of the Oi! Bands, their sound influencing a new host of new American bands such as Rancid and Anti-Heroes. . 978-1906221393.
  3. Web site: The History of the 4Skins. The4skins.tripod.com. 8 September 2019.
  4. Book: The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Colin Larkin. Colin Larkin (writer). Virgin Books. 1997. Concise. 1-85227-745-9. 484–5.
  5. Web site: A Fistful of.........Feedback. The4skins.tripod.com. 8 September 2019.
  6. Web site: Oi! the Web Site. Oisite.tripod.com. 8 September 2019.
  7. Web site: Skrewdriver. Sputnikmusic.com. 8 September 2019.
  8. Web site: The Cockney Rejects The Kings Of Street Punk. 28 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080928211456/http://cockneyrejectsuk.co.uk/kingsofstreetpunkalbum.html. 8 September 2020. 28 September 2008.
  9. Web site: Punk & Disorderly 2020 . Mad-tourbooking.de. 8 September 2019.
  10. http://www.craigdowntown.com/index.html
  11. Web site: Confirmed Bands. https://web.archive.org/web/20080805040141/http://www.rebellionfestivals.com/rebellion-blackpool-bands.html. dead. 5 August 2008. 8 September 2019.
  12. Web site: 4-skins news. The Official 4-Skins Website. 26 April 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100107011212/http://www.the4-skins.co.uk/4skinsnews.html. 7 January 2010. dmy-all.

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