Cockney Rejects

Cockney Rejects
Cockney Rejects performing in 2013
Background information
Also known as	The Rejects
Origin	East End of London, England
Genres	Punk rock Oi!
Years active	1978–1985, 1987–1991, 1999–present
Labels	Heavy Metal
Members	Jeff Geggus Michael Algar JJ Pearce Ray Bussey
Past members	Chris Murrell Paul Harvey Andy Scott Nigel Woolf Ian Campbell Keith Warrington Nobby Cobb Tony Van Frater Andrew Laing Mick Geggus Vince Riordan Joe Sansome
Website	cockneyrejects.com

Cockney Rejects are an English punk rock band that formed in the East End of London in 1978.^[1] Their 1980 song "Oi, Oi, Oi" was the inspiration for the name of the Oi! music genre.^[2][3] The band members are supporters of West Ham United, and pay tribute to the club with their hit cover version of "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", a song traditionally sung by West Ham supporters.^[4]

Career

Few stories in British rock are as raw and turbulent as that of the Cockney Rejects. Formed in East London in the late 1970s, they rejected the art-school punk scene, delivering a fiercely working-class sound. Their lyrics reflected the realities of inner-city life—police harassment, street battles, and football—striking a chord with the youth of the time.

Signed by EMI after just four gigs, the Rejects quickly rose to fame with sell-out UK tours and a chart-topping debut album. Their wild antics on Top of the Pops earned them a ban from the show, adding to their rebellious reputation. In 1980, they recorded the iconic “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” to celebrate West Ham United’s FA Cup final.

In the 1990s, the Rejects gained new fans as bands like Rancid and Green Day cited them as inspirations. Returning to the stage in 2000, they have since performed to massive audiences worldwide, known for their high-energy live shows.

In January 2024, the band evolved. Lead singer Jeff “Stinky” Turner now fronts a revitalized lineup featuring Olga (Toy Dolls) on guitar, JJ Kaos (Last Resort, Anti-Nowhere League) on bass, and Ray Dust (The Business, Argy Bargy) on drums. This “punk rock supergroup” is bringing the Cockney Rejects’ legacy to fans across the globe.

Members

Current members Jeff Geggus (Stinky Turner) – vocals (1978–present) Michael (Olga) Algar – guitar (2024-present) JJ Pearce – bass (2024-present) Ray Bussey – drums (2024-present)

Former members Mick Geggus – guitar (1978–2024) Vince Riordan – bass (1979–1983, 1987–1991, 2015–2024) Chris Murrell – bass (1978–1979) Paul Harvey – drums (1978–1979) Andy Scott – drums (1979–1980) Nigel Woof – drums (1980) Keith Warrington – drums (1980–1985, 1987–1991) Ian Campbell – bass (1983–1985) Tony Van Frater – bass (1999–2015; died 2015) Andrew Laing – drums (1999–2000, 2007–2017; died 2023) Les Cobb – drums (2000–2007) Joe Perry Sansome – drums (2017–2024)

Jeff Turner (2013)

Mick Geggus (2013)

Tony Van Frater (2013)

Andrew Laing (2013)

Timeline

Discography

Albums

• Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (EMI, 1980)
• Greatest Hits Vol. II (EMI, 1980)
• The Power and the Glory (EMI, 1981)
• The Wild Ones (A.K.A. Records, 1982)
• Quiet Storm (Heavy Metal Records, 1984)
• Lethal (Neat Records, 1990)
• Out of the Gutter (Captain Oi Records, 2002)
• Unforgiven (G&R Records, 2007)
• East End Babylon (Cadiz Music, 2012)^[5]
• Power Grab (Cadiz Music, 2022)

EPs and singles

• "Flares & Slippers" b/w "I Wanna Be A Star" / "Police Car" (7-inch, EP) (Small Wonder, 1979)
• "I'm Not a Fool" b/w "East End" (7-inch single) (EMI, 1979) UK No. 65
• "Bad Man" b/w "New Song" (7-inch) (EMI, 1980) UK No. 65
• "The Greatest Cockney Rip Off" b/w "Hate Of The City" (7-inch. Limited Edition in Yellow Vinyl) (EMI/Zonophone, 1980) UK No. 21
• "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" b/w "West Side Boys" (7-inch) (EMI/Zonophone, 1980) UK No. 35
• "We Can Do Anything" b/w "15 Nights" (7-inch) (EMI/Zonophone, 1980) UK No. 65
• "We Are the Firm" (7-inch) (EMI/Zonophone, 1980) UK No. 54
• "Easy Life" (7-inch, Live EP) (EMI/Zonophone, 1981)
• "On the Streets Again" (7-inch) (EMI/Zonophone, 1981)
• "Till the End of the Day" (7-inch) (AKA 1982)
• "Back to the Start" (7-inch) (Heavy Metal Records, 1984)^[6]
• "It's Gonna Kick Off!" (7-inch, EP) (Cadiz Music, 2016)
• "Goodbye Upton Park" (7-inch) (Cadiz Music,2016)^{[citation needed]}
• "Bubbles/The Rocker" (7-inch Picture Disc) (Cadiz Music, 2019)
• "Chapecoense/Boss Of Bosses" (7-Inch)(Cadiz Music, 2019)

Compilation and live albums

• Greatest Hits Vol. 3 (Live & Loud) (1981)
• Unheard Rejects (1985 - collection of demo tracks recorded between 1979 and 1981)
• We Are The Firm (1986)
• The Best Of The Cockney Rejects (1993)
• The Punk Singles Collection (Dojo, 1997)
• Oi! Oi! Oi! (Castle, 1997)
• Greatest Hits Volume 4: Here They Come Again (Rhythm Vicar, 2000 - reissued as Back on the Street - Victory Records, 2000)
• Join the Rejects, the Zonophone years '79-'81 (EMI, )
• Hammer - The Classic Rock Years (Cadiz Music 2013)

Appearances

• Oi! The Album (1980)
• Total Noise (7-inch EP - 1983 - as Dead Generation)
• Lords Of Oi! (Dressed to Kill, 1997)

DVD

• East End To The West End - Live At The Mean Fiddler 2007 - DVD & CD
• East End Babylon - The Story Of The Cockney Rejects - DVD

References

1. "Cockney Rejects". Cockney-rejects.com. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
2. Bushell, Garry. "Oi! – The Truth". Archived from the original on 31 July 2008.
3. Neal, Martin (16 July 2019). "Punk legend's tribute to much-missed former bandmate who died suddenly". essexlive. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
4. "'I'm forever blowing bubbles' - The story behind famous West Ham chant | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
5. "Cockney Rejects - discography, line-up, biography, interviews, photos". www.spirit-of-rock.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
6. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 112. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

External links

• Official website
• Cockney Rejects discography at Discogs
• Cockney Rejects at IMDb