COCKNEY REJECTS

Rarely in the long history of British rock 'n' roll has there been a story of such depth, magnitude, and sheer turbulence as that of the Cockney Rejects.
The band was formed in the late 1970s in East London as a response to the art-school punk that had dominated the scene up until then.

Fiercely working-class in their stance and attitude, the band shunned the political ramblings of punk’s first wave and sang about the circumstances surrounding them and millions of street kids in Britain’s inner cities—police harassment, street battles, and soccer, to name three.

Signed by EMI after playing just four local gigs (fewer than the Pistols!), they found themselves headlining sold-out tours across the UK and watching their debut album storm the charts.

Appearances on *Top of the Pops* followed, which became the stuff of legend as the band generally ran amok in the hallowed White City Studios, eventually getting banned from the show for their boisterous behavior.

In 1980, the band recorded a riotous version of “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” to celebrate the fact that their beloved West Ham United had reached the FA Cup final that year, but their devotion to all things claret and blue proved to be their downfall, as their gigs turned into battlegrounds between the band and rival fans, culminating in the vicious “Battle of Birmingham,” which led to serious criminal charges and, in turn, the end of the band’s touring career.

With the band’s first phase over, they were subsequently discovered by a whole new fanbase, including U.S. bands like Rancid and Green Day, who cherished the Rejects and their terrace punk sing-along anthems—which, in turn, inspired a new generation of kids to check them out.

Due to overwhelming demand, the band returned to the live circuit in 2000 and has since gone from strength to strength, playing to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe with a live set so energetic that it has to be seen to be believed.

With the divisions of the late ’70s and early ’80s now a thing of the past, and every gig turning into a party for fans and the band alike, the Cockney Rejects continue to go from strength to strength.
There’s never been a better time to check out the band that inspired a generation with their timeless brand of terrace sing-along classics and white-hot live set.

Join the Rejects—you won’t have a better night out all year!