The 4-Skins are a punk rock band from the East End of London, England.[3] 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.[4] Other 4-Skins song topics include police harassment, political corruption, war and unemployment.[3]
The 4-Skins
The classic 4-Skins line-up: McCourt, Pear, Jacobs and Hodges, outside Tower Hill tube station, 1980
Clockwork Fun Secret Records Syndicate Records G&R London Randale Records Clockwork Firm
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 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.[3] 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.[4][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.[3] 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 labelG&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]
The Best of the 4 Skins (Harry May/Link Records, 1997) – limited edition including 7" singles
Clockwork Skinhead (2000)
Singles & Rarities (Captain Oi! Records, 2000)
The Secret Life of the 4-Skins (Captain Oi! Records, 2001)
History Of... (Double CD, Taang Records, 2003)
Singles and EPsedit
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)
Turning the Past into the Present – The 4-Skins, "Thanks For The Memories"/Evil Conduct, "The Way We Feel" (Clockwork Firm/Randale Records (655321 CF-001/RAN 47), 2009)
"Clockwork Skinhead", "Plastic Gangster", "Summer Holiday" - Lords Of Oi! (Dressed To Kill, 1997)
"Glory Days", "Chaos 2007" - Kings of Street Punk (G&R London, 2007)
Referencesedit
^Laing, Dave (May 2015). One Chord Wonders: Power and Meaning in Punk Rock. PM Press. p. 151. ISBN978-1629630335.
^Smith, Oshindele-Smith, Bobby, Margaret (2007). One Love Two Colours: The Unlikely Marriage of a Punk Rocker and His African Queen. Troubador Publishing Ltd. p. 85. ISBN978-1906221393. 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
The 4-Skins fan site with bio, lyrics and discography.
history of Oi! with information about The 4-Skins
4-Skins interview from Rising Free zine
4-Skins profile at Nostalgia Central
January 01, 1970
skins, punk, rock, band, from, east, london, england, originally, composed, gary, hodges, vocals, hoxton, mccourt, guitar, steve, hamer, bass, john, jacobs, drums, group, formed, 1979, disbanded, 1984, although, line, formed, 2007, 2008, many, their, songs, de. The 4 Skins are a punk rock band from the East End of London England 3 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 4 Other 4 Skins song topics include police harassment political corruption war and unemployment 3 The 4 SkinsThe classic 4 Skins line up McCourt Pear Jacobs and Hodges outside Tower Hill tube station 1980Background informationAlso known asGary Hodges 4 SkinsOriginEast End of London EnglandGenresPunk rock Oi 1 2 skaYears active1979 19842007 presentLabelsClockwork FunSecret RecordsSyndicate RecordsG amp R LondonRandale RecordsClockwork FirmMembersAs Gary Hodges 4 SkinsGary HodgesGraham BaconTom BrennanSedge SwattonPast membersHoxton Tom McCourtRoi PearcePaul SwainIan BramsonSteve Rockabilly PearJohn JacobsTony Panther CumminsPete AbbotSteve H HamerMick GeggusAndy RussellWebsitethe4 skins wbr co wbr uk Contents 1 Career 2 Band members 2 1 1979 1980 2 2 1980 1981 2 3 1981 1983 2 4 1983 1984 2 5 2007 2 6 2008 present 3 Partial discography 3 1 Albums 3 1 1 Collections 3 2 Singles and EPs 3 3 Compilation appearances 4 References 5 External linksCareer editThe 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 3 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 4 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 3 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 amp 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 edit nbsp The 4 Skins Hodges Pear Jacobs and McCourt at Aldgate East East London 1980 1979 1980 edit Hoxton Tom McCourt guitar Gary Hodges vocals Steve H Harmer bass Gary Hitchcock drums 1980 1981 edit Hoxton Tom McCourt bass Gary Hodges vocals Steve Rockabilly Pear guitar John Jacobs drums 1981 1983 edit Hoxton Tom McCourt bass Tony Panther Cummins vocals John Jacobs guitar keyboards Pete Abbot drums 1983 1984 edit Hoxton Tom McCourt bass Roi Pearce vocals Paul Swain guitar Ian Bramson drums 2007 edit Gary Hodges vocals Steve H Harmer bass Mick Geggus guitar Andy Russell drums Dave Propri Chris Caraway 2008 present edit Gary Hodges vocals Bakes bass Big Tom guitar Sedge drums Partial discography edit nbsp Hoxton Tom McCourt and Roi Pearce of The Last Resort and later The 4 Skins outside the Bricklayers Arms Shoreditch 1983 Albums edit The Good The Bad amp 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 The Return Randale Records RAN 050 2010 Collections edit A Few 4 Skins More Vol 1 Link Records 1987 A Few 4 Skins More Vol 2 Link Records 1987 The Wonderful World of the 4 Skins 1987 The Best Of 4 Skins 1989 The Best of the 4 Skins Harry May Link Records 1997 limited edition including 7 singles Clockwork Skinhead 2000 Singles amp Rarities Captain Oi Records 2000 The Secret Life of the 4 Skins Captain Oi Records 2001 History Of Double CD Taang Records 2003 Singles and EPs edit 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 Turning the Past into the Present The 4 Skins Thanks For The Memories Evil Conduct The Way We Feel Clockwork Firm Randale Records 655321 CF 001 RAN 47 2009 Compilation appearances edit Wonderful World Chaos Oi The Album EMI 1980 1984 Sorry Strength Thru Oi Decca Records 1981 Evil Carry On Oi Secret Records 1981 One Law for Them Yesterday s Heroes The Secret Life of Punks Secret Records 1982 On The Streets Son of Oi Syndicate 1983 Clockwork Skinhead Plastic Gangster Summer Holiday Lords Of Oi Dressed To Kill 1997 Glory Days Chaos 2007 Kings of Street Punk G amp R London 2007 References edit Laing Dave May 2015 One Chord Wonders Power and Meaning in Punk Rock PM Press p 151 ISBN 978 1629630335 Smith Oshindele Smith Bobby Margaret 2007 One Love Two Colours The Unlikely Marriage of a Punk Rocker and His African Queen Troubador Publishing Ltd p 85 ISBN 978 1906221393 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 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link a b c d Colin Larkin ed 1997 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music Concise ed Virgin Books pp 484 5 ISBN 1 85227 745 9 a b The History of the 4Skins The4skins tripod com Retrieved 8 September 2019 A Fistful of Feedback The4skins tripod com Retrieved 8 September 2019 Oi the Web Site Oisite tripod com Retrieved 8 September 2019 Skrewdriver Sputnikmusic com Retrieved 8 September 2019 The Cockney Rejects The Kings Of Street Punk 28 September 2008 Archived from the original on 28 September 2008 Retrieved 8 September 2020 Punk amp Disorderly 2020 Mad tourbooking de Retrieved 8 September 2019 1 dead link Confirmed Bands Archived from the original on 5 August 2008 Retrieved 8 September 2019 4 skins news The Official 4 Skins Website Archived from the original on 7 January 2010 Retrieved 26 April 2010 External links editThe 4 Skins at AllMusic 4 Skins discography at MusicBrainz The 4 Skins discography at Discogs The 4 Skins fan site with bio lyrics and discography Oi The Truth history of Oi with information about The 4 Skins 4 Skins interview from Rising Free zine 4 Skins profile at Nostalgia Central G amp R London website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The 4 Skins amp oldid 1209364380, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
