On The Rail for The Cockney Rejects
Cockney Rejects at the Rebellion Festivals - Photo ©dickslaughter.com
Rebellion never fails to impress. After three solid days of countless musical triumphs, I find myself in the front row of the largest room in the Winter Gardens, the Empress ballroom. Feeling slightly worse for wear but buzzing with excitement for the band I was about to watch: The Cockney Rejects have stood the test of time; gigging regularly, energetic shows, and chants like anthems have kept them at the forefront of the punk scene.
Cockney Rejects- Photo ©Phil Thorns
Famous for their ‘oi oi oi’ song in 1980, which was the inspiration for Oi music itself, the Cockney Rejects even drew in Big West Ham United supporters, with football songs like ‘War on the Terraces’ and I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’, becoming anthems for a whole generation of football supporters.
Cockney Rejects at the 100 Club - Photo ©PeterMcdonnell
Relentlessly gigging around the globe and back again, releasing 10 albums, they have been a punk powerhouse. This seemed like it was all going to come to an end with the announcement that they were retiring after their shows at the 100 Club last December. But Jeff Turner, the singer, also known as Stinky Turner, realised he wasn’t ready to hand in the towel.
Cockney Rejects at the 100 Club - Photo ©PeterMcdonnell
So the new Cockney Rejects are back out there, and I am excited to hear what they sound like. Ex-guitarist from the Toy Dolls, Olga, and JJ ‘chaos’ Pearce, of the Business and the Last Resort, on bass joins new drummer Ray Bussey, formally of Argy Bargy and Knuckledust, to complete the new line-up.
Cockney Rejects at the 100 Club - Photo ©PeterMcdonnell
I had done really well to work my way to the front of this heaving, sweaty crowd; no more drinks or loo breaks for me for the next few hours. I am on my own, but it doesn’t take long to get chatting with the people who are next to me. Rebellion is a friendly place, and there is nothing like the feeling of being all together, part of the same tribe, waiting for the band to come on. its definitely my happy place.
Father and son Cockney Rejects fans at the Rebellion Festivals Jr is sporting a very appealing mohawk accessory - Photo ©dickslaughter.com
Finally, the wait was over, and the Rejects burst onto the stage, powering straight into their first track. Stinky Turner is still punching the air and ducking and diving as he sings; he is remarkably fit for his age and uses the stage as if it were a boxing ring.
Cockney Rejects- Photo ©Phil Thorns
The new band members all sounded great; the whole band was tight and professional, turning out tune after tune: “Flares and Slippers,” “I Am Not a Fool,” and the wonderful “Badman”.
The whole room is jumping and the atmosphere is vibrant; we are all moving and shouting out the words; the heat from the balmy evening and the mix of the bodies pressed against each other in the crowded ballroom add to the excitement. This is live music; this is what we all want; it’s the biggest high you can get without drugs or possibly extreme sports. And I love it, and so does everyone else in the crowd. Stinky thrusts his microphone out to the fans, giving us in the front row a chance to sing along and become part of the whole experience. An amazing gig that was over way too soon. I am already looking forward to the next time; the new Rejects certainly didn’t disappoint, and if anything, they sounded better than ever before.
See you in the front row
Lorraine in her natural habitat - Photo ©dickslaughter.com
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