The 4-Skins

Infobox musical artist
Name = The 4-Skins

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Img_capt = The classic 4-Skins line-up, McCourt, Pear, Jacobs and Hodges, outside Tower Hill tube station, 1980
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = East End of London, England
Genre = Oi!, Punk rock
Years_active = 1979 - 1984
2007 - present
Label = Clockwork Fun
Secret Records
Syndicate Records
G&R London
Associated_acts =
Also Known As =
URL =
Current_members = Gary Hodges
Steve 'H' Harmer
Mick Geggus
Andy Russell
Past_members = Hoxton Tom McCourt
Roi Pearce
Paul Swain
Ian Bramson
Gary Hitchcock
Steve 'Rockabilly' Pear
John Jacobs
Tony 'Panther' Cummins
Pete Abbot
Notable_instruments =

The 4-Skins are a working class Oi! punk rock band from the East End of London, England. They formed in 1979 and disbanded in 1984, although a new line-up has formed in 2007.

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. [ [http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/1196/ Oi! the Web Site ] ] Other well-known songs include: "Sorry", "Evil", "Chaos", "Plastic Gangsters" and "A.C.A.B." (All Coppers Are Bastards). 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. [ [http://the4skins.tripod.com/id4.html The History of the 4Skins ] ] Other 4-Skins song topics include police harassment, political corruption, war and unemployment.

Most of the original four band members were or had been skinheads, thus the double meaning of the band's name. However, Steve Pear had a rockabilly style, and Hoxton Tom McCourt — who was a suedehead — was one of the leading faces in the mod revival. [ [http://the4skins.tripod.com/id4.html The History of the 4Skins ] ] [ [http://the4skins.tripod.com/id7.html A Fistful of Feedback ] ] Initially the band members had known each other from football, or from following bands such as Sham 69 and Menace.

The 4-Skins went through many personnel changes during their five-year existence, only bassist/songwriter 'Hoxton' Tom McCourt being present in every line-up of the band. Notable former members include frontman of The Last Resort, Roi Pearce, and guitarist Paul Swain, who later joined white power band Skrewdriver. [ [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/bands.php?full=1&bandid=6618 Skrewdriver reviews, music, news - sputnikmusic ] ]

In 2007, the band reformed with two of the original members - lead singer Gary Hodges and bassist Steve 'H' Harmer, plus the Cockney Rejects' Mick Geggus and Andy Russell on guitar and drums respectively. The new line-up has been recording an album for the independent record label G&R London. This new line-up appeared on the G&R London compilation album "Kings of Streetpunk", with the songs "Chaos 2007" and "Glory Days". [ [http://www.cockneyrejects.net/gar//kosp.htm The Official Cockney Rejects website for news, tourdates, photos, merchandise and much more ] ] In April, 2008 Gary Hodges 4-Skins' released two songs for free on their official web page. Both are covers of Slade songs, namely "Cum on Feel the Noize" and "Thanks for the Memories".

Despite having originally stated that they would not perform live, Gary Hodges, fronting the band Indecent Exposure as Gary Hodges' 4-Skins, has played three shows, one in Berlin at the Punk and Disorderly festival, in Allentown, PA at the East Coast Oi Fest [ [http://www.punk-disorderly.de/ PuNk AnD dISoRdErLY - The Festival ] ] [ [http://www.craigdowntown.com/index.htm Downtown Sound Productions | ] ] and also appearing as the headlining act on the final day of the Blackpool Rebellion punk festival in August 2008. [ [http://www.rebellionfestivals.com/rebellion-blackpool-bands.html Rebellion Festival News] ]

Band members

(1979-1980)

*Hoxton Tom McCourt (guitar)
*Gary Hodges (vocals)
*Steve 'H' Harmer (bass)
*Gary Hitchcock (drums).

(1980-1981)

*Hoxton Tom McCourt (bass)
*Gary Hodges (vocals)
*Steve 'Rockabilly' Pear (guitar)
*John Jacobs (drums)

(1981-1983)

*Hoxton Tom McCourt (bass)
*Tony 'Panther' Cummins (vocals)
*John Jacobs (guitar)
*Pete Abbot (drums)

(1983-1984)

*Hoxton Tom McCourt (bass)

*Roi Pearce (vocals)
*Paul Swain (guitar)
*Ian Bramson (drums)

(2007)

*Steve 'H' Harmer (bass)
*Gary Hodges (vocals)
*Mick Geggus (guitar)
*Andy Russell (drums)

(2008-) — as 'Gary Hodges' 4-Skins'

*Gary Hodges (vocals)
*Graham Bacon (bass)
*Tom Brennan (guitar)
*Sedge Swatton (drums)

Partial discography

Oi! compilation appearances

*"Wonderful World", "Chaos" – "Oi! The Album" (EMI, 1980)
*"1984", "Sorry" – "Strength Thru Oi!" (Decca Records, 1981)
*"Evil" – "Carry On Oi!" (Secret Records, 1981)
*"On The Streets" – "Son Of Oi!" (Syndicate Records, 1983)
*"Clockwork Skinhead", "Plastic Gangster", "Summer Holiday"- "Lords Of Oi!" (Dressed To Kill, 1997)

ingles/EPs

*"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)

Albums

*"The Good, The Bad & 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)

Compilations

*"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)
*"Clockwork Skinhead" (2000)
*"Singles & Rarities" (Captain Oi! Records, 2000)
*"The Secret Life of the 4-Skins" (Captain Oi! Records, 2001)

Footnotes

External links

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* [http://the4skins.tripod.com/index.html The 4-Skins ] fan site with bio, lyrics and discography.
* [http://www.garry-bushell.co.uk/oi/index.asp "Oi! – The Truth"] history of Oi! with information about The 4-Skins
* [http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/1196/foreskins.html 4-Skins interview] from "Rising Free" zine
* [http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/music/4skins.htm 4-Skins profile] on Nostalgia Central
* [http://gandrlondon.com/ G & R London website]