Cock Sparrer is a punk rock band formed in 1972 in the East End of London, England. Although they have never enjoyed commercial success, they are considered one of the most influential street punk bands of all time, helping pave the way for the late-1970s punk scene and the Oi! subgenre. Their songs have been covered by many punk, Oi!, and hardcore bands.In 1977, the band secured a deal with Decca Records, who were hoping to cash in on the now blooming punk movement. The first Cock Sparrer single was "Runnin' Riot", released in May 1977. It did not sell well, nor did the following single (a cover of the Rolling Stones' "We Love You"), and Decca dropped the band in 1978. The band members had already recorded an album's worth of material, which was only released in Spain as Cock Sparrer and wasn't officially issued in the UK until Razor Records released it in 1987 as True Grit. The band broke up in 1978, only to reform again in 1986. Since then, they have continued phases of activity of recording and playing concerts.Their style was influenced by pub rock, glam rock and raw 1960s beat music as delivered by bands like the Small Faces and The Who. Their lyrics mostly dealt with topics related to the daily lives of working class people. Their name derives from their original name, Cock Sparrow, a Cockney term of familiarity.
Releases:

Licensed from Link Records for the German market and re-released by eMpTy through our Lonsdale Records subsidiary, this CD contains some of the rarer Cock Sparrer recordings. Includes a few of their all-time most loved tracks, including "Chip On My Shoulder" and "Running Riot", among many others. Seventeen tracks in all, as well as a nice booklet with liner notes by Mark Brennan.

Back to MT Undertainment mainpage