The 4-Skins are an English

working-class The working class (or labouring class) comprises those engaged in manual-labour occupations or industrial work, who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts. Working-class occupations (see also " Designation of workers by collar colou ...

Oi! Oi! is a subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads, and other disaffected working-class youth. The movement was p ...

band from the

East End of London The East End of London, often referred to within the London area simply as the East End, is the historic core of wider East London, east of the Roman and medieval walls of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It does not have uni ...

, England. Originally composed of Gary Hodges ( vocals), 'Hoxton' Tom McCourt ( guitar), Steve 'H' Hamer (

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

) and John Jacobs (

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

), 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. Other 4-Skins song topics include

police harassment The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and ...

political corruption Political corruption is the use of powers by government officials or their network contacts for illegitimate private gain. Forms of corruption vary, but can include bribery, lobbying, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, parochialism, patronage, in ...

, war and unemployment.

Career

The band members first met each other through mutual interest in

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

or in bands such as

Sham 69 Sham 69 are an English punk rock band that formed in Hersham in Surrey in 1975. They were one of the most successful punk bands in the United Kingdom, achieving five top 20 singles, including "If the Kids Are United" and "Hurry Up Harry". The ...

and Menace. Most of the original four band members were or had been skinheads, thus the

double meaning A double entendre (plural double entendres) is a figure of speech or a particular way of wording that is devised to have a double meaning, of which one is typically obvious, whereas the other often conveys a message that would be too socially ...

of the band's name. However, Steve Pear had a rockabilly style, and

Hoxton Tom McCourt 'Hoxton' Tom McCourt (born 1961) is the former bassist and bandleader of punk rock/Oi! band, The 4-Skins. He was one of the most influential members of the skinhead revival of 1977 to 1978, the mod revival of 1978 to 1979 and the Oi! movement f ...

— who was a suedehead — was one of the leading participants of the mod revival. Prior to the release of the band's debut

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

, "One Law for Them", The 4-Skins contributed songs to the first three

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

s, alongside bands such as

Cockney Rejects Cockney Rejects are an English punk rock band (music), band that formed in the East End of London in 1978. Their 1980 song "Oi, Oi, Oi" was the inspiration for the name of the Oi! music genre. The band members are supporters of West Ham United ...

Cock Sparrer Cock Sparrer () is an English punk rock band formed in 1972 in the East End of London. Although they have never enjoyed commercial success, they helped pave the way for the early '80s punk scene and the Oi! subgenre., Their songs have been cov ...

, The Business and Angelic Upstarts. 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. Other former members include Roi Pearce, who was also the

frontman The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...

of The Last Resort, and Paul Swain, a guitarist who later joined

white power rock White power music is music that promotes white nationalism. It encompasses various music styles, including rock, country, experimental music and folk.Messner, Beth A., Art Jipson, Paul J. Becker and Bryan Byers. 2007. "The Hardest Hate: A Soci ...

band Skrewdriver. 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'', released by the

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

G&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 Allentown (Pennsylvania Dutch language, Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Allenschteddel'', ''Allenschtadt'', or ''Ellsdaun'') is a city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The city has a population of 125,845 as of the 2020 United ...

, at the East Coast Oi Fest and as the headlining act on the final day of the

Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, England. Located on the North West England, northwest coast of England, it is the main settlement within the Borough of Blackpool, borough also called Blackpool. The town is by the Irish Sea, betw ...

Rebellion punk festival in August 2008. 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 An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

, ''The Return'', on German label Randale Records.

Band members

1979–1980

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

1980–1981

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

1981–1983

(bass) *Tony 'Panther' Cummins (vocals) *John Jacobs (guitar/keyboards) *Pete Abbot (drums)

1983–1984

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

2007

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

2008–present

*Gary Hodges (vocals) *Bakes (bass) *Big Tom (guitar) *Sedge (drums)

Partial discography

Albums

*''

The Good, The Bad & The 4-Skins ''The Good, The Bad & The 4-Skins'' is the first album by English punk rock/Oi! band, The 4-Skins. Released in June 1982 on Secret Records, the album topped the UK independent and punk charts, and entered the Top 100 of the UK Albums Chart. S ...

'' (Secret Records (SEC 4), 1982) *'' A Fistful Of...4-Skins'' (Syndicate Records (SYN 1), 1983) *''

From Chaos to 1984 From Chaos to 1984 is a live album by English punk rock/Oi! band, The 4-Skins. Released in 1984 on Syndicate Records, it is the band's third and final album. Recorded in mid-1984 in front of an invited audience of friends at a studio in Waterloo ...

'' (Live) (Syndicate Records (SYN LP 5), 1984) *''The Return'' (Randale Records (RAN 050), 2010)

Collections

*''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 & 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

*''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

*"Wonderful World", "Chaos" – '' Oi! The Album'' ( EMI, 1980) *"1984", "Sorry" – ''

Strength Thru Oi! ''Strength Thru Oi!'' is a 1981 Oi! compilation album, featuring various artists and released by Decca Records, released in collaboration with ''Sounds'' magazine. The album was the sequel to ''Oi! The Album'' (1980), and itself was followed by ...

'' (

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

, 1981) *"Evil" – ''

Carry On Oi! ''Carry On Oi!'' is a 1981 Oi! compilation album, featuring various artists and released by Secret Records. Also known as ''Oi 3!'', it was compiled by ''Garry Bushell''. The album was the sequel to ''Oi! The Album'' (1980) and '' Strength Thru O ...

'' (Secret Records, 1981) *"One Law for Them", "Yesterday's Heroes" – ''The Secret Life of Punks'' (Secret Records, 1982) *"On The Streets" – ''

Son of Oi! ''Son of Oi!'' is a 1983 punk compilation album, released by Syndicate Records. It is 5th in the Oi! compilation series. Track listing ;Side One - Arthur's Side # "Chip on my Shoulder" - Cock Sparrer # "Onwards" - Kraut # "Generation Landslide" ...

'' (Syndicate, 1983) *"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)

References

External links

* * *
The 4-Skins
fan site with bio, lyrics and discography.
"Oi! – The Truth"
history of Oi! with information about The 4-Skins

from ''Rising Free'' zine
4-Skins profile
at Nostalgia Central
G & R London website
{{DEFAULTSORT:4-Skins, The English punk rock groups Oi! groups Musical groups from London Musical groups established in 1979 Musical groups disestablished in 1984 Musical groups reestablished in 2007 Musical quartets