Cock Sparrer
Cock Sparrer are an English punk rock band formed in 1972 in the East End of London. Though never achieving major commercial success, they played a key role in shaping the early ’80s punk scene and the Oi! subgenre, drawing on influences from pub rock, glam rock, and the raw beat of 1960s groups.
Career
Cock Sparrer was founded by Colin McFaull, Mick Beaufoy, Steve “Burge” Burgess, and Steve Bruce – friends who had known each other since they were children. They honed a distinctive streetpunk style in London’s nightclubs and developed a sound that mixed aggressive punk with pub rock/R&B influences. In 1977, they signed with Decca Records and released the single “Runnin’ Riot”, though early commercial efforts were disappointing and Decca dropped the band. An album recorded during that period was eventually released in the UK as True Grit in 1987.
The band experienced a resurgence in popularity in 1981 when their tracks appeared on various Oi! compilations. Reforming in 1982 with some personnel changes, they signed with Carrere Records, releasing the single “England Belongs to Me”. Their debut album Shock Troops (1983) featured notable tracks such as “Where Are They Now” and “Riot Squad”. After releasing Running Riot in ’84 in 1984, the band paused activities until a reunion in 1992. They released new albums including Guilty as Charged (1994) and Two Monkeys (1997), and continued to perform at punk festivals and reunion shows, including anniversary concerts in the United States in 2012.
Their seventh studio album, Forever, was released in 2017, and in December 2023 it was announced that they would release their eighth album, Hand on Heart, in April 2024 on Cherry Red Records. In the lead-up, music videos for songs such as “Here We Stand”, “With My Hand on My Heart”, and “I Belong to You” were released.
In Popular Culture
UFC fighter Dan Hardy has used “England Belongs to Me” as his walk-out music, and the song “Take ’em All” has long been sung by various Major League Soccer supporter groups. However, after a tragic event in 2022, some groups ceased using the song due to its controversial associations.
Members
Current Members
- Colin McFaull – vocals (1972–1978, 1982–1984, 1992–present)
- Mick Beaufoy – lead guitar and backing vocals (1972–1978, 1982–1983, 1992–present)
- Daryl Smith – rhythm guitar and backing vocals (1992–present)
- Steve Burgess – bass guitar and backing vocals (1972–1978, 1982–1984, 1992–present)
- Steve Bruce – drums (1972–1978, 1982–1984, 1992–present)
Discography
Albums
- Cock Sparrer – originally released in Spain in 1978 and in the UK as True Grit in 1987
- Shock Troops (1983)
- Running Riot in ’84 (1984)
- Guilty as Charged (1994)
- Two Monkeys (1997)
- Here We Stand (2007)
- Forever (2017)
- Hand on Heart (2024) – peaking at #96 on the UK Albums Chart
EPs and Singles
- “Running Riot” b/w “Sister Suzie” (1977, Decca)
- “We Love You” b/w “Chip on My Shoulder” (1977, Decca)
- “England Belongs to Me” b/w “Argy Bargy” (1982, Carrere)
- “Run Away” (1995, Bitzcore)
- “Too Late” b/w “Because You’re Young” (2007, Captain Oi!)
- “Did You Have a Nice Life Without Me?” b/w “So Many Things” (2008, Dirty Punk – French Import)
- “True to Yourself” b/w “Chip on My Shoulder (Live)” (2008, TKO Records)
- “Spirit of ’76” (one-sided flexidisc, 2008, Pirates Press Records)
- “England Belongs to Me” 30th Anniversary Split w/ Rancid (2012, Pirates Press Records)
