It is said that Cock Sparrer are widely considered to be one of the most influential Street Punk bands in history. Their name derives from their original name, Cock Sparrow, a Cockney term of familiarity.
The thing about Sparrer is that they’re not just a band. They are childhood friends and have been making a noise since they got together way back in 1972, yep 1972!. They were playing, drinking, going to football and generally making a nuisance of themselves when the late 1970’s punk scene started in London. Finally it seemed that there were hundreds of like minded people with the same attitude.
However, the boys were from the wrong side of town and didn’t quite fit in with the ‘art school’ scene – they were more at home on the terraces wearing jeans and Dr Martens boots than being fashion victims in bondage trousers. They’ve always done things the way they wanted to. As Punk ended up with its own set of rules, they were always on the outside, as they just didn’t buy into it.
Despite being courted by Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren (who they turned away for not buying a round of drinks), early tours with the Small Faces, Thin Lizzy, Motörhead, Slade amongst others and a record deal with Decca, the ‘music industry’ just wasn’t ready for Cock Sparrer.
British music paper Sounds sums it up perfectly in a live review from April 1978:
“Musically and visually, the Cock Sparrer crew are just about as motley and uncouth as its possible for a band to project. Imagine five collectively imageless Cockneys with hair length varying from skinhead to Woody Roller, wearing clothes that looked they pool from the jumble sales, and singing about how East End life is tough but fun…(they)…create a good time sound that occasionally approximates to the original spirit of Slade.”
Rarely do a band get the reaction that these guys do. A Cock Sparrer show is an event. It’s like cup final day. A family singalong. Theirs is a career in reverse, they’re bigger now than they ever were. Regularly headlining all the major punk festivals in Europe and occasionally hitting the USA (they were there in October 2019) to headline events such as Punk Rock Bowling and Riot Fest.
Cock Sparrer – 52 years on, still five blokes in a pub, five mates having a laugh, more than just a band.
The current Cock Sparrer lineup appears to feature:
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) (who is NOT the football manager!)
It now has been announced by JS Promotions that Cock Sparrer will be playing the ever-popular Chalk venue in Brighton on Saturday 7th December and tickets will be going on sale at 10am tomorrow (Friday 19th July) from HERE, HERE and HERE.
Support for this concert will be coming from Florida street punks The Attack who will beforehand be headlining The Pipeline in their own right on Sunday 28th July – Find out more about the band and that gig HERE.
Cock Sparrer last played live in Brighton on 25th September 2021 – Read our account of that wild night HERE.
