4-Skins
History
The 4-Skins are a working class Oi! band from East London, England. Originally composed of Gary Hodges on vocals, ‘Hoxton’ Tom McCourt on guitar, Steve ‘H’ Hamer on bass and Gary Hitchcock on drums, they formed in 1979 and by 1984 had broke up.
Initially the band members had known each other from football or from following bands such as Sham 69 and Menace. Most of the original four band members were or had been skinheads. Hence the name. However, Steve Pear had a rockabilly style, and Hoxton Tom McCourt was a suedehead.
The first line up was “Hoxton” Tom McCourt on guitar, Gary Hodges on vocals, Steve “H” Harmer on bass and Gary Hitchcock on drums. This lasted from 1979 to 1980 and in 1980 to 1981 saw Steve H Harmer replaced on guitar by Steve Pear and Gary Hitchcock replaced on drums by John Jacobs. From 1981 to 1983 Tony “Panther” Cummins took over vocals and Pete Abbot came in on drums. This line up was used for the 1982 LP The Good, The Bad and The 4 Skins.
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, and The Business. 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 line-up of the band.
The last early days line up from 1983 to 1984 was “Hoxton” Tom on bass, Roi Pearce (The Last Resort) on vocals, Paul Swain (Skrewdriver, Tank Turret) on guitar, and Ian Bramson on drums. This line up was on the From Chaos to 1984 album.
The 2007 line up was Gary Hodges on vocals, Steve “H” Harmer on bass, with Mick Geggus on guitar and Andy Russell (Cockney Rejects) on drums. The following year in 2008, the line up had changed to Graham Bacon on bass, Tom Brennan on guitar and Sedge Swatton on drums. This line-up recorded two songs, Chaos 2007 and Glory Days for the compilation album Kings Of Streetpunk, released by the independent record label G&R London.
2008 saw Hodges form a new version of the band under the name Gary Hodges’ 4-Skins, featuring Indecent Exposure members with Tom Brennan on guitar, Graham Bacon on and Sedge Swatton on drums. This line-up played three gigs In Berlin at the Punk and Disorderly festival, in Allentown, PA at the East Coast Oi Fest and as the headlining act on the final day of the Blackpool 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, The Return, on German label, Randale Records.
Discography
Official Productions
1981 – One law for them / brave new world – Clockwork Fun Records – CF 101 – EP
1981 – Yesterday’s Heroes / Justice / Get Out of My Life – Secret Records – SHH 125 – EP
1982 – Low life / bread or blood – Secret Records – SHH 141 – EP
1982 – The Good, the Bad & the 4 Skins – Secret Records – SEC 4 – LP
1983 – Seems to Me – Secret Records – EP
1983 – A Fistul Of… 4 Skins – Syndicate Records – SYN 1 – LP
1984 – From Chaos to 1984 (Live) – Syndicate Records – SYN 5 – LP
2009 – The 4-Skins – Thanks For The Memories / Evil Conduct – Clockwork Firm / Randale Records – CF-001 / RAN 47
2010 – The Return – Randale Records – RAN 050 – Germany – CD
Live Albums and Bootlegs
1981 – Live im Bridgehouse London – 4-Skins Productions – MC
1987 – A few 4 Skins more Vol.1 – Link Records – LP
1987 – A few 4 Skins more Vol.2 – Link Records – LP
1987 – The Wonderful World Of The 4-Skins
1989 – Live & Loud – Link Records – LP/CD
1991 – The Best of the 4 Skins – Link Records – CD
1993 – The Wonderful World of the 4 Skins – Step 1 – CD
1997 – The Best Of The 4-Skins – Harry May Records – UK (limited edition including 7″ singles)
1998 – Singalong a 4 Skins – Snapper Records – CD
1999 – Clockwork Skinhead – Harry May Records – CD
2000 – One law for them – CanCan Records – CD
2000 – Low life – Get Back Records – CD
2000 – Singles & Rarities – Captain Oi! Records – UK
2001 – The secret life of the 4 Skins – Captain Oi! Records – UK – CD
2001 – The Best of the 4 Skins – Recall 2 CD – UK – CD
2003 – History Of.. – Taang Records – 2003 – 2xCD
Split
2009 – 4 Skins & Evil Conduct – Turning the Past into the Present – Clockwork Firm – Randale Records – EP
Samplers
1980 – Oi! The Album – (Wonderful World, Chaos) – EMI Records – UK
100% British Oi! (CD1: 20. Sorry)
1981 – Carry on Oi!! (11. Evil) – Secret Records
1981- Strength Thru Oi! (02. 1984 / 15. Sorry) – Decca Records
The best of Oi! – Vol. 1 (07. One law for them / 16. Yesterday’s heroes)
The best of Oi! – Vol. 2 (03. Evil / 22. On the streets)
The best of Oi! – Vol. 3 (02. Low life)
1983 – Son Of Oi! – (On The Streets) – Syndicate Records
1997 – Lords Of Oi! (Clockwork Skinhead, Plastic Gangster, Summer Holidays) – Dressed To Kill Records
2008 – Kings Of Street Punk (Glory Days, Chaos 2007) – G&R Records
Track Lists
One Law For Them
01. One Law For Them
02. Brave New World
Yesterday’s Heroes
01. Yesterday’s Heroes
02. Justice
03. Get Out Of My Life
Low life
01. Low life
02. Bread or blood
The Good, the Bad & the 4 Skins
01. Plastic Gangsters (3:25)
02. Jealousy (2:14)
03. Yesterday’s Heroes (2:28)
04. Justice (2:31)
05. Jack The Lad (3:32)
06. Remembrance Day (3:13)
07. Manifesto (2:50)
08. Wonderful World (L:Ive) (1:47)
09. Sorry (Live) (3:21)
10. Evil (Live) (2:25)
11. I Don`T Wanna Die (Live) (3:13)
12. A.C.A.B. (Live) (1:48)
13. Chaos (Live) (3:17)
14. One Law For Them (Live) (3:16)
Seems to Me
01. Seems to Me (3:18)
02. Norman (4:32)
A Fistul Of…4 Skins
01. 5 More Years (3:20)
02. Waiting For A Friend (3:36)
03. Johnny Go Home (2:59)
04. The Gambler (3:30)
05. I`ll Stick To My Guns (2:53)
06. One File (3:56)
07. Forgotten Hero (4:01)
08. The Spy From Alaska (2:57)
09. H.M.P. (3:10)
10. No Excuse (3:33)
11. Betrayed (3:40)
12. City Boy (3:51)
13. New War (4:10)
From Chaos To 1984 (Live)
01. Wonderful World (1:56)
02. Jealousy (2:14)
03. On The Streets (3:03)
04. Johnny Go Home (3:27)
05. 1984 (2:39)
06. Bread Or Blood (3:31)
07. Saturday (3:20)
08. A.C.A.B. (1:57)
09. City Boy (3:50)
10. 5 More Years (3:49)
11. Evil (1:46)
12. One File (4:27)
13. Clockwork Skinhead (2:57)
14. Chaos (3:58)
Line up for the From Chaos to 1984 was Roi Pearce on vocals, Paul Swain in guitar, Hoxton Tom on bass and Ian Davis on drums.
The Return
01. The Return (3:14)
02. Brave New World (4:11)
03. I Don’t Care (3:15)
04. Jealousy (2:45)
05. Prawn Sandwich (2:54)
06. Sorry (3:32)
07. Evil (1:42)
08. Thanks For The Memories (3:57)
09. Take No More (2:43)
10. Come On Feel The Noize (3:12)
11. One Law For Them (2:59)
12. Soldiers Graves (2:14)
13. Yesterdays Heroes (2:47)
14. I’m Exlusive (3:10)
Live in Bridgehouse London
01. Wonderful World
02. Sorry
03. Summer Holiday
04. A.C.A.B.
05. Jealousy
06. 1984
07. Clockwork Skinhead
08. I Dont Wanna Die
09. Evil
10. Chaos
11. Wonderful World
12. Chaos
A few 4 Skins more Vol. 1
01. Plastic Gangsters (3:25)
02. Jalousy (2:14)
03. Yesterday’S Heroes (2:28)
04. Justice (2:31)
05. Jack The Lad (3:32)
06. Remembrance Day (3:13)
07. Manifesto (2:50)
08. Wonderful World (Live) (1:47)
09. 1984 (Live) (2:33)
10. Sorry (Live) (3:21)
11. Evil (Live) (2:25)
12. I Don’T Wanna Die (Live) (3:20)
13. A.C.A.B. (Live) (1:48)
14. Chaos (Live) (3:17)
15. Five More Years (3:21)
16. Johnny Go Home (3:27)
17. Gambler (3:30)
18. I’Ll Stick To My Guns (3:03)
19. On File (4:27)
20. Forgotten Hero (3:58)
21. H.M.P. (3:10)
22. No Excuse (3:36)
23. Betrayed (3:40)
24. City Boy (3:50)
25. New War (4:10)
A Few 4 Skins More Vol. 2
01. Wonderful World
02. Jealousy
03. On The Streets
04. Johnny Go Home
05. 1984
06. Bread Or Blood
07. Saturday
08. A.C.A.B.
09. City Boy
10. 5 More Years
11. Evil
12. One File
13. Clockwork Skinhead
14. Chaos
15. Clockwork Skinheads
16. Evil
17. 1984
18. Sorry
19. A.C.A.B.
20. I Don’T Wanna Die
21. Chaos (Herbert Version)
22. Brave New World
23. Get Out Of My Life
24. Bread Or Blood
25. Yesterday’S Heroes
26. Norman
27. Dambusters
28. Merry Xmas Everybody
Live & Loud
01. Sorry (1:16)
02. Summer Holiday (2:02)
03. A.C.A.B. (2:52)
04. Chaos (2:30)
05. Jealousy (2:09)
06. 1984 (1:53)
07. Clockwork Skinhead (2:20)
08. I Don`T Wanna Die (2:45)
09. Evi (3:22)
10. Wonderful World (Encore) (2:27)
11. Chaos (Encore) (1:52)
12. Feel The Rage (2:36)
13. Feel The Rage (3:01)
14. Riot Riot (2:59)
15. Triffic Spiv Ya O.K. (3:15)
16. You Ain’T Seen Nothin’ Yet (3:04)
17. We Out Number You (3:51)
18. Catalogue Kids (3:12)
19. In For A Riot (3:03)
20. Drug Squad (3:17)
21. Punch The Air With Glory (3:04)
22. Still Out Of Order (3:08)
23. Each Dawn I Die (2:54)
24. Emergency (3:19)
25. Punch The Air With Glory (Encore) (2:21)
26. Riot Riot (Encore) (2:15)
The Best of the 4 Skins
01. One law for them (2:45)
02. Yesterday’s Heroes (2:29)
03. Clockwork Skinhead (2:21)
04. Brave new world (3:16)
05. Chaos (2:05)
06. Wonderful World (1:37)
07. Evil (1:36)
08. Sorry (1:45)
09. 1984 (2:12)
10. A.C.A.B. (1:49)
11. I don`t wanna die (3:12)
12. Plastic Gangsters (3:25)
13. Yesterday’s Heroes (Single Version) (2:29)
14. Get out of my life (2:06)
15. Justice (2:31)
16. Jack the lad (3:32)
17. Low life (3:08)
18. Bread or blood (3:31)
19. Seems to me (3:19)
20. Norman (4:33)
21. On the streets (2:33)
22. 5 more years (3:21)
23. Betrayed (3:40)
24. Saturday (Live) (3:27)
25. Dambusters (2:12)
01. Wonderful World (Live) (1:48)
02. 1984 (Live) (2:35)
03. Sorry (Live) (3:21)
04. Evil (Live) (2:25)
05. I Don`T Wanna Die (Live) (3:20)
06. A.C.A.B. (Live) (1:49)
07. Chaos (Live) (3:17)
08. Jealousy (Live) (2:14)
09. On The Streets (Live) (3:02)
10. Johnny Go Home (Live) (3:31)
11. Bread Or Blood (Live) (3:26)
12. Saturday (Live) (3:31)
13. City Boy (Live) (3:50)
14. Five More Years (Live) (3:56)
15. On File (Live) (4:26)
16. Clockwork Skinhead (Live) (3:13)
Tracks 1 To 7 From The Live Side Of The Good, The Bad & The 4 Skins.
Tracks 8 to 16 taken from From Chaos to 1984.
The Wonderful World of the 4 Skins
01. One Law for Them
02. Yesterdays Heroes
03. Clockwork Skinhead
04. A.C.A.B.
05. I Dont Wanna Die
06. Seems to Me
07. Low Life
08. On the Streets
09. Plastic Gangsters
10. Evil
11. 1984
12. Sorry
13. Five More Years
14. Jack the Lad
15. Wonderful World
16. Chaos
Clockwork Skinheads
01. Clockwork Skinhead (2:20)
02. One Law for them (2:46)
03. Sorry (3:09)
04. Yesterday’s Heroes (2:15)
05. Evil (1:349
06. Justice (2:30)
07. Low Life (3:07)
08. Seems to me (3:19)
09. Plastic Gangsters (3:24)
10. On File (3:56)
11. New War (4:10)
12. On the Streets (2:47)
13. Wonderful World (1:57)
14. A.C.A.B. (1:47)
15. 1984 (2:41)
16. Chaos (3:57)
Singles & Rarities
01. Wonderful World
02. Chaos
03. Clockwork Skinhead
04. Evil
05. A.C.A.B.
06. I Don’t Wanna Die
07. Yesterdays Heroes
08. 1984
09. Sorry
10. Evil
11. One Law For Them
12. Brave New World
13. Merry Christmas Everyb
14. Yesterday Heroes
15. Justice
16. Get Out Of My Life
17. Low Life
18. Bread Or Blood
19. Plastic Gangster
20. Norman
21. Seems To Me
22. Chaos (Herbert Version)
23. On The Streets
The Secret Life Of The 4 Skins
01. Wonderful World [John Peel Radio Session]
02. Jealousy [John Peel Radio Session]
03. One Law for Them [John Peel Radio Session]
04. Evil [John Peel Radio Session]
05. Yesterday’s Heroes [John Peel Radio Session]
06. The Greatest 4-Skins Rip Off [Live]
07. Things Ain’t Gonna Change [Live]
08. Watcha Gonna Do About It? [Live]
09. Chaos [Live]
10. Clockwork Skinhead [Live]
11. A.C.A.B. [Live]
12. Summer Holiday [Live]
13. Wonderful World
14. Evil
4 Skins & Evil Conduct – Turning the Past into the Present
4 Skins
01. Thanks for the Memories (3:57)
Evil Conduct
02. The Way We Feel (4:65)