Close Shave

 

History

Close Shave formed in the West Midlands during the mid‑1980s, quickly becoming one of the most recognisable names in the second wave of UK Oi!. Their sound — tough, melodic, and unmistakably working‑class — helped define a period when street‑punk was evolving but still rooted in grit, humour, and everyday life. With Rich on vocals, Paul (Kirk) on guitar, Neil (Lurch) on bass and Steve on drums. With this line up they played several gigs and recorded a few demos including the track The Law.

Close Shave’s debut album, Oi! Kinnock Give Us Back Our Rose, remains a cult favourite, capturing the raw humour and political cheek of the era. Later releases like Hard As Nails and A Fistful of Shave showcased a more polished but still uncompromising sound.

They’ve shared stages with many of the scene’s heavy hitters and maintained a loyal following across the UK and Europe. Despite lineup changes and long gaps between releases, Close Shave continues to be celebrated as a band that stayed true to the roots of Oi! — direct, loud, and proudly working‑class.

Over the years, Close Shave saw several lineup changes, with musicians stepping in for live shows and later recordings. These shifts never diluted the band’s identity — if anything, they reinforced their reputation for resilience and authenticity within the Oi! community.

After years of inactivity, they reunited in 2010 to continue recording new material and to go on a series of tours, picking up the energy that had defined them since their early days.