Cock Sparrer

Cock Sparrer (initially Cock Sparrow) were a punk rock band from London's East End. Today they are regarded as one of the most influential street punk groups from the late 70s and early 80s.

Cock Sparrer

Cock Sparrer (initially Cock Sparrow) were a punk rock band from London's East End. Today they are regarded as one of the most influential street punk groups from the late 70s and early 80s.

Cock Sparrer were formed in 1974; the four initial members - Colin McFaull, Mick Beaufoy, Steve "Burge" Burgess and Steve Bruce - had known each other since the age of eleven. Playing in clubs in and around London, they developed the style that was later to be known as Oi! punk: musically influenced by early punk rock bands like The Clash but also by pub rock and raw Sixties beat as delivered by bands like the Small Faces, and combined with lyrics dealing with the daily life of the working class. In 1976, the band met with Malcolm McLaren who allegedly toyed with the idea of signing the band alongside to his newest discovery, the Sex Pistols; however, this never happened, according to the band because he refused to buy them a round of beers in the pub they were playing at.