The Cockney Rejects exploded onto the scene in 1979 and grabbed the industry quite literally, by the throat. These four kids from London's East End were nothing like the middle class art students who faked proletarian credentials to create the punk movement. They were, in fact battle hardened veterans of the streets, smoky boxing clubs, and West Ham's bearpit terraces, with experiences beyond their tender years.
East End Babylon was featured at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday 26th April at the 02 Arena in Greenwich. Director Richard England, editor Henry Stein, Jeff Turner and Mick Geggus from the Rejects presented the film showing clips and answering questions from a rapt audience.
Read more: EAST END BABYLON AT SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL LONDON
Thirty years ago, a rock writer coined the term 'Oi!' to decribe his favourite music. Soon 'punk's idiot half-brother' was synonymous with arson, racism and football violence. By Alexis Petridis
The Guardian Thursday 18 March 2010
As the echoes of the punk rock sound shook the nation in the late ‘70’s, four dead-end kids formed a band called the Cockney Rejects so that they could yell to the world about this forgotten place that they came from.