4 Skins

The 4-Skins are a punk rock band from the East End of London, England. Originally composed of Gary Hodges (vocals), 'Hoxton' Tom McCourt (guitar), Steve 'H' Hamer (bass) and John Jacobs (drums), the group was formed in 1979 and disbanded in 1984 – although new line-ups formed in 2007 and 2008. Many of their songs dealt with violent topics, but the band has claimed they were discussing the realities of inner city life, not promoting violence. Other 4-Skins song topics include police harassment, political corruption, war and unemployment.
The band members first met each other through mutual interest in football or in bands such as Sham 69 and Menace. Most of the original four band members were or had been skinheads, thus the double meaning of the band's name. However, Steve Pear had a rockabilly style, and Hoxton Tom McCourt — who was a suedehead — was one of the leading participants of the mod revival. 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, The Business and Angelic Upstarts. 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 band line-up. Other former members include Roi Pearce, who was also the frontman of The Last Resort, and Paul Swain, a guitarist who later joined Neo-nazi band Skrewdriver.
(read more on Wikipedia)
==Links to Peel==
Peel played their track, '1984' via the 'Strength Thru Oi !' compilation album, on his 18 May 1981 show. The album was controversial because its title was a play on a Nazi slogan (“Strength Through Joy”), and the cover featured Nicky Crane, a British Movement activist who was serving a four-year sentence for racist violence. He later came out as gay before dying from an AIDS-related illness in 1993. The band completed a session for Peel's programme in 1981, but it was never broadcast, possibly due to their links to neo nazi violence in Southall during that year, which ended up with the Southall riots. 
==Sessions==
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Peel Sessions: The Lost Opportunities
The session is available on The Secret Life Of The 4 Skins (2001/CD/Captain Oi! – AHOY CD 177)
1. Recorded: 1981-06-01. First Broadcast: None
*Wonderful World / Jealousy / One Law For Them / Evil / Yesterdays Heroes
==Other Shows Played==
;1981
*18 May 1981: '1984 (Compilation LP-Strength Thru Oi!)' (Decca)
==External Links==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
Category:Artists