Cockney Rejects, banda precursora do Oi!, dispensa apresentações. Este livro, narrado em primeira pessoa pelo próprio vocalista Jeff Turner, se inicia contando sobre sua primeira briga de rua, quando ainda era criança. Narra com detalhes as lutas, vitórias e derrotas de Jeff e seu irmão e guitarrista Micky Geggus nos campeonatos interescolares de boxe na Inglaterra (segundo consta, Micky era um excelente boxeador). Em 31 capítulos, o autor-protagonista fala como se deu sua aproximação com o ICF (Inter City Firm), principal torcida hooligan dos West Ham United.
O livro conta a rápida ascenção e fama dos Cockney Rejects, cujo sucesso rendeu diversas músicas nos charts ingleses, além de 3 aparições no famoso programa televisivo Top Of The Pops. Inicialmente, os Cockney Rejects não estavam lá tão preocupados com o sucesso… além de tocar, o que interessava a eles era se meter em confusão: brigas, bebedeiras, futebol e afins eram os hobbies favoritos dos garotos (sim, eles tinham entre 15 e 18 anos quando começaram!). Alguns fatos reais espontaneamente viraram música: “Police Car” foi composta após terem sido presos em um jogo dos West Ham (e esta não foi a única vez que foram presos); curiosamente, o hino “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” foi sugestão da gravadora EMI, que estava em dúvida se “pedia” aos Cockney Rejects ou ao Iron Maiden para que gravassem esta canção.
Mas a história da banda não é só de glórias. Algumas passagens são realmente interessantes e não escondem os altos e baixos da carreira, narrando com sinceridade, os erros e irresponsabilidades daqueles moleques. Além de terem sido sacaneados por empresários picaretas, tiveram instrumentos roubados por “produtores”, fizeram uma fracassada tour pelos EUA em 1985 e também quebraram a cara quando tentaram mudar o som da banda (pra evitar as confusões e ganhar uma graninha extra).
Depois de ler este livro, você terá a certeza de que uma biografia escrita pelo próprio protagonista é melhor do que qualquer “biografia oficial” escrita por outrem. Com a ajuda de Garry Bushell, as 274 páginas do livro dão uma boa idéia de quem foram e quem são os Cockney Rejects.
COCKNEY REJECT - by Jeff Turner (Livro/Book - John Blake Publishing Ltd., London 2005)
The Cockney Rejects, precursor Oi! band, don’t bother with introductions. This book, written by the singer Jeff Turner, starts telling about his first street fight when he still was a kid. The book tells in details the fights, victories and defeats of Jeff and his brother and guitarist Micky Geggus throughout the British boxing amateur championships (it is said that Micky was a great amateur-boxer). Through 31 chapters, the author-protagonist tells about his involvement into the ICF (Inter City Firm), the most important West Ham United hooligan firm.
The book tells about the quick rise and fame of Cockney Rejects, whose success took them to the British charts, besides the 3 appearances on the famous Top Of The Pops. Initially, the Cockney Rejects were not much interested in the success… in addition to play, the most interesting things for them was making trouble: fights, drunkenness, juvenile delinquency and other kinds of trouble were the kids’ “favourite hobbies” (yes, they were between the ages of 15 and 18 when they had started!). Some real events turned into songs spontaneously: “Police car” was written after had being arrested during a West Ham football match (it was neither the first nor last time they had been arrested); curiously, the anthem “I’m forever blowing bubbles” was suggested by EMI, who still had some doubt about whether “requesting” it for the Cockney Rejects or Iron Maiden (!).
But the band’s history is not only made by glories. Some passages are very interesting and don’t hide the ups and downs in the career, telling in a sincere way the kid’s mistakes and irresponsibility. It also explains how the band had been ripped off by managers and how they got their backline equipment stolen (under very suspicious circumstances). Other interesting points are about their "fiasco" US tour in 1985 and how the band were screwed up after changing their musical style into a more rock sound (intentionally to be away from trouble and also earning some extra money). After reading this book you will be sure that a biography written by the main character himself is much better than any other “official biography” written by someone else. Garry Bushell also gave his helping hand on this book, and through the 274 pages you will have a better idea about who were and who are the Cockney Rejects!
Cockney Rejects discography:
- Flares’n’slippers / Police Car / I wanna be a star (7”, Jul. 79)
- I’m not a fool / East End (7”, Nov. 79)
- Bad man / The new song (7”, Feb. 80)
- Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (LP/C, Mar. 80)
- The greatest cockney rip off / Hate of the city (7”, Apr. 80)
- I’m forever blowing bubbles / West Side Boys (7” May. 80)
- We can do anything / 15 Nights (7”, Jul. 80)
- We are the firm /War on the terraces (7” Oct. 80)
- Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (LP/C, Oct. 80)
- Easy life / Motorhead / Hang’ em high (7”, Mar. 81)
- Greatest Hits Vol. 3 (Live and Loud) (LP, Apr. 81)
- On the streets again / London (7”, Jul. 81)
- The Power & the Glory (LP, Jul. 81)
- The Wild Ones (LP, Nov. 82)
- Till the end of the day /Rock & Roll dream (LP/C, Nov. 82)
- Rock the wild side (as The Rejects - LP/C, Nov. 84)
- Quiet storm (LP, 84)
- Back to start / Leave it (7”, Mar. 85)
- Unheard Rejects 1979-1981 (LP, Aug. 85)
[Disbanded 1985, re-formed in 1990]
- We are the firm (LP, Aug. 86)
- Lethal (LP/CD, Jul. 90)
- The best of Cockney Rejects (CD, May 93)
- The very best of Cockney Rejects (CD, Aug. 99)
- The Punk singles collection (Comp., Mar. 97)
- Greatest Hits Vol. 4 (CD, Feb. 00)
- Back on the street (CD, Aug. 00)
- Oi! Oi! Oi! (CD, Nov. 97)
- Greatest Cockney rip off (CD, May. 99)
- Out of the gutter (CD, 2003)
These videos were recorded in São Paulo, Brazil (Jan. 25-26th, 2008).
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário