Street-punk legends Cock Sparrer have announced a release date for their eighth – and possibly final – studio album, Hand On Heart.
The record, their first since 2017’s excellent Forever, will be released by Cherry Red Records on April 5 next year on CD, vinyl and cassette, as well as to the usual downloading and streaming services.
The five-piece from London’s east end were formed back in 1972, and are now recognised as one of the most influential bands on the punk scene, even though success initially eluded them.
They toured with The Faces and released two singles, Runnin’ Riot and We Love You on Decca Records, but they didn’t sell well, and after being dropped by the label in 1978 the band split.
In 1981, old Cock Sparrer songs were included on several Oi! compilation albums, and interest in the band began to rise, leading to a reformation and the release of their debut album Shock Troops – now rightly regarded as a classic – in 1983.
They have been an ongoing concern since 1992, and are now more popular than ever, and considered to be one of the most influential street punk bands in history.
Sparrer songs have been covered by a who’s who of punk, from Rancid, Against Me! and The Interrupters to Bouncing Souls, Agnostic Front, Grade 2 and Dropkick Murphys.
Hand On Heart is probably their final album, and fans have been told to expect 10 songs full of their trademark anthemic sound; hooks, singalong melodies and big mob choruses.
Four of the five members are the young band who started playing rowdy pub rock all those years ago – Colin McFaull (vocals), Mick Beaufoy (guitar), Steve Burgess (bass) and Steve Bruce (drums). The ‘new boy’ is guitarist Daryl Smith, who has been in Sparrer a mere 31 years!
They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2022 with two sold-out shows at Camden’s Roundhouse, and 2024 includes a year of headline festival shows booked to celebrate the launch of the album.
They include Rebellion, Mighty Sounds in Czech Republic and Hellfest in France, as well as two UK launch shows, at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire in London on 6 April and O2 Academy Glasgow on 13 April.
Hand On Heart is available on 180gsm black vinyl, limited edition colour vinyl with unique artwork, picture disc, hardback book CD edition and limited-edition cassette, as well as to download and stream. Pre-orders are open now HERE.
