The debauchery and raw talent of veteran East End punk rock band the Cockney Rejects has been documented in a film released on DVD this week.
‘East End Babylon – The Story of the Cockney Rejects’ lifts the lid on one of the area’s most celebrated musical exports.
The group formed in Newham in the late 1970s, and were signed up to major label EMI after playing just four gigs.
Described by The Clash’s legendary leader Joe Strummer as “the real deal”, the Cockney Rejects remained strongly in touch with their working class roots. Their antics eventually saw them banned from appearances on Top of the Pops.
Their brand of punk inspired an array of future rockers, ranging from American outfit Green Day to the female Russian protest band Pussy Riot.
The film, directed by Richard England, has received glowing reviews from critics. It has been described as “an unflinching, bloody and bloody funny account of one of rock ‘n’ roll’s rawest tales - and an elegy to the East End that spawned it.”
The Rejects are now set to announce a UK tour after last year’s world tour drew hundreds of thousands of fans.
‘East End Babylon – The Story of the Cockney Rejects’ will be released on July 19.
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