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Biography
Multiple issues|more footnotes = October 2011|original research = October 2011|refimprove = October 2011Infobox musical artist | name = Sham 69| image = Sham-69.jpg| caption =| image_size =| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Hersham , Surrey , England | genre = Punk rock ,| years_active = 1975–1983, 1986–present| label =| website = http://www.sham69.org http://www.sham69.com| current_members = Pursey/Parsons line-up Jimmy Pursey Dave Parsons Dave Tregunna Mark Cain
Tim V line-up Tim V Neil Harris Ian Whitewood Tony Feedback Al Campbell | past_members = Mat Sargent Billy Bostick Alby Maskell Ricky Goldstein Andy Prince Sham 69 is an England|English punk rock|punk band that formed in Hersham in 1976.
Although not as commercially successful as many of their contemporaries, albeit with a greater number of chart entries, Sham 69 has been a huge musical and lyrical influence on the Oi! and streetpunk genres. The band allegedly derived their name from a piece of graffiti that founder Jimmy Pursey saw on a wall. It originally said ''Walton and Hersham '69 but had partly faded away, and made reference to when Walton & Hersham F.C. secured the Athenian League title in 1969.Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5404/biography|pure_url=yes Allmusic.com Sham 69 biography
Early history
The November 12, 1976 issue of NME notes that Sham 69 was rehearsing in 1976, although only Pursey would remain from this early line-up twelve months later. Sham 69 did not have the art school background of many English punk bands of the time, and brought in football chant backup vocals and a sort of inarticulate political populism . The band had a large skinhead following ( left wing , right wing and non-political), which helped set the tone for the Oi! movement. Their concerts were notoriously plagued by violence , and the band ceased live performances after a 1978 concert at Middlesex University|Middlesex Polytechnic was broken up by British National Front|National Front -supporting white power skinhead s fighting and rushing the stage.
Sham 69 released their first single (music)|single , "I Don't Wanna", on Step Forward Records in August 1977, produced by John Cale (formerly of the Velvet Underground ), and its success in the independent charts prompted Polydor Records to sign the band. Their major label debut was "Borstal Breakout" in January 1978, followed by UK Singles Chart success with "Angels With Dirty Faces" (reaching number 19 in May 1978) and " If the Kids Are United " (number 9 in July 1978). They weren't taken from the group's debut album, Tell Us the Truth , a mixture of live and studio recordings. The group had further chart success with "Hurry Up Harry" (number 10 in October 1978), which came from their second Album|LP and first full recording studio|studio album , '' That's Life (Sham 69 album)|That's Life ''. The band's popularity was enhanced by their performances on Top Of The Pops , and the band performed in the 1980 film, D.O.A. (1980 film)|D.O.A. .
The band eventually started to move away from punk rock, to embrace a sound heavily influenced by classic United Kingdom|British Rock music|rock bands such as Mott the Hoople , The Who , The Rolling Stones and The Faces . This was demonstrated by their third album, The Adventures of the Hersham Boys .
The band broke up in 1979 following Jimmy Pursey 's departure to the Sex Pistols .cite web| url= http://www.sham69.com/biography.htm|title=Sham 69 |publisher=The Sham 69 Official Website |accessdate=2012-23-05 This was after their fourth album, and Pursey moved in a heavy metal music|heavy metal direction after working with the remaining members of the Sex Pistols for a short time, under the name Sham Pistols . Rick Goldstein, Dave Parsons, and Dave Tregunna joined the 1980s glam punk / gothic rock band The Wanderers (band)|The Wanderers with Stiv Bators of The Dead Boys before he formed The Lords of the New Church . Stiv Bators and Dave Tregunna recruited Nick Turner of The Barracudas and Brian James (guitarist)|Brian James of The Damned (band)|The Damned to become The Lords of the New Church|Lords of the New Church . In 1981, Pursey collaborated with Peter Gabriel on the single "Animals Have More Fun" which was commercially unsuccessful.
1987 and later
In 1987, Sham 69 was resurrected with a different line-up, releasing the single "Rip And Tear". "If the Kids Are United" was used in a McDonald's advertising campaign, long after the rights to the band's songs had been sold. By that time, Pursey was a vegetarian , and he appeared in the United Kingdom|British Mass media|media condemning the use of his song by what he considered a multinational abuser of animals and humans.
In 2005, the band gained media attention when "If the Kids Are United" was played during United Kingdom|UK Prime Minister Tony Blair 's entrance at the Labour Party Conference . As a result of this, the band was invited onto BBC TV 's current affairs programme Newsnight to sing a version of the song. Pursey sang altered lyrics , including "Mr. Blair/We know you care/So bring them home/Don't leave them there", referring to the troops remaining in Iraq after 2003 invasion of Iraq|the 2003 invasion .
In 2006, listeners to Christian O'Connell 's Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio voted overwhelmingly for the band to record a song to support the England national football team in the 2006 FIFA World Cup . http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds31525.html Music - News - Punk star to make World Cup alternative - Digital Spy Released under "Sham 69 and The Special Assembly" (O'Connell and Blur (band)|Blur guitarist Graham Coxon were also involved), the song was based on the Sham 69 hit "Hurry Up Harry", with the lyrics "We're going down the pub", changed to "We're going to win the cup!" The resulting single, " Hurry Up England " reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's first such hit in 26 years.
2006 break-up and aftermath
In late 2006, Sham 69 broke up, and Dave Parsons stated his wish to independently continue as 'Sham 69'. On January 26, 2007, BBC News announced that Sham 69 had split because of a bitter fallout between Pursey and Parsons.cite news| url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6303411.stm | work=BBC News | title=Punk band Sham 69 in bitter split | date=2007-01-26 | accessdate=2010-05-23 NME reported that a statement released by Parsons included the message: "Sham 69 have left Jimmy Pursey on the eve of their 30th anniversary. The band had become increasingly fed up with Jimmy's lack of interest in playing live and continually letting down both promoters and fans by pulling out of gigs at the last moment". http://www.nme.com/news/nme/26054 Sham 69 split with singer | News | NME.COM Parsons and Whitewood continued Sham 69 with Tim V on vocals and Rob Jefferson on bass. http://www.sham69online.co.uk/HISTORY.html Sham69online.co.uk This line-up performed tours of the United States, played at many punk music festival|festivals across Europe, and released the album, Hollywood Hero , in August 2007. Rob Jefferson (bass) has since left Sham 69 and has been replaced by the former U.K. Subs member Alan Campbell. In 2009 Sham 69 was the first major punk band to tour China. Their new album 'Who Killed Joe Public' was released in Autumn 2010 by One Media Publishing.
2011–present
In May 2011, Dave Parsons stated on his website that he had disbanded Sham 69, although this is disputed by the remaining members of the line-up. In July 2011, Jimmy Pursey announced on Twitter the re-formation of the 1977 line-up - Jimmy Pursey, Dave Parsons, Dave Tregunna and Mark Cain. Although other commitments may mean changes to part of the line-up Jimmy Pursey and Dave Parsons will always be present.
On 4 August 2011, The Independent ran an article regarding a punk compilation album for the benefit of the National Trust , who will be selling the album at its gift shops and online to fund conservation work on its historic homes and ancient landscapes. Pursey described it as "the most Tupperware bit of nonsense I have ever heard in my life." He added: "We are so frightened of what we are looking at ahead of us that we are digging trenches in nostalgia. We are just standing our ground and not letting the future affect us". http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/national-trust-pins-its-faith-in-power-of-punk-2331388.html | Never Mind the Dovecotes | independent.co.uk
As of January 2012, there are two distinct bands being billed as 'Sham 69', the original Pursey/Parsons http://www.punkbythesea.co.uk/#/pbts-4-dayer/4555960453 line-up and the Tim V/Harriscite web|url= http://www.allgigs.co.uk/view/artist/72659/Sham_69_Tim_V.html |title=Sham 69 Tim V& #93; - tickets, tour dates, news |publisher=Allgigs.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-04-25 line-up.
Line-ups
1975
Jimmy Pursey : vocals
Neil Harris: lead guitar
John Goode: rhythm guitar
Albie Slider (Albert Maskell): bass
Billy Bostik: drums
1977
Jimmy Pursey: vocals
Dave Parsons: guitar
Albie Slider : Bass
Mark Cain: drums
1977-1979
Jimmy Pursey: vocals
Dave Parsons: guitar
Dave Tregunna: bass
Mark Cain: drums
1979-1980
Jimmy Pursey: vocals
Dave Parsons: guitar
Dave Tregunna: bass
Ricky Goldstein: drums
1986-2006
Jimmy Pursey: vocals
Dave Parsons: guitar
Andy Prince: bass (1988–1991)
Mat Sargent: bass (2001–2006)
Sonny Boy Williamson: drums (1988)
Ian Whitewood: drums
2007-2011
Tim V: vocals
Dave Parsons: guitar
Rob "Zee" Jefferson: bass (2007–2009)
Al Campbell: bass
Ian Whitewood: drums
2011-2012
As of January 2012 there are two bands being billed as 'Sham 69'.
Promoters are aware of this and to avoid confusion are billing the bands as either "Sham 69 (Pursey/Parsons)" or "Sham 69 (Tim V)"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4289446.stm BBC article on use of Sham 69 song at Labour Party conference
Category:Musical groups from London Category:English punk rock groups Category:Musical groups established in 1976 Category:English socialists Category:Street punk
