Cock Sparrer to drop new Album 'Hand On Heart' in April 2024 on Cherry Red Records.
With a career spanning over five decades, Cock Sparrer has firmly established itself as a pillar of the punk fraternity. The legendary band, hailing from the East End of London, first made their mark in 1972, crafting a sound that would eventually resonate with generations of punk fans. Their journey from childhood friends to punk icons is a story of perseverance and unapologetic authenticity.
Despite early challenges, including an industry that wasn’t quite ready for their unfiltered East End ethos and turning away Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren for not buying a round of drinks, Cock Sparrer has outlasted the vicissitudes of the music scene. After turning down McLaren’s management offer, they chose to forge their own path. Their steadfast approach led to a cult following that only grew stronger as the years passed—Cock Sparrer was creating their career in reverse.
Today, they are more acclaimed than ever and often referred to as the biggest punk band many have never heard of.
Their eighth studio album, ‘Hand On Heart,’ set for release on 5 April 2024, is poised to be a defining moment in their storied career. The band’s first album since 2017’s ‘Forever’ is laden with anthemic hooks, singalong melodies, and the band’s signature mob choruses. Tracks like ‘With My Hand On My Heart,’ ‘Rags To Riches,’ “‘ Belong To You,’ and ‘Here We Stand’ are already being hailed as some of their finest work to date.
The album also promises fresh elements to enthrall fans, such as the unique string arrangements by Simon Dobson on ‘My Forgotten Dream.’
Cock Sparrer comprises the same four individuals who began their punk odyssey 52 years ago: Colin McFaull (vocals), Mick Beaufoy (guitar), Steve Burgess (bass), and Steve Bruce (drums), with guitarist Daryl Smith, a ‘new’ addition of 31 years.
The band has announced two UK launch shows to celebrate the album’s arrival:
- O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London – Saturday 6th April 2024
- O2 Academy Glasgow – Saturday 13th April 2024
And the celebrations will extend to headline festival shows throughout 2024, including performances at Rebellion, Mighty Sounds, and Hellfest, sharing stages with the likes of Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age.
In a marked departure from their past, where studio budgets were humorously diverted to pub outings, ‘Hand On Heart’ benefits from the production acumen of James Bragg and the mastering expertise of Grammy award-winning Kevin Tuffy, ensuring a sound quality that matches the band’s celebrated live energy.
The album will be available across multiple formats, including 180gsm black vinyl, limited edition colour vinyl with unique artwork, picture disc vinyl, hardback book CD edition, and a strictly limited-edition cassette. These releases are not just albums but collectible pieces of punk history, representing a band that has always marched to the beat of its own drum.
Cock Sparrer’s influence on punk culture is undeniable, with an impressive roster of punk rock royalty covering their songs, from Rancid and Against Me! to The Aggrolites and Dropkick Murphys. As they gear up for the release of “Hand On Heart,” it’s clear that Cock Sparrer’s heart still beats firmly at the centre of punk rock’s ever-pulsing scene.
SIDE 1
With My Hand On My Heart
Mind Your Own Business
I Belong To You
Rags To Riches
No Way Out
SIDE 2
Take It On The Chin
Nowhere To Be Found
One Way Ticket
My Forgotten Dream
Here We Stand
Follow Cock Sparrer on Their Socials
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Chaos and hypnosis: A night with the Brian Jonestown Massacre
It was my first visit to the fantastic Albert Hall in Manchester and what a gem it is. Proving to be the perfect backdrop for
Album review: rising punks Winona Fighter’s debut ‘My Apologies To The Chef’
Based in Nashville, Winona Fighter – frontwoman and multi-instrumentalist Coco Kinnon, lead guitarist Dan Fuson and bassist/producer Austin Luther – formed after Coco moved there
Album Review: MC16’s debut ‘Machine Code’
Musically, MC16 are a short sharp shock of classic punk rock – a whirlwind of snarl and bite, mixed with a ragged melody and street-wise
Six of the best – 12th February 2025
New single and album releases from: Dead Rituals & Francis Moon – ‘I Could Have Been Your Nowhere’, Bloodtrust – ‘Silent masses’, No Good –
Album review: Fight Back Mountain – ‘Death & The Miser’
The cheerily-titled ‘Death & The Miser’ is the third album from Fight Back Mountain, and if lyricist/guitarist Anjelica Aquilino’s musings on the state of life
Album review: Bite Me Bambi branch out on ‘Eat This’
Los Angeles, CA band Bite Me Bambi release their highly anticipated new album, ‘Eat This’ on 14th February. Branching out from their ska punk roots,
Punktuation Magazine For All Your Daily Punk News, Features, Interviews, Lifestyle and more!
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
