The Local Offenders - You Weren't There In '82

  

  There's a new gang in town. 

  Supposedly it's London town but I'm not sure I'd take that as gospel? 

  They're a mystery band called The Local Offenders. 

   All they admit to for a line up is this; 

 Vocals: whoever’s sober

 Guitar: someone’s cousin

 Bass: the only reliable one

 Drums: banned from three pubs

  They play oi! music with very much tongue in cheek. They claim they're taking the piss out of the scene but they're treating it with fond respect to my ears. They bring to mind favourites such as Hard Skin and City Miles. They sing about Doc Martens, pubs, working class heroes and girls. 

  They've just released a debut album called Oi! The Satire and it's left me all warm and fuzzy. Check it out : https://thelocaloffenders.bandcamp.com/album/oi-the-satire

  Here's a blast of nostalgia about back in the day. It's called You Weren't There In '82... 

I saw Sham at the Bridge House

Before they ever made it big
I was there when it all kicked off
You were still in your crib
Got the first seven-inch
Bought it right from the band
Got the badges, got the patches
This is real Oi, man!

Not you! Not you!
You weren’t there in ‘82!
Not you! Not you!
You weren’t there in ‘82!
Don’t talk to me about the scene
When you don’t know what it means
You weren’t there in ’82!

I remember every show
Every band, every fight
Kings Cross on a Friday
Tottenham Saturday night
You can read about it online
But you’ll never understand
I’ve got the scars and stories
This is real Oi, man!

Not you! Not you!
You weren’t there in ‘82!
Not you! Not you!
You weren’t there in ‘82!
Don’t talk to me about the scene
When you don’t know what it means
You weren’t there in ’82!

I’ve earned my place, paid my dues
These boots have forty years on you
You’re a culture vulture, you ain’t real
You don’t know how it used to feel

I was causing bovver with my droogs
While you were sucking from your bottle
Running wild through the streets
You were still learning how to toddle
Now I’m fifty-three and grey
But I was there back in the day
And I’m still more authentic
This is real Oi, man!

Not you! Not you!
You weren’t there in ‘82!
Not you! Not you!
You weren’t there in ‘82!

Well mate, I wasn’t born ’til ’84
But you keep fighting that old war

You weren’t there in ’82!
You weren’t there in ’82!
You weren’t there in ’82!
None of you were there in ’82!