THE SOCKETS

Romford, Essex

 

 

 

In May 1977, "The Sockets", (sometimes "Robbie Hatchet & The Sockets", but never "Jack Plug & The Sockets") were formed by a bunch of bored teenagers from Romford in Essex.

For their first gig they were thrown in at the deep end being first on the bill at a "Rock Against Racism" concert at the North East London Polytechnic in Barking on Saturday 25th of June 1977 along with headliners "The Buzzcocks", plus "The Fall" and "The Verbals".

Although "The Sockets" were active for twelve months they only managed to play approximately seven gigs, including an appearance playing on a float at the Romford Carnival, and a couple of support slots with local Barking louts "Headache" at the Greyhound in Chadwell Heath. They also trod the boards at legendary London punk club, The Roxy, appearing on the audition night of Tuesday 10th of January 1978 along with other punk hopefuls "Lixs".

It is assumed they passed the audition with flying colours as the band claim to have played there two other times, but as they fail to appear in any of the clubs listings the exact dates remain unknown.

Things suddenly ground to a halt in April "78 when drummer Nicky broke his leg. The rest of the band had grown bored with punk and decided on a new direction and name.

In May 1978 the "Purple Hearts" were born with a new drummer, Gary Sparks (ex-The Oppressed) joined (original drummer Nicky later became the bands roadie) and the band became a forerunner of the New-Mod Movement.

Their punk roots, did however slip out whilst supporting "The Damned" at the Moonlight Club in West Hampstead in early 1979 when they knocked out a fast"n"furious cover of "London's Burning" by "The Clash" to appease the baying  punk hordes. This led to cries of  mod bandwagon jumpers by the assembled media hacks, not so, the "Purple Hearts" were one of the first and the best.

Beat That !!!!!