Sham 69
Terrace-chant punk built for a thousand people shouting the chorus back — the template for oi!, 'If the Kids Are United' still uniting.
Sham 69 formed in Hersham, Surrey, in 1975, led by singer Jimmy Pursey. They emerged in the first wave of British punk but distinguished themselves with singalong choruses and working-class subject matter that made them a template for the street punk and oi! bands that followed.
Their best-known songs include "If the Kids Are United," "Hurry Up Harry" and "Borstal Breakout," several of which charted in the UK in the late 1970s. The band's early gigs were sometimes disrupted by far-right skinheads, a problem Pursey spoke against publicly. Sham 69 has continued in various line-ups over the decades.
Festivals Sham 69 is playing
Sham 69 at a glance
What festivals is Sham 69 playing in 2026?
Sham 69 is booked at 1 festival: Rebellion 2026.
When does Sham 69 play at Rebellion?
Friday, August 7, 23:00 at Empress Ballroom.
Where is Sham 69 from?
Sham 69 is from Hersham, UK.
What kind of music does Sham 69 play?
Sham 69 is tagged punk and oi!.
Also on these bills
Cock SparrerCockney RejectsGimp FistThe BusinessMenaceForeign LegionSpecial DutiesThe StranglersSlaughter & The DogsUK SubsBar Stool PreachersThe Good, The Bad and The Zugly
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Die SpitzAmyl and The SniffersEcca VandalRise AgainstBad ReligionCodefendantsNova TwinsThe OffspringAlkaline TrioBad Cop Bad CopBaysideBuzzcocks
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