In this brief history I am going to try to tell a story of a band, but it's very hard as C-SOX got up to so much for so many people and organisations it's impossible to catalogue everything they did for so many years.

Many band members came and went for all sorts of reasons. In all C-SOX played six European tours, one tour of Japan, two tours of Ireland, ten tours of the United Kingdom, and one tour of Guernsey, which is rare.

Formed in 1984, the line up was:-

Les - Bass

John - Vocals & Drums

Vic - Guitar

The first record and LP, "Your Turn Next" was released on C.O.R. records.

Shortly after the release of the first LP, Concrete Sox were also featured on "Diggin' in Water", a compilation LP released by C.O.R. Records.

John then left the band to join HERESY, for whom he had also been drumming at the same time.

To replace John, the band then recruited Andy Sewell on Drums. At that time, Andy was drummer with CITY INDIANS.

Sean Cook also joined C-SOX on vocals.

A joint LP was then released by C-SOX and Heresy on EARACHE RECORDS. This was Earache Records first release, and they went on to become the world's biggest Hardcore/Thrash/Metal label. This joint LP was released in 1986.

The line-up then became permanent for a number of years, during which time the band toured extensively in Europe and the United Kingdom, .alongside bands such as EXTREME NOISE TERROR, NAPALM DEATH, CHAOS UK, GREEN DAY, DISORDER, and ANTISECT to name but a few.

C-SOX had a fall out with Earache Records and went to MANIC EARS records. This label was owned by the same guy as their original label, C.O.R. Records.

Their third LP, WHOOPS! SORRY VICAR was released in 1987.

Concrete Sox also featured on "The North Atlantic Noise Attack", a compilation LP which was released by Manic Ears Records during 1987.

In 1989 Andy's good friend Coal Latter of FLUX OF PINK INDIANS wanted to release the first LP on his new label - BIG KISS RECORDS. He therefore got together with Andy to arrange for the release of the band's fourth LP "SEWERSIDE".

As well as helping him out, this enabled C-SOX to get a better distribution deal, getting C-SOX records to more mainstream shops, and a wider audience.

"Sewerside" is probably C-SOX's best LP to date. Whereas the previous LP, "Whoops! Sorry Vicar", was funded by giros, "Sewerside" had separate funding, and you can hear the difference in quality.

Vic then left the group, and was replaced by Rick Button.

An excellent new young band had come on the scene, named DOOM. So C-SOX went touring the World with DOOM on the back of the "Sewerside" LP. The two bands got on very well, and still do to this day.

After this tour, Sean Cook decided he'd had enough, and left the UK for the United States, and was replace by Loyd. Rick on guitar had also had enough, and was replaced by Ian.

Ian stayed in the group for just over a year, during which time they recorded "LUNCHED OUT". This live 7" single was recorded and released on a DIY label, to help out a friend in the United States.

Ian then met and married a Swedish girl, and went to live in Sweden. He was replaced on Guitar by Mark Greenwell.

In 1992, C-SOX were offered a new record deal by a German company, LOST & FOUND RECORDS. C-SOX also had a manager for the first time, who arranged all business deals.

NO WORLD ORDER was then released. At the same time C-SOX were offered a tour of Japan by MCR RECORDS, a Hardcore/Punk Japanese label.

Sean returned to the band on vocals for the Japanese tour, as Loyd, the stand-in vocalist, had left just before the tour started. During this tour the band played at Tokyo, Hiroshima, Osaka and Nagoya. A split EP, "Nightmare", was released to coincide with this Japanese tour.

Another European tour soon followed, to coincide with the release of the "No World Order" LP.

Andy then left on Drums after 10 years with the band. Following this, the band split totally for about one year.

When they reformed, the new line-up was Les - Vocals; Mark - Guitar; Loyd - Vocals; and Pug - Drums. They released a 7" single called "Silence", did a short UK tour, and then split again.

Then to the present day.....

On 26th July 1998, C-SOX played a one-off reunion gig at the HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN FESTIVAL, at Morecambe.

A warm-up gig for this show was played on 6th June 1998, at the Victoria Inn, Derby, with support from DOOM and CRESS.

Due to the encouraging response, 2 more gigs were held, again at the Victoria Inn, Derby. The first was with POLICE BASTARD, AIRBOMB, PAUL CARTER (UNPLUGGED), & ROAD RAGE. The second was with SICK ON THE BUS and NERVOUS TENSION, and coincided with the release of a new single on the DATA RECORDS label.

These are now being followed by a tour of Scandanavia during April & May 1999.

The line-up for these gigs is: Andy Sewell - Drums; Sean Cook - Vocals; Mark Greenwell - Guitar; Rich Lamell - Bass.