Symarip

Symarip originated as an offshoot of the UK ska outfit the Pyramids, whose sessions had included the Equals’ leader at the time, Eddy Grant. The lineup came together in 1969 with Monty Naismith, Ray Ellis, Michael Thomas, Joshua Roberts and Frank Pitter. Their recording ‘Skinhead Jamboree’ urged an end to clashes while listing the must-have items for any self-respecting ‘bovver boy’. Buoyed by the popularity of ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’, the band issued a 1970 LP under the same title that reworked Roland Alphonso’s ‘Phoenix City’ into ‘Phoenix Reggae’, alongside covers of Nancy Sinatra’s ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’, ‘Fung Shu’ and ‘Skinhead Girl’. Renewed demand for the skinhead period during the 2-Tone wave prompted a fresh pressing of the single.