Biography
An unknown four-piece ensemble from the British Invasion period, contracted to Philips, drew notice chiefly through their vivid stage outfits modeled on those of the Pearly Kings and Queens—the philanthropic outfit long linked to London cockneys—apart from the tuneful charm of their initial 45, “After Tomorrow,” cut in a style strongly reminiscent of the Beatles. Their follow-up release, “I Know You’re Gonna Be Mine” backed with “Oh No You Won’t,” marked the end of their discography, though the first single saw another pressing, apparently prompted by the quartet’s mimed performance and contribution of the title song that bookended the film Go Go, Big Beat. That celluloid appearance remains the Cockneys’ sole enduring footprint in pop culture, since Philips and every subsequent imprint under its corporate lineage have declined to reissue any of the group’s recordings.