Dirty Water

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Dirty Water" by The Inmates, a gritty cover of The Standells’ 1965 classic, from their 1979 debut album First Offence. This track, a love letter to London’s River Thames (swapping out Boston’s Charles River), became a surprise hit, climbing to number 51 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in January 1980. The song’s raw, pub-rock energy captured the band’s live-wire spirit, with frontman Bill Hurley’s raspy vocals leading the charge. In a 1980s interview with Melody Maker, guitarist Peter Gunn shared that the band recorded the track in just a few takes, aiming to keep the “sweaty, smoky vibe” of their live shows. The song’s success wasn’t just luck—it led to a deal with Radar Records and the recording of First Offence, produced by Vic Maile, who insisted on capturing the band’s unpolished edge. Fans on the The Inmates Fan Club Facebook group often share stories of hearing “Dirty Water” at sweaty London gigs, with one member recalling a 1979 show where Hurley jumped into the crowd mid-song, mic in hand.

Another tidbit comes from a rare 2013 post on The Inmates’ X account, where they revealed that their version of “Dirty Water” was tailored for radio stations across the U.S., with custom promos swapping out “London” for local cities like Jackson, Mississippi, and mentioning rivers like the Pearl. This marketing trick, inspired by The Standells’ original, helped the song gain traction. The track also found a second life in pop culture—its inclusion in Stephen King’s novel Christine as a chapter heading sparked chatter among fans on the Last.fm fan page, with some calling it the perfect anthem for the book’s rebellious vibe. The band’s Instagram occasionally shares grainy throwback photos from the First Offence era, including one of Hurley scribbling lyrics in a pub, hinting at the song’s spontaneous creation.

The Inmates formed in 1977 in North London, rising from the ashes of The Flying Tigers. Bill Hurley, the band’s charismatic vocalist, had been singing with Ronnie and the Biggs, while guitarist Tony Oliver, bassist Ben Donnelly, and drummer Peter Gunn came from The Cannibles. A small ad placed by Gunn in Melody Maker brought the group together, and their shared love for rhythm and blues, mixed with the raw energy of punk’s explosion, shaped their sound. As Hurley once quipped in a Culturesco interview, “We didn’t want to be punk, but we stole its attitude.” The band honed their chops in London’s pub circuit, playing dives like The Hope and Anchor alongside acts like Dr. Feelgood. Their big break came when Radar Records caught a live set and signed them, leading to “Dirty Water” and First Offence. Despite lineup changes—Hurley briefly left in 1981 due to health issues, with Barrie Masters of Eddie and the Hot Rods filling in—The Inmates have kept rocking, with four of the original five members still active as of 2013.

For more on The Inmates, check out their official website for tour dates and merch, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and throwbacks. Fans can connect on the The Inmates Fan Club Facebook group, where diehards swap vinyl finds and gig memories, or dive into fan-curated pages like Last.fm and Rate Your Music for deep discography dives. The Zoo Freaks are sure to keep this track spinning, so crank it up and let the Thames flow!