This record was released in 1981 to document the burgeoning London working class Oi! Scene. It was also a means to vent working class frustrations in Thatcher run England. During those turbulent times such organizations as the National Front and The British Movement were actively recruiting working class youth to their extreme right wing nationalist agenda.
The organizer of the record, Garry Bushell wanted to show people (namely the UK press) that not all Oi! was associated with right-wing politics. The bands featured were for the most part, left leaning and denounced the National Front and their antics.
However, Garry Bushell choice in the model on the cover of Strength thru Oi! Was none other than notorious British Movement member Nicky Crane.
The picture was used because it featured a shirtless skinhead dancing at a show. Garry Bushell at the time did not know that the person depicted had very strong ties to the British Movement and had actually served time on multiple occasions for attacking various ethnic groups.
Nicky Crane also had very strong ties to Ian Stuart, The notorious lead singer of the nationalist white power band Skrewdriver. Ian and Nikki were seen as spokesmen to the fledgling white power Oi! Scene and founders of the Rock against communism (RAC) movement.
It was later reveled that Crane led a double life of that of a homosexual. After coming out of the closest and denouncing his past on national TV he died shortly thereafter from AIDS related complications.
