The Rivals were an English punk rock band from Ramsgate, Kent. Formed in 1976 by Mark Edwards and Paul Leinster, who were childhood friends, The Rivals began their musical journey after seeing the Sex Pistols perform on television. Their first single, "Future Rights," was released in 1979 and gained popularity in the Kent punk scene. The band's second single, "Here Comes the Night" (1980), received national airplay from notable DJs like Paul Burnett, Mike Read, and John Peel. Despite this exposure, The Rivals struggled to achieve broader success due to limited distribution. The band disbanded following the death of drummer Stan Gretsch in a car accident in 1981 and Edwards' move to Naughty Thoughts. In 2007, a twenty-track compilation album titled If Only was released, capitalizing on the resurgence of interest in first-wave punk.
