The best-known line-up of the Pirates, and also the only line-up ever given Johnny Kidd's blessing to retain and to record under the name "The Pirates" (Mick Green, Johnny Spence and Frank Farley) reformed in 1976. They played at 'Front Row Festival', a three-week event at the Hope and Anchor, Islington, in late November and early December 1977. This resulted in the band's inclusion, alongside Wilko Johnson, the Only Ones, the Saints, the Stranglers, X-Ray Spex, and XTC, on a hit double album of recordings from the festival. The "Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival" compilation LP (March 1978) reached number 28 in the UK Albums Chart. "Skull Wars" was released on 1 January 1978, featuring a mixture of live and studio tracks. The front cover artwork featured a stylized skull in a helmet that resembled that of the Star Wars character, Darth Vader and a rear cover that jokingly claimed that Skull Wars was "The record they didn't dare make into a movie".