Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23
Jeffthefish
Moderator
Global user
Registered: 07-2003
Location: East London
Posts: 7150
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Are you as Mod as you thought you were?
As we all know when the optimism of the early 60’s died out and times became hard again the Skinhead movement sprang up from the ashes of the dying Mod movement. The hard Mods and their little brothers moved into this area of Reggae and plenty of rucks… not much different to before but with a different social backdrop. Where the standard Mod ideal had been to move away from working class values and become upwardly mobile the Skinheads revelled in their working class values and developed a more underdog mentality. Where the Mods were fashion obsessive their Skinhead cousins were making more of an anti fashion statement. As fashion got wilder the Skins/hard Mods retreated into a simpler style. By the time the Hippy thing was at its height the Skins had finally reached their height as the antithesis of all this. No peace and love there. Bullying the Asian community (black and white skins!) and a good rumble was a much better laugh. Football on Saturday instead of a peace march. No fancy musical journeys, just good old rough and basic Reggae….
The Skinhead style sprang from a cross between the hard Mod style (sta press and button downs) and the Rudeboys from Jamaica (half mast trousers etc). Immigration from Jamaica was at it’s height at the time and this arrival of new kids from abroad had a profound effect on the working class British youth of the late sixties who lived and worked alongside them. Both the Hard Mods and Rudeboys were violent (particularly the Rudeboys who were obsessed with guns and knives and living a Jesse James existence.) The Rudeboy culture is very interesting but another story and too long to go into here.
In the 5 or so years that the Skinheads were a mainstream movement fashions changed considerably. Moving from cropped heads, boots, suits and button-down to the eventual ‘Smoothie’ style of Spooner shoes, corduroys, shoulder length hair and beagle collar shirts (very 70’s) they eventually petered out around 1974. Reggae was no longer dance oriented and the clothes dissolved into the nondescript ‘Bootboy’ style. Skinhead survived into small pockets in urban areas (similar to the Mod scene now) until punk arrived in 1977. Previously to punk the Skinheads had linked up with the similarly small Teddy boy scene. Rock n Roll not being too far removed from Reggae and unified by the love of a good scrap (See Madness film ‘Take it or leave it’). When Punk arrived The Skins and Teds would regularly go ‘Punk bashing’. However by 1978 punk had given rise to another type of Skinhead of extremes in every way. More violent, More bald, more political (right wing) and dressed in a storm trooper cartoon style. Stripped down and functional. Now it was Skin vs Skin. There were many violent confrontations involving their Punk/Ted allies (remember the King’s Road anybody?). There was an original Skin revival with 2Tone in 79 and the numbers grew on both sides. Anybody who remembers the 2 tone gigs will no doubt remember the ridiculous level of violence that accompanied them eventually destroying the whole thing. With 2 tone gone the original style faded into Mod or Apathy. Skinhead in its original form was finally vanquished leaving the new style Nazi storm trooper with whom we are all familiar…
In 1979 into the middle of all this was born the Mod revival. As it happened at the same time as 2 tone the lines between skin and Mod were blurred. Most Mods listened to the Jam, Secret Affair etc and all the 2 Tone bands as well. I was one of these. The new Mods wore a stripped down Mod Style. Often length of hair was the only difference although Mods with a number 4 crop were very common around then. I saw myself as a Mod, but wore Ox blood brogues, Tonic suits, White Sta Press, Checked Ben shermans, Fred Perry shirts (black) etc and Crombies as well as a Parka. Hmmmm? Skinhead or Mod? I didn’t know or care. That is until the mid 80’s. Scooterboys appeared. Although I had a scooter I just couldn’t go along with the army clothes and mentality. I was a Mod, not a biker. At exactly the same time Mod hit a new phase with the new wave of Mod bands that to me seemed to lack weight and substance. Mod seemed to becoming very ‘wimpy’ and a Struggle began to start between ‘elitist’ and ‘Revival’ Mods (these are not the proper terms, I have used them purely for this post.). I just wanted to remain the way I was and didn’t like where either side was going. I was listening to loads of Reggae anyway so a Skinhead I became….
I was not alone, and there was mini original skin revival consisting often of disaffected Mods. Many of the leading mods on the scene today were involved in that scene then. I continued like this until I finally got sick of being accused of being a Nazi and at the same time trying to fight them… same ****, different movement. From there I got involved in the Soulboy scene, then Acid Jazz, then…. Just trying to find a way to be a Mod.
Right. That’s the history and all that bollocks out of the way. If you’ve read this far you deserve a medal! However, my question is this;
Maybe the Mod Revival was more Skinhead oriented than it dared to admit? I meet Mods all the time who to me are the perfect Skin. The Mod bands of the revival were all about working class values etc. Idealistically closer to Skin than Mod as the late 70’s and early 80’s were similar times socially to the original Skin times. Paul Weller was a good example of this. Or is the answer simpler than that? Original Skins and Mods are one and the same. Just different periods. (That’s the way I see it. Anybody care to disagree?)
I see myself as a Mod now but not a Skin. Maybe that’s age or just hypocrisy. Who cares? I'm just doing my thing...
Phew! That’s that off me chest. Now back to talking about bird’s arses…
 
Last edited by Jeffthefish, 15/Oct/03, 11:11 pm
---
swimswimbubbleswimbubblebubbleswimswimnoseinthegravelbubblebubbleswimswimswim....
|
|
15/Oct/03, 6:47 pm
|
Link to this post
Send Email to Jeffthefish
Send PM to Jeffthefish
|
Arkmast
Local user
Registered: 07-2003
Location: East London
Posts: 922
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Are you as Mod as you thought you were?
Excellent, Mr. Fish. I enjoyed reading that. Not sure I have an opinion either way, though.
---
Mark
I feel I'm being followed. My Head is empty. And every word I say turns to a sentence...
|
|
15/Oct/03, 7:19 pm
|
Link to this post
Send Email to Arkmast
AIM
MSN
Yahoo
|
DocGonzo
Global user
Registered: 10-2003
Posts: 25
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Are you as Mod as you thought you were?
Jeffthefish!
Thanx a lot! I would use this whole in that project if you let me do it! And of course I would mark you as the author!
|
|
15/Oct/03, 9:15 pm
|
Link to this post
Send Email to DocGonzo
Send PM to DocGonzo
|
DocGonzo
Global user
Registered: 10-2003
Posts: 25
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Are you as Mod as you thought you were?
Shugmonkey!
Wow! Good news for me!  (I meen the old skin pictures)
Jeffthefish!
I guess the "original" skins has the same problem today as you had. They had to fight against everyone thinks they are nazis. And the same time they had to fight with boneheads.
I donno why, but seems to me there is a skin revival in Europe. Maybe it is a late inrormation wave what just reached the other countries? Even in my country there is a new (old) type of skins, who obsessed to ska, dance, dont care about politics, and don't want to fight with enybody.
They drink beer, good friends, even with punks. They find to important to wearing the coolest skin fashion. Maybe it is more mod mentality than skin?
|
|
16/Oct/03, 8:50 am
|
Link to this post
Send Email to DocGonzo
Send PM to DocGonzo
|
justjon
Global user
Registered: 08-2003
Posts: 109
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Are you as Mod as you thought you were?
Great post Jeff,i think skinheads can trace their lineage through mod back to the late 50's and although i can see that now, back in the early eighties you would have had difficulty geting a mod and skin to agree on that.
I reckon the main difference between the two groups was is their attitude and outlook,i think Mods are more diverse.
I had seen the odd "smart skin" around town,ie not the bonehead,but my opinion of them really changed when i went to the last "skinhead train" at needles,the whole night was excellent,the skins present were really sussed and paid as much attention to their clothes as most mods do,the music was authentic ska,which i enjoyed but mm would hate.The next skinhead train is at needles this saturday,and if you can control yourself minimod,why dont you pop along.
|
|
16/Oct/03, 9:25 am
|
Link to this post
Send Email to justjon
Send PM to justjon
|
bop
Global user
Registered: 10-2003
Location: London
Posts: 1685
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Are you as Mod as you thought you were?
Yes 'Jon', Minimod would be in 7th heaven. 'Reggae Train', hosted by the legend that is Jim Cox, has been the only consistent night for skinhead stylists in London over recent years, and does offer a display of very smart people (plus the occasional 'boneheads). I've been many times, but it was best when it was at an old hall in Euston that hasn't been decorated since 1969 - very authentic! Still, it's a damn good night and I might go this Saturday too. Were you one of the guys who came down with Paul S once, by any chance? 
|
|
16/Oct/03, 10:36 am
|
Link to this post
Send Email to bop
Send PM to bop
|
mysterymod
Head Administrator
Global user (premium)
Registered: 07-2003
Location: 'Sarf' East London!
Posts: 6528
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Are you as Mod as you thought you were?
quote:
Jeffthefish wrote:
Original Skins and Mods are one and the same. Just different periods. (That’s the way I see it. Anybody care to disagree?)
Yes!  (But you knew I would didn't you?)
First of all, I've got to say that your post is brilliant mate. It really does show the transformation and history of mod turning skin perfectly. Your account of your own personal experiences and the pics definitely show the hows and why's of the whole thing too. I must admit also, that my feelings toward the skinhead culture have changed a lot since I've known you and other people I've met in and around London.
I agree now, that the original skins were very close to the mods in many ways, and I prefer their look to any of the hippy-type people of then (and now!)
But, (you all knew there would be one didn't ya?!), I still think that these days people tend to look for the links between the subcultures in hindsight, that they never knew about then.
I mean, did you Jeff (or anyone else?), consciously turn skinhead because you wanted to be more mod than the mods? Or did you (or anyone?) do it because you were simply sick of the mod scene and wanted to be something else?
I would suggest the latter was probably true. The same would apply to the mods that turned casual in the 80's. In the way that they too were sick of the mod scene and 'turned' into something else. I'm sure you've all also read the many views today, of people saying that the casuals were also mods as well? And the 'Acid Jazzers', the 'Baggy/madchester' scenes too?
What about the mods that actually stayed mod? Whether in the 60's or the 80's? Surely they were the true mods? And in my opinion, it's them that deserve **** loads of respect for their endurance/stamina? In the face of so many things wrong with the scene and so much aggression (physical and mental) from all angles (within and outside the scene), they stuck at it!
Just my interpretation and opinion
--- Webmaster: ModRevival.net |
|
16/Oct/03, 10:50 am
|
Link to this post
Send Email to mysterymod
Send PM to mysterymod
MSN
Yahoo
Blog
|
justjon
Global user
Registered: 08-2003
Posts: 109
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Are you as Mod as you thought you were?
Yeah Bop,i came down to needles with paul s,giles and big mark,i think it was the same day as the uppers alldayer at the phoenix,i must admit i wasn't really looking forward to it and was only going because mark wanted to,but i thought it was excellent,well worth checking out.
By the way Jeff,have you thought about asking skinheads "how mod are they?" it would interesting to see if they acknowledge their mod roots.
|
|
16/Oct/03, 1:39 pm
|
Link to this post
Send Email to justjon
Send PM to justjon
|
Add a reply
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23
You are not logged in ( login) –
Board's time is: 21/Mar/10, 8:42 pm
|
