Organic development is what counts. Back in 78, you found yourself a black Fred Perry top and a pair of Hush Puppies, a parka if you wanted to be taken really, really seriously, and, hey presto! you were a mod. Because you'd heard Secret Affair or whoever, you were committed to seeing 'Quadrophenia', you'd played The Jam's Greatest Hits to death etc. etc. I knew guys just like this: the Ace Faces of 79-80.
And it was totally static.
Thank heaven - in a way - 'mod' evolved into the mindless worship of Carnaby - mindless because the revivalists were incapable of catching that rather intriguing original spirit, before John Stephens grew massive. They were just 'beach fighters', slugging it out with the greaser foe in the shopping centres of England on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Where are they now? What are they doing with themselves? They've probably - that crowd - never heard of Hebdidge and Barnes. They're probably listening to the Arctic Monkeys.
The organically minded, however, will have evolved, and become pretty hip guys by now.
And it's all stepping stones, isn't it?
Gibson Gardens as grown towards Italy, I've grown towards one backstreet in Montparnasse, you and Staceyboy have become something like Ivy academics in your analysis and evaluation of things. Everybody is doing something. Nobody is standing still.
Like the style itself.
Yeah, but the whole thing is becoming over-intellectualised. I'm sure Kingstonian said something on this subject: having sought the style out instead of growing up with it. Wrong place, wrong time.
Didn't the originals seek it out?
The Street style side of it was organic, which is maybe what Kingstonian is talking about, but Ronnie Scott's shopping trips to the US were no casual thing.
Last edited by Prof Kelp (2009-07-31 10:01:04)
Last edited by Prof Kelp (2009-07-31 10:11:33)
NATO parkas I remember: as seen in the non-too accurate 'Quadrophenia'. I was wearing leather jackets with 'ROCKERS' painted on the back by then. Just to draw the flak, you understand. I still see one of the 79 'Faces' around. I look at him, he looks at me and I guess he's thinking: "Don't I know you from somewhere?" Yes, Mr. Wilson, you do.
The past is another country.
There is a 'mindset'. Cool... hip... Rays... Dobells... Flamingo... Bar Italia... Ivy Shop...
Brooks...