Last edited by Alex Roest (2009-07-26 02:34:04)

Sorry for the 'shouting' there.  I just wanted to back up Jimmy's point a bit forcefully.  I truly don't consider myself to be a 'hardliner'.  For me it's a touch more complicated than that.  Like Staceyboy - and unlike Gibson Gardens - my way in was via punk.

We were fooled. 

Elsewhere, GG takes exception to my criticisms of Paul Weller.  I'm afraid we tended to just stick him in a box with Geldof, Cornwell of The Stranglers, Sting etc. etc.  Then, I guess, we were 'hardliners' (and green as fresh grass with it!)  Now, I would rate Weller's contribution more highly than any of those, plus hippy Lydon and posy Strummer.  We tended to despise 'mod' circa 78, although were quite interested in 'Quadrophenia' (the scooter, the threads, not so much the movie, although we all smashed through the exit doors at the ABC to see it on a Saturday afternoon).  Some of us by then were more into blues or rockabilly, and I was beginning to give consideration to Charlie Parker (although jazz was what my old man listened to, so it was difficult).  Slowly, the home made punk threads were being exchanged for bits of 'Americana':  Levis, colourful shirts, warm-up jackets, winklepickers etc.  'Flip' and suchlike places were big - and some place in Nottingham - oh, 'G-Force', I've just remembered - and 'ID' in Derby, where you could get little red suede shoes with a stud fastening and black leather jackets - kind of Brando in 'The Wild One' meets Kid Creole territory.  We even went in for a kind of Cab Calloway look!  Remember Joe Jackson? 

As the crew dispersed, Brooks was the turning point, augmented by all the obvious stuff:  A&F, Timberland, Gap, Bean, RL etc. etc.  But I was the only one.  Others cultivated quiffs and wore battered leather jackets or Barbour coats.  I was getting more into black music and away from white rock and roll.  But I still didn't know the style as 'Ivy League', only as 'preppie' (sorry, Jim!!).  I picked up stuff willy-nilly, in Derby, Nottingham and Manchester (the early days of 'Affleck's Palace'), and my Dad bought shirts, polo shirts, chinos and shoes back from the malls in New England.  It was a truly slow process. 

Ebay, I have to admit, widened it for me. 

Now...  well...  watch this space...

Talk about net naive.  I got a few PMs come through and wondered if they could be for me!  It took me ages to respond to Jim or to Alex, simply because I'm not net savvy!