from the library - back to '79

Mod Revival 1979.

Second Generation Mods ‘n’ Rockers. Mod Revival 1979 is a fly on the wall observation of life as a second generation 80s Midlands Mod and the everyday events of both his club and the scooter scene in general 25 years ago, it begins with the strong influence from the film Quadrophenia and how it carved thousands of destinies to the lives of the post 1970s punk generation, the author was well on the way to a motorbike life style but after watching the film he was snatched back the other way to a life of scooters, parkas, and classic early 80s Scooter Rallies. As you move through the chapters you can feel the 80s oozing out with both songs and events of the period, ‘A way of life,’ describes living the Mod way of life, the scooters, the clothes, the girls, ‘Violent times’, and ‘Trouble on the road,’ takes you through the troubles between his club and the local yet sometimes not so local bike gangs that were determined to stamp them out, the Burton Brewers were equally determined to stand their ground and fought back, backed by a hard Scooterist type club the Swad Loners.

‘Entertainment and venues’ tells of their haunts and meeting places like the Blue Posts, Guild Street Mod nights, and Leander Rowing Club, ‘Scarborough Rally 1981’ and more Scarborough’s describe those well attended Northern rallies, when you could expect to see 10,000 + Mods and Scooterists, with this amount of people you would struggle to get digs in the bargain and like many the grass hills of Marine Drive would have to do. There was youthful excitement and many wonderful scooters photographed by people with trembling hands. ‘Reaching the peak 1982,’ as the thousands of former Mods turned Scooter Boy it left a vacuum of disenchantment to the remainder of the die-hard Mods and the scene slipped back underground. By now a Mod at these rallies would suffer humiliation and serious ridicule from the pilot jacketed and rally patch covered Scooter Boys but not everyone traded in their parka for boxer boots.

If I believe in something I’m in it for life said the author. Chapter 17 ‘Steady Decline 1983,’ describes the slow slippery slide to chucking the scene for good, ‘That’s it sell the Lamby-I’m through (he thought), but persevered for a while longer. ‘Rose coloured Glasses,’ is a chapter by Brian Roberts who turned Scooter Boy, he tells how it was to be one, life had no more restrictions you could now dress how you liked and cut the scoot down, life at rallies were now one big slice of fun with some outrageous acts taking place.

‘One last fling marked the end of life as a Mod/ Scooterist after over five years in the scene, the changes were too great for some including the author, even though many stayed, like the excellent song goes- ‘Picture me gone’. ‘Sawdust Caesars and read all about it,’ give violent headlines of troubles from both the 60s and the 80s with clashes between Mods and Skinheads and the violence in Southend with more marauding Skinheads. Chapter 22 ‘Resurrection 97’ the author joined the many re-borns and played a big part in re-starting the Burton Brewers Scooter Club who now hosts the well-known Droop rallies. ‘Bobs Story,’ is a look in the mind of a Rocker or Grebo as we knew them, and how it was on the other side. In 1976 the author and Bobby Haywood had their first scrap, never having liked one another the scruffy kids fought it out under the roasting sun, being bigger the author soon had the upper hand but Bob would not go down, they shared out their change bought and shared a bottle of milk and walked away.

Three years later Bob was a Greb and Greg was a Mod. The Stapenhill Saxons MCC was a constant thorn in the side of the Brewers and there were many violent and nasty stack ups resulting in hospitalisation to some on both sides. Bob’s Story is remarkable and gives a good incite to the once enemy’s of the Scooter scene. ‘’79 and Doing Fine’ is from Steve Haynes and his entry into the scene; Steve is still active within the club and plays a big part in the Brewers Droops. Chapter 25 ‘Mod-‘n’-Clothing is a guest chapter and describes the beginning of the well-known and long established Warrior Clothing. Graham gives an incite to his ever-growing clothing business. As too Lambretta Clothing who turn out smart designer clothing to the in-crowd, its all-good stuff and is similar to the stuff once wore by Mods in the 80s.

Postscript;- The Club (AT THAT TIME) Lost its direction slightly ‘The Brewers Droop,’ took so much of his time there was barely time to do anything else, the club began to fragment this resulted in small clubs within the club, animosity began like in the mid 80s so the author left. Mod Revival 1979 is well written and heaving with memory’s of the early 80s scooter scene, the violence, the taste of that era, along with the other write ups make it an interesting and riveting read. To anyone who yearns for those long gone exciting and youthful days or younger people who just wish to see how it was back then they need look no further, it is just how it was.

Mod Revival is laden with photo’s and other bits and bobs from that period which many will relate to, if anyone would like a copy please contact the author on 01283-534444 or E-mail Anthony@gregory79.fsworld.co.uk or Modrevival1979@fsmail.net any feedback positive or negative will be welcome and we hope that everyone will enjoy it. There will only be 1000 copies and will be priced at approx - £10.00. The author still rides a scooter but hasn’t done much regarding rallies for some time but I

taken from: http://mod-revival.com/

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[ know its 'bout a year ago the book hit the fan, but i wanted it to be a part of the pattern Carl B]