Original Skinheads and Suedeheads

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chris Cameron on May 31, 2010 at 8:54

I don't think anyone was trying to say that they did not exist Paul. Just that these sort of skins were not running around when we were Mods in the early 80s. When I went to my last scooter rally in Morecambe in 86 I have to admit that the scooter skins certainly looked the part, and not like the knuckle heads that were into Skrewdriver and Oi. But sadly that did not stop them from acting like the knuckle draggers who were into Oi and white power bands, so looks can deceive.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Wood on May 31, 2010 at 10:06

Chris,

All i was tring to say was that there were a good few skins who were smart and didn't fit the stereotypical image that most people had.We should be proud that Glasgow was leading the way in this respect.I'll try to find the article written about the spy kids and post it up.
I'm 46 and was around the mod scene from 79 and remember smart skins around that time...2 of my mates were sharp as!
As i said there are a few ex spy kids who are still around and will probably be at the weekender.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chris Cameron on May 31, 2010 at 11:53

I do think I know what you are getting at Paul. And it is a fair point to say that all the skinheads were not of the same ilk. I also knew a few boys who were into that scene, and they would have not appreciated being classed in the same bracket as the Oi boneheads. The only other small thing I would say is that there seemed to be a rewritting of history with regards to skinhead culture and the racism that underpinned much of that scene in the late 70s early 80s. I for one cannot say if the racists were in the majority or minority of that scene then, but there was most defiitely a fair amount of racists skinheads about and headlines from various concerts, from Sham 69 to The Specials make specific reference to the right wing chants and hand gestures from the skinhead crowds.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andy Mulvey on May 31, 2010 at 19:17

Just read Davids link there, so they were about in 86, too late for me, was all grown up by then and ran about in different circles.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andy Mulvey on May 31, 2010 at 19:11

So when were they running about Glasgow, the late sixties, if they where then I was still at primary school so I would never have seen them. If we are talking about a style then elements of the skinhead look I liked, have always liked DMs. Must say the skinhead females wae there shaved nappers wae a fringe looked drastic.

If you are talking the early eighties then they were anonymous to me.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Stevie Kiernan on September 7, 2010 at 21:02

You've still got that scarey lookin picture big man! Anonymity is a great thing on the internet. I was a mod in the early eighties, then a skinhead (Spy Kid), then scooter/soulboy. All of which was a natural progression. You're obviously two or three years older and chucked it before we were on the scene. I chucked it 20-odd years back but still love all the music. We'll surely meet at one of these do's shortly!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andy Mulvey on September 11, 2010 at 5:08

And what ??

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andy Mulvey on September 11, 2010 at 5:26

How am i anonymous ?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David Smith on May 31, 2010 at 19:03

Here's a link to an article on Glasgow's Spy Kids (mid-80's skins)

http://www.skinheadheaven.org.uk/index.php/articles/53-spy-kids

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chris Cameron on May 31, 2010 at 20:13

Well I know McGinn, and I know he was a skin in the past. He is certainly not into the right wing stuff so it looks as if this crew took the best parts of the skin culture and dropped the dross.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Charles Murphy on September 14, 2010 at 23:04

Sharpest Skinhead is Dr Skazoid, nae doubts there, always original even if he looks like Harry Worth,lol!!! I knew a lot of smart dressed Skinheads in the 80's, Corker( R.I.P) was one of them.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chris Cameron on September 15, 2010 at 7:04

Rubbish Mr Murphy, the smartest dressed skinheed ever was the Dick Emery character 'Bovver Boy.' And could you not have given poor Neil a smaller head, that one is bigger than Peterhead ha ha.