Rattling around the garage
There was always going to be a time when this column would need a ‘Bodger’s comments do not necessarily represent the view of Scootering magazine’ type disclaimer. This is probably it. If easily offended, come back next month...
Like many of you out there, I got into scooters around 1980 with the Mod revival. As a young teenager, the idea of looking smart and clean stood me apart from the scruffier punks, hippies and rock freaks of the town I lived in. I wasn’t on my own; there were others with the same ideas, discovering the same bands and clothes, doing our best to be one up on the rest. Although looking at me now it’s hard to imagine, I’d be the first to admit that once upon a time I’d spend all my Saturday afternoons looking around clothes shops for something original and smart to wear that evening, it was a true obsession for a few years.
Come the night, the local clubs that played what we liked would be filled with preening, suited and (spotlessly clean) booted young Mods and sharply dressed young girls who knew they were the target of teenage testosterone overload and enjoyed the attention of these sharply dressed young dudes. Shift forward a few years and I’ve left it behind, scooters took over, and all I have left of my Mod years is a particular taste in suits, and a strong taste for obscure 60s R&B and soul. I’d not go back to those formative years for anything, but they were fun and introduced me to the somewhat masochistic joy of scootering.
Walking around various towns, as I’ve got older, I’ve noticed others who’ve followed a similar path, but have kept their image looking good. Watch carefully, they’re out there. If you look closely enough, you can also see the occasional smartly dressed individual of a certain age who obviously hasn’t left it behind and is still living the ‘cool and smart’ style. Well cut fashionable clothes, a tidy and appropriate hairstyle, cleanliness above all. I salute you all for managing something I couldn’t dream of achieving on a daily basis.
This unfortunately leads me to that most awful of insults, one that I hesitate to use, though I can understand its origins. One that, while being painfully accurate, is both needlessly hurtful and belittling. That said, it’s the only term we’ve got in wide use, and so ‘comedy Mods’ it is. Before I go any further (and maybe start losing the magazine readers!), let me point out that I’m aware of other streams of the scootering world that have similar issues, but this area really seems to be the biggest. Scooterboys and skinheads most certainly have their own share of weekend warriors, but they don’t seem to be quite as blatantly obvious.
Now, like I say, I’m probably not one who should be casting aspersions here, the scruffy band T-shirt and old jeans that I’m wearing as I write this would get me booted out of even the most relaxed of Mod clubs, but please guys – take a look at yourselves. Union flags on every available item of clothing? Suits from Primark? Scruffy, dirty shoes? Jeans hanging around your arse? Do you really think that you’re showing any form of respect to the originators, those sharply dressed youngsters of the 60s, or even of the 80s? Do you honestly think that you look ‘Mod’ in any respect? I don’t see it myself – back in ’79 you’d have got mocked until you left.
Now, I assume that most of these have jobs that pay reasonably well, maybe even
having paid off the mortgage by now (lucky buggers if you have, want to pay mine?) and have a few quid floating around in the bank. Do yourselves a favour and spend a few quid at your local quality tailor. You’ll look much more the part, you’ll stand out for the correct reasons, and most importantly you’ll stop looking like a bit of a clueless prat.
Now... you may think I’ve got that off my chest, that there’s nothing left to say on the subject, and as an outsider to the scene I may well be talking out of turn here. So be it, I’ve broad shoulders (and a fat stomach), but let’s take a look at those on the other side of the coin. The sharply dressed, sneering individuals who think they are the arbiters and final word on all that is cool in the Mod world. I’ve got some bad news for you guys too. A lot of the gear you’re wearing has nothing to do with Mod. Mod was always about looking forwards, not venerating the past. Looking for something new, something different, something no one had done before. Ditch your obsession with style of the Sixties, look deeper into current fashions than the mass chain stores and you may find clothing worthy of your name. I know some manage it, but they seem to keep out of these squabbles and settle for putting themselves first in the style stakes without having to belittle others at the same time.
Mod was always about looking forwards, not venerating the past. Looking for something new, something different, something no one had done before.