Skinheads, We Never Left

SKINHEADS WE NEVER LEFT

SKINHEADS - WE NEVER LEFT Tia Lloyd

Introduction Skinheads, We Never Left - Representation, Perception, Misconception. Behind the fascist reputation is nothing more than youth, youth who had a dismal future created by an iron lady. A youth who found comfort in good music and good times as a part of a brotherhood of other working class people of all ages. A youth no more but a lifelong dedication to their culture and a family for life!

“Scorn by many, understood by few, but as time goes by we will always be there.

Only the faces will change.” – Symond Lawes

Skinheads, We Never Left is the photographic documentation of the surviving skinhead subculture throughout the UK. The subjects are of a variety of all ages and are from all regions of UK ranging from London, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Stoke on Trent, Worcester and Hereford. This book contains statements from skins I have met over a period of 12 months, these statements have given my subject the opportunity to explain in their own words what being a skinhead means to them as an individual. Throughout the project my main objective has not only been to observe the subculture but also to rectify the fascist reputation skinheads have been branded with since the 80’s.

The Skinhead Subculture, The Truth Skinheads are known notoriously for their fascist neo-Nazi approach towards ethnicity. The subculture went down in history as a racist youth group who strived for white power in Britain.

Although this is not quite the case, some people describe the skinhead subculture as a stolen youth culture. The style and hair cut were adopted by racists at the time although they dressed rather military in style unlike original skinheads. The term Bonehead soon took over separating white power racism from the original beliefs of the skinhead, boneheads are a group which follow the neo-Nazi approach. Since the formation of bonehead’s people have often combined the two subcultures. The formation of skinhead was far from the bonehead fascist way of life, after all the original skinhead youth group was formed by a combination of Jamaican and British culture. During the late 1960's and 1970’s Britain saw a migration of Jamaican family’s which is when the rude boy fashion and reggae music was first introduced into British society, the youth at the time soon embraced the style including the attire, haircut and music. The youth who embraced the low cut hair and the style where labelled skinheads by the media as a way of identifying the working class youth group who had been suturing up a fuss with their hooliganism. How could a culture which was heavily influenced by a non-British culture be considered as a racist movement? It could be argued that in some ways the skinhead youth were misled over the years after the creation of Oi music and the introduction of the British National Party. The introduction of these two factors saw the culture split. The Film “This is England” gives both sides of the story and accurately covers the splits within brotherhood. Over the years the media has poorly represented the culture and therefore has created stigma surrounding the skinhead subculture. It seems that all skinheads today are branded with the fascist, racist stereotype.

To Conclude –

Although it is apparent that the skinhead subculture became in some ways fascist in the later years, this was not the original case. Skinhead's were Britain’s first multicultural subculture. It was simply a combination of British youth and Jamaican style and culture. Through the years from 1969 there have been contributing factors such as politics and the introduction of Oi music which saw the culture divide between original skinheads and the new formed fascists neo-Nazi boneheads. Skinheads have gone down in history as a racist, fascist group. Unfortunately, the stigma surround the culture will never disappear.

Tia Lloyd

Birmingham 2016

Birmingham 2016

Jack and Casey - Hanley, Stoke on Trent 2017

Paul - Tipton, Dudley 2017

Roy - Birmingham 2017

Pepsi - Sedgley, Dudley 2017

Freddie - Birmingham 2017

Birmingham 2017

Paul - Tipton, Dudley - 2017

Stephen - Birmingham 2017

Daz, Martin, Steve - Birmingham 2016

Mitch - Hereford 2016

Roger Moore - Birmingham 2017, Tipton Skins

Scooters - Hereford Cathedral 2016

The Oxford Arms Scooterist’s - Hereford 2016

Tim - Hereford 2016

Jack - Stoke On Trent 2017

Casey - Stoke On Trent 2017

Top Dog - Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 2017

Moonstomp!

The Last Resort - Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 2017

Mosh for Oi - Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 2017

SKIN+HEAD - Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 2017

Boots and Braces, Don't Make Me Racist - Hereford 2016

Birmingham 2016

Docs on The Move - Camden Market 2017

Finn - Camden, London 2017

Paul - Tipton, Dudley - 2017

OUR STORY - WHAT IT MEANS TO US

Les - Birmingham, 22nd October 2016

The year 69/70, I was at school in Bewdley. I would frequently visit the youth club under the George hotel with my mates listening to such music as Slade Desmond Dekker, Prince Buster Motown. We were known as the Bewdley boot boys, we would often buy bottles cider drinking them down by the river after a few too many we would hang around town often sitting on the bridge singing our boot boy songs. Move on a couple of years got a moped then scooter, we would meet up, go to local discos mostly in local village halls dancing to ska Motown at the end of the night it quite often kicked off with the bikers/greasers we would have had too much to drink and would end up sleeping in the local farmer’s barn. Mid 70's I got more into the Northern Soul scene going to all-nighters. We still dressed the same but by now, boot boys, suede heads were known as skin heads they called us soul skins. Punk was coming in to the music scene, it brought a new energy with it. By the end of the seventies you had everything going on, soul, punk, ska had returned with such bands as the Specials /Bad Manners and other bands. Skinheads were right up there unfortunately sometimes because of the wrong reasons by now the NF and the right wing political elements had picked up on the skinhead look /fashion so in the public eye any one with short hair boots and braces were fascists. However, at this time I had been involved in a fight after several months the charges were dropped but I felt at this time if I stayed around I would end up probably in prison. I had the chance of a job abroad and took it I lived and worked in various countries, came back to the UK in 93 where I worked in Hull and got right back into the ska/soul scene and of course scooters and still to this day all three are a big part of my life it has gained me many friends from many part of the UK it is an extended family as my kids now have grown up and they bring my gran children to the scooter rallies who love the music and fashion!

Regards Les

For me being a skinhead is about being a part of something that I enjoy. From the people you meet to the music I listen to.

Casey Hemmings

For me being a skinhead is about being a part of a subculture and standing out and being different.

Jack Griffiths

I like the smartness of the suits and coats. I like the feeling of being a part of a family.

Finn Marchant

To me being a skinhead is a way of life. Not a way of life I have chosen but one that has chosen me. It’s about loyalty, brotherhood and respect that comes with great music and great fashion. Skinheads are an international family, people from all nationalities, religions and political stand points all united under one skinhead banner.

Stephen McVeigh

Being a skinhead to me means being part of a subculture that has great fashion and music but above all we’re like an extended family. You go to a gig or a drink up and you’re always welcome, no pretensions, no judgements, just good friends and good times.

Dave Nash

Being a skinhead is all about fashion + music and being part of a great family.

Martin Beech

Being a skinhead means loyalty, family and never being alone.

True friends with no politics.

Steve Roworth

Skinhead to me? For me as a young skinhead it’s all about the amazing music and people who very quickly become your family. The good times, the beer and the awesome subculture that we are! It’s a way of life!

Pepsi-Lee Hibbert

Skinhead to me? It’s about being me and not caring what others think. It’s about the people, the music, the beer. It’s about the strangers who quickly become your friends no matter what their beliefs or where they come from. It’s about no rules, no fuss, no politics and not caring about how others see you. It’s our life and we love it.

Daz Anslow

Being a skinhead means faith in your mates, dedication to them and being able to enjoy your time together.

Kez

Being a skinhead is a way of life. The music, clothes and the friends that you make, because they are friends for life. How times have changed, 30 + years ago this wouldn’t have happened because of the football team that you supported, we would have been fighting each other. Now that we are older and wiser we know that we have to stick together like a family.

Marts

Skinhead is a way of life, it’s in your heart and soul, it’s just who I am….

Anita Tritton

Acknowledgements Birmingham Skinhead’s, Tipton Skinhead’s, Black Country Skinhead’s -

Martin Beech, Mick Reynolds, Dave Nash, Peter Leek, Roy Nash, Darren Whitehouse, Daz Anslow, Rachel Anslow, Steve Roworth, Helen Moore, Roger Moore, Wayne Bullock, Anita Tritton, Pepsi Hibbert, Kerry King and all that attend the Birmingham skinhead meet 2016 and 2017.

The Railway Pub, Birmingham

Hereford Skinhead’s, The Oxford Arms Scooter Club - AKA Hereford 49ers -

Mitch Mitchell, Les Pitcher, Dean Franks, Samantha Jane O’Donnell, Andy Woolley, Tam Woolley, Wayne Preece, Joe Baron, Darrell Juson, Tim Lench, Paul Bird, Richard Jones, Shaun Beddoes, Damyon Midson.

The Oxford Arms, Hereford

W&H Promotions -

Alan Worthington, Louise Worthington

Also, Many Thanks To -

Casey Hemmings, Jack Griffiths, Finn Marchant, Paul McVeigh, Stephen McVeigh, Claire Knight, Symond Lawes, Colin Micklewright and everyone who has help me along the way.

Influential Practitioners -

Symond Lawes, Gavin Watson, Derek Ridgers.

Once a misunderstood youth culture, still today misunderstood but the spirit still lives on! It is time we told people the truth. It is time we express what being a skinhead means to each individual. It is time for opinions to be changed. Today we are a more accepting society than ever before. Now is the time to take a look into the past and see the truth behind the lies we were all fed by the media.

Skinheads, We Never Left is a photographic record of the remaining skinhead subculture throughout the UK.