An obituary by Flavio Frezza, author of Italia Skins and editor of Crombie Media
Angelo “Sigaro” Conti was born in Rome in 1956 and became a skinhead in the early 80s. In the mid 80s, after the Italian skinhead scene had split into a far-right and a non-racist wing, he embraced the redskin tendency. Continue reading
Inferno hailed from Augsburg, a medium sized city in ultra-conservative Bavaria. Although ‘punk’ in disposition, they were arguably one of the earliest full-on hardcore bands on the European continent, leaving the likes of Discharge in a trail of smoke. Continue reading
40 years ago today, The Jam’s third album All Mod Cons hit the shelves.
The cover photograph saw Paul Weller sporting a French crop, white button-down shirt with sleeves turned up twice, steel grey cropped Sta Prest, white socks and chestnut brown monkey boots. A look that harked back to 1968 and screamed early skinhead — or ‘hard mod’ if you prefer that term. Continue reading
“Being a suedehead with its loose links appealed to the new Joe Hawkins. He began to study those other young men on the Underground, trying to separate the wolves from the ewes.”
Upstairs at the Wheatsheaf, Rathbone Place, London W1T
An evening of Richard Allen, Skinhead and the New English Library in the West End:
Stewart Home (Pure Mania, Defiant Pose)
Tim Wells (reading from his novel Moonstomp)
DJ Paul Hallam (Old Dog Books, proud purveyors of soulboy/psychobilly pulp)
Presented by Andrew Stevens (Scootering, Dean Street Press)
Followed by book launch for Stewart Home’s Re-Enter The Dragon, his exploration of Brucesploitation for all you Dragon Skins.
All welcome. Entry tax: zero (donations welcome)
Broken Heroes are one of the original 90s Jersey Oi bands, dating back to 1993. Their sound is raw, old skool, and their lyrics don’t compromise. They’ve gone through a few personnel changes, but their most recent is an all-star American Oi line-up featuring ex Armed Suspects singer Scotty Violence. In a world where some Oi bands are so watered down their piss is almost transparent, bands like Broken Heroes are perhaps more relevant than ever. Girth asked Scotty a few questions over email, and he was more than happy to oblige. What a pleasant chap!
1979: the year Babylon was burning with anxiety and the croptop revival exploded. No longer confined to small pockets of ex-punks, the skinhead style once again became a nationwide working class youth fashion, if not yet a ‘way of life’. This time around, it was helped along by 2 Tone and a street-smart second wave of punk bands. Continue reading
The punk rock firmament glowed brighter on Wearside than most other English conurbations during the 1980s, with Red Alert, Red London and the Toy Dolls all sharing beers, band members and basslines on Oi compilations during its heyday. Sharpened by the experience of growing up amid the closure (or “managed decline”) of its shipyards during the Thatcher era, Red Alert saw themselves as Sunderland’s answer to the deserted Docklands’ Cockney Rejects and released a steady stream of EPs on No Future Records, calling it quits after their standout 1983 album We’ve Got The Power. By 1989 the band had reunited, though line-up changes inevitably followed over the years (bringing in the likes of Lainey from Sunderland punks Leatherface), as did a split LP with The Templars following a New York tour.
Continue reading
“I love betrayal, but I hate the traitor” – these words are attributed to Julius Caesar. Whether he really uttered them or not, who could disagree? Nobody respects a traitor, even if the information they provide is useful, thank you very much. Continue reading
Attentive readers would undoubtedly notice my appreciation for the vitality of the current Catalan skinhead scene. Even those who visit casually would not mistake it for a mere historical re-enactment society. While the scene embraces styles ranging from the 60s, 70s, and 80s to contemporary variations, it seamlessly melds tradition with a resolute sense of purpose and relevance in the present moment. Catalan nationalism has become a major international news item since last year, and although some Catalan skins I spoke to are more critical of it than others, it’s fair to say that, for the most part, they are among its most fervent supporters.
Much like Reconquesta, Rebelion, and earlier groups such as Pilseners, Codi de Silenci is an Oi band that proudly wears its Catalan patriotism as a badge of honour. This sentiment isn’t confined to their lyrics alone; it informs the overall tone and atmosphere of their music. Codi de Silenci aren’t a band that repetitively churn out songs about boots, booze and brawls, nor do they bore you are interview partners. While bassist and primary lyricist Lluís Lacruz stresses that Codi de Silenci identifies primarily as an Oi band rather than a political one, he’ll give you candid opinions that you’re free to embrace or challenge. Continue reading
On this day 41 years ago, Menace released their debut single, ‘Screwed Up’ b/w ‘Insane Society’.
Menace formed at North London’s Hope & Anchor in 1976, emerging from the ashes of a pub rock band with the Spinal Tapesque name Stonehenge. They were a bunch of Irish kids who’d grown up in the seedy area around Kings Cross decades before it became gentrified. Like Sham, Sparrer and to some extent Chelsea, they were one of those transitional punk bands whose grittier ‘street’ stance pointed towards Oi. Continue reading
Creases Like Knives 