The Mods Speed Back 1979

Another rare has hens teeth subcultural Sunday supplement magazine. This time courtesy of The Observer from 2nd September 1979.  Photography by the brilliant Chris Steele-Perkins who sadly passed away on 5th September this year.  Chris has shot some amazing works on Teds with the Teds book and truly iconic shots in 1979 'Disco Wolverhampton' and 'Youth with a stone Lesson Street' both images from his book England my England combined with this Sunday newspaper feature it was a good year for his work. He was also a member of the EXIT group, which set about documenting poverty in UK inner cities, he gave a confidence to his subjects unlike most photographers covering these subjects.

The following three images from Magnum Photos by Steele-Perkins (not from The Observer article)

This final image by the photographer taken in 1978 was used by the band Green Day for the Saviors album

Back to the mods speed back cover story..............

Interesting that The Last Resort shop on Goulston Street, just off Petty Coat Lane is reportedly a hang out for 'Punks, Mods and Skins, co-existing in relative harmony' certainly by 1980 this was not the case. It became a strong hold for mod bashing skins, so a no go zone for mods or anyone to be fair.

The question of mods not needing a scooter is quite right from a 1960's mod perspective it was purely a mode of transport the other facets of mod are far more crucial. It just so happened that the 1960's lot were around when this new incredibly stylish way to travel had launched.  I have to say the cover shot to this issue is one scruffy bunch, it has an energy though and it depicts the revival feeling in 1979, but I tend to agree with Ritchie Andrews quote in the article.