EDDIE PILLER'S GUIDE TO MOD SOHO (HD)

Eddie Piller has impeccable Mod - or to be more accurate - Modernist credentials. As he points out, Soho in London's West End is the key to Mod - the stylish British youth cult that started in the late 1950's and is still going today. Steeped in this world since childhood, Eddie takes us on trip through Soho's prime Mod locations - past & present.

[@Myfactory62]

Walked through carnaby st last year,its finished,like most of London,nothing but a nostalgic fantasy in people's minds,looks like any other bland,awful,overpriced global corporate high st.

[@megadave1197]

MyFactoryModels Lol 😂

[@croydonable]

If i told you where to look , youd flood it with people ,who dont know where to look ,and we would have to move on ....

[@mrcodhead67]

Yet more Disney London bs for the tourists.

[@horatio655]

“Take a look a the great street, it don’t seem the same...”

[@robrichards6979]

Carnaby street in the 1960s wasnt nostalgic . It was right up to the minute, I went there a few times but I wasnt a commited mod.

[@forward160]

Great Video but i think your find the buttons go sometimes always never. Not always sometimes never

[@robertglover3911]

Spot on pal.

[@ConalOBroin]

Yeah, didn't cop that first time round.

[@jordanreynolds1498]

Yeah you're right... he got it wrong, pretty embarrassing

[@mattiemclean9882]

@@jordanreynolds1498 good luck telling him that! he's a fucking ego -maniac and would never admit defeat!

[@TheWheezerPump]

Also, by mid 60's, the vent was quite long. And despite what the lads here are saying, it was, 'always. sometimes, never' around my manor. Different strokes etc.

[@justlead1]

Had a walk round Soho today, activating the memories of my wonderful miss spent youth. The Flamingo's gone the Scene gone but the times are vivid. The week end was here The Scene was Friday and Saturday with a bag of chemical friends, the come down took you to the Flamingo Sunday afternoon where Mr Fame eased you back to work Monday morning along with an ulcerated mouth, and guess what same again next week. Have it.

[@TheDrapetomanic]

You have a lot of fond memories, it sounds like, so I'm not sure it was entirely misspent.

[@Mickyfrench65]

I wish more original Mods would write books ... Massive market for it believe me.

[@Mod-rw9cw]

We mods are the coolest people in the world never look out of fashion or dirty.

[@wyverntheterrible]

Only if it's low key stuff. The clumsy Mod look looks cheesey as hell IMHO. Very cliched at this point. But the principles of Mod never go out of fashion, even if the 'uniform' does.

[@Mod-rw9cw]

@@wyverntheterrible It’s all about modern clothes and looking smart . It’s cringeworthy when you see everyone dressed like Weller in the 80 s

[@daniellogansa8101]

@@Mod-rw9cwor a 60 year old still trying to rock a bowl cut 🤣

[@jonnyrocket3659]

If Alfa Romeo designed a scooter, it would look exactly like a series 3 Lambretta LI 150... and if Carlsberg designed a scooter it would look like a piece of shit, like one of those mobility scooters parked outside Wetherspoons.

[@eddiepiller56]

made me laugh

[@beboparchtop7934]

Bar Italia was always the best place to end up but Pizza Express Jazz Club was loads better than Ronnie's.

[@Mickyfrench65]

Could never fathom the sudden interest in "pikey boots" among some Mods back when this was filmed, as worn by eddie pillar in this vid. . Absolutely horrendous. Think it came from the series "peaky blinders" ... 😅

[@julyarchives]

What an ace video .Eddie got to the juggler early in that he put The Scene club in its rightful position as the cradle of mod fashion and music in those few exciting years .Along with that iconic venue i still remember places like the coffee bars The Freight Train and Coffee Hand .Later i loved The Last Chance as it had moved on fashion wise and played great music .

[@Sheven718]

good to see the "chance" gets a mention jimmy i practically lived in there in late 64/65 went to the freight train on berwick st , the coffee-ann in excel court and the macabre on the corner of meard st and wardour st what great times we had shame it didn't go on a little longer !

[@karlclarke]

great stuff Eddie, more please :)

[@jopink7674]

Finally got that LAMBRETTA started 😂 Go Vespa! 😉🇬🇧

[@eddiepiller2126]

I completely agree - i have vespas but they made me use the Lambretta for the shoot

[@danieldennis8449]

As a 70s mod, that suit what he was wearing was a 'no no'

[@heli-crewhgs5285]

Daniel Dennis Who cares?

[@christopherpatefield6150]

It was a 60's style suit. The 70's were about wide lapels, flared trousers and kipper ties. Yuk.

[@anthonyholmes3877]

I came on the Mod scene in ‘65 and believe me it was always, very seldom and absolutely never. I loved a long centre vent as opposed to side vents.

[@Redbreast5-17]

No got be sides

[@jonnyrocket3659]

I'm interested in the historic links between Mod and Northern Soul. Pillar is clearly a Mod from the 1950's Jazz lineage, but I'm interested to better understand how the taste in American Jazz music traversed into a taste for Soul Music. Something Pillar said earlier about London Mods going over to the States to check out the new Jazz sounds was interesting, cause the Northern Soul boys were doing the same in the late 60's and 70's to discover the latest soul sounds. So how did Mod and NS crossover ? 60's London Mod music was the Pop music of the day (bands like the Small Faces), but Northern Soul was far more underground than that, and has remained so. As a mature PhD student studying the psychology of popular culture and a big fan of Northern Soul music, I would love to hear other peoples thoughts ?

[@eddiepiller56]

Nice point Jonny, Truth be told, I can't answer it

[@jeffovery9054]

Jazz wasn't an agenda in the north.we seemed to go straight into soul music,Manchester twisted wheel,oasis clubs,lots of American soul acts in Manchester,and of course,a mix of bands like the who,faces etc,of course the mod scene was an explosion of a culture that only lasted a few years,this then seemed to diversify into northern soul.total difference in the music was predominantly black American,the centre of this was the Wigan casino.

[@regwebster2047]

Another repro no count who wasn't there at the time as usual , no such thing as a mod in the 50's never mind a modernist ,keep on cashing in on the fantasy mate lol Working class teenagers on a fiver a week , living in digs and running a scooter ......yeah we were really into spending our cash on imitating American rich kids and middle aged jazzers lol cost nothing to have a rumble at Brighton...Jackanory again

[@johngodwin4586]

So right, I'm a skinhead and from way back, this is bollocks... suits shite, shoes are all wrong...... anyway who gives a fuck. let em waffle on. Might want to wash his hair

[@benelliot2214]

@@johngodwin4586 How should the suit and shoes be instead? I'm getting into the style and culture but haven't invested in suits or dress shoes yet. Just sharp shirts, jumpers etc so far.

[@eddiepiller2126]

@@johngodwin4586 crash helmet - you're wrong about the shoes BTW

[@eddiepiller56]

@@johngodwin4586 btw, what the fuck would skinheads know anyway? Loakes Brogue boots

[@mikemccaine4229]

@@benelliot2214 Just by reading your comment I think you should give up this dream right away. If you have to come to a KZbin comment section for style advice you're fucked mate!

[@mousecat9398]

im guessing you didn't turn on the fuel tap or put it on reserve, failing that it was flooded or not getting a spark....Just Sayin

[@eddiepiller2126]

no, truth was it was a borrowed lammy. was never going to work

[@yell50]

hang on, let me replay that back was he riding a scooter without the required safety of a crash helmet?

[@Sheven718]

nice to see the scene gets a mention let's not forget la discotheque and the last chance saloon ,they were just as popular back then , just the same as the scene but for some reason dont get mentioned as much

[@shorelineboy]

Sheven718 quite right sheven . And not one mention of dubbies we need a block up revival 😀

[@Sheven718]

shorelineboy ha ha hey we can dream shoreline lol

[@susanmitchell4744]

He’s not a proper Mod; he’s a pseudo Mod. We were the Mods!

[@mod69]

Always love listening to Eddie pillar,hope he does more stuff like this

[@DrummondBulldog]

Always, sometimes, never... love it. Makes me itch to see the bottom button done up on either a jacket or a waistcoat.

[@daviddesert3132]

I was a barrow boy in Berwick st 1981-1983. Great atmosphere in Soho then. I don't really see myself as a follower of fashion but on the other hand l wear Fred Perry's, have had 3 lambrettas and like the Who, Kinks. Small faces etch and now at 55 l drive a mk1 cooper s with a very discreet target on it😀

[@eddiepiller2126]

sounds like you're a mod though

[@Lucalaurin]

3:24 how to button a suit

[@colinmurphy2127]

Eddie @3:42....I always thought it was "Sometimes, always, never" ?

[@marklegallez5920]

yes i pushed you on your Lambretta when it would not start, you don't remember that eh!

[@kdeeuk]

will shop where i want to thanks , i can get the same thing s cheaper lol

[@GothicMod]

Love it, Eddie...;) I am the one running The Pink Panther Modcab (rickshaw) and you may well remember our chat awhile ago; Goodonya for an excellent piece...;)

[@pugsee972]

Well, Done Eddie, you covered it Beautifully xx

[@babyshambler]

Loved this clip. Eddie would be great presenting a proper in-depth documentary on the scene. Get it on BBC4 or summat.

[@jamiegoddard9913]

totally agree

[@johnmarlonscott6693]

Love this short doc, especially the background music, just right.

[@eddiepiller2126]

the brilliant mod jazz band called the Filthy Six

[@daniellogansa8101]

@@eddiepiller2126thanks, was scrolling down to find out who it was

[@erichvon1967]

Interesting little feature and finally something presented by someone who knows what they're talking about. I remember seeing Eddie Piller in an article in I think the Daily Mirror in about 1979 before he became a mod institution lol.

[@BushellMark]

Very entertaining. I think a Marc Powell suit starts at £2,500.

[@richardbutler8532]

For bespoke, perhaps. But he does off-the-peg for a lot less than that (under £1000 for a three-piece, lower still for two).

[@jamiegoddard9913]

love eddie pillars mod documentaries should show them on tv he's a legend

[@johnmscott4556]

Eddie pillar,so mod 👌

[@capitol7950]

That was excellent and informative. 😁

[@alanwatson1687]

John Stephen started Carnaby Street? Hmmmm.......... thought it was Vince for Men?? Stephen served his apprenticeship for Bill Green at Vinces. Great film though!! Nice suit too but......... me, I would have had a slightly longer jacket back then with a deeper vent but, well, that's how we wore 'em in Donny!!!!

[@eddiepiller56]

alan, thanks for putting me right. I know enough but as i was told, I wasn't there - always happy to learn - Sportique for men?

[@Caleefornia]

always went with "Sometimes, Always, Never", but maybe bc i'm American

[@michaeltimms7124]

I helped build the cubicles in the Scene Club, my reward I had first choice of the spent 45's. The manager was Lionel. We wore three ply tonic mohair suits and full length suides and leathers. Plus brogues from Raoul (Later Ravel).(I had a Vespa GS 160 with Chrome everywhere) Contact me if you want to know more...

[@dannyhood66]

Fruit is necessary with amphetamines and vanilla hippie shakes ice cream cherry

[@shorelineboy]

Danny Hood oh for one more block up

[@eddiepiller2126]

bang on

[@kevinell6605]

Bar Italia Scooter club defunct now sadly

[@giacomopurpura2456]

DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER ZORRO RECORDS IN THE FLEA MARKET?

[@veraw1221]

Great vid ,,,,,,such a smart look and the only way to dress in London 💥 DW

[@robinhope-xg7vw]

Great film mate 👌🏾😎

[@Umskiddy]

Why Eddie Piller hasn't been snapped up by the BBC is beyond me. Already showing signs of being a top narrator/presenter !!

[@danielpatrick3761]

He's a white British male, over the age of 40. That'll be why...

[@jamiegoddard693]

Umskiddy totally agree

[@jonathanhadley2555]

BBC is nothing more than a Tory mouthpiece

[@eddiepiller2126]

@@danielpatrick3761 actually, that's actually why

[@odinson3627]

Great video. Glad to see it’s still going. Still got my scooter, still wearing my suits and the Modernists continue.

[@stephennoone3545]

Amazing video Eddie . Keep the faith ✊️

[@53HB]

Ah the scene ,what a place especially when the stones were playing , you forgot the whisky a go go on top of the flamingo as well .. for upper class mods . La discotheque where it all really started . .. those were the days I was working at Covent Garden market then , straight out of the clubs and walk into work home by 10a.m to sleep before going out again .. we used to travel in them days to the Ricky.tick and crawdaddy clubs out in the sticks were cool to ...miss it so much where’s 50 + years gone

[@eddiepiller2126]

brilliant Jeff

[@paulcarruthers2431]

Pillar the back rest breaker . Him and mike hung around a lot together. Piller was a piss head in the eighties like the rest of our scooter club. NW Kent zodiacs we had 120 members

[@11thedogfather]

smart vid eddie

[@danabrahams7892]

he is wrong about the buttons, it is always middle, never bottom, sometimes top... unless this is a mod thing, but the rule is the way I have said it not the way he did

[@brendaflower7790]

They always looked so smart .was seeing a rocker at the time, didn't last very long,those crash helmets made a mess of your hair.

[@dizmop]

The sex,the market and the record shops,all gone

[@regfox2000]

Nice one 🇬🇧😉👍

[@glenmorgan4597]

To me this is Mod not rucking with rockers down Brighton

[@petejones4780]

This is excellent Ed, really well presented. All the best, Welsh Pete.

[@manchesterbullion]

Great clip...

[@javiercasaslentijo8701]

Eddie is a mod icon ... in both clothing and music ... Broadening the spectrum with the times, which is actually the Mod philosophy ...

[@andybigbs9466]

Nice vid Eddie, I remember you knocking about in loughton/Woodford way back in the day,also bit later Vicky with the red PK..Keep on keeping on young man.😎

[@GarethGriffiths-um1un]

Ready Eddie Go

[@colinaitken5090]

I walked down Carnaby street with my parka on 1979 with the mod revival going on,was on leave from Plymouth when in the Royal Navy,happy days.

[@Mrbrbusby]

Bright lights Soho, Carnaby Street, I hope I make friends with the guys that I meet. I take the pills too much.

[@nasdkhan254]

Born in 1962 so technically did not experience the Mod scene at the time . Mod revival 1979 for sure

[@kdeeuk]

ironic that eddie was born in 1962 or 63 so when mod originated he was not born ,

[@stuartrigler1869]

Actually, from the top down, suit buttons are sometimes, always, never.

[@Djfede01]

U is the name of the tailor of Paul Weller?

[@arricammarques1955]

Good thing, I'm not mutt & jeff, yet!

[@Joshuakennedy123]

Piller what a great mod

[@alandublin1]

Eddie Piller is the coolest mod i know

[@grahamherbert3612]

An embarrassing old relic.