Skinhead Story : Skinheads Were Instead Drawn Towards More Working class Outsider Subcultures

A skinhead is a member of a subculture which originated among working class youths in London England in the 1960s and soon spread to other parts of the United Kingdom, with a second working class skinhead movement emerging worldwide in the late 1970s. Motivated by social alienation and working class solidarity, skinheads are defined by their close cropped or shaven heads and working class clothing such as Dr. Martens and steel toe work boots, braces, high rise and varying length straight leg jeans, and button down collar shirts usually slim fitting in check or plain. The movement reached a peak at the end of the 1960s, experienced a revival in the 1980s and since then has endured in multiple contexts worldwide. The rise to prominence of skinheads came in two waves, with the first wave taking place in the late 1960s in the UK, The first skinheads were working class youths motivated by an expression of alternative values and working class pride, rejecting both the austerity and conservatism of the 1950s-early 1960s and the more middle class or bourgeois hippie movement and peace and love ethos of the mid to late 1960s. Skinheads were instead drawn towards more working class outsider subcultures, incorporating elements of early working class mod fashion and Jamaican music and fashion especially from Jamaican rude boys. In the earlier stages of the movement, a considerable overlap existed between early skinhead subculture, mod subculture and the rude boy subculture found among Jamaican British and Jamaican immigrant youth, as these three groups interacted and fraternized with each other within the same working class and poor neighbourhoods in Britain. As skinheads adopted elements of mod subculture and Jamaican British and Jamaican immigrant rude boy subculture, both first and second generation skins were influenced by the rhythms of ska, rocksteady and reggae, as well as sometimes African American soul and rhythm and blues.
LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE if you enjoyed the video please!
​follow my INSTAGRAM : @egi_alamsah
All materials featured in the video are owned by their respected owners. We do not claim their videos as our own.
All videos/photos/used in the explanation are for visualization purposes only.
#skinhead #punk #movement

[@chinquecfro44]

Boots and braces don’t make a racist.

[@alfsmith4936]

They make you look like one though..

[@crotchrottss]

Antifa 🇯🇲..

[@beatlejuice5951]

Poser

[@fang_uk]

@@alfsmith4936 That sounds more like a *YOU* problem matey. Give yer fuckin’ head a good wObble.

[@joshargan1601]

The style of dress and grooming is badass, but it's kind of proper at the same time. Buzz cuts? High-rise jeans? Shirts tucked in? Braces up? Awesome boys!

[@skinnyskinhead9492]

Yup!! Oi!

[@thomasdupont7186]

kinda gay too

[@joshargan1601]

@@thomasdupont7186 Clothing hasn't got sexual orientation, but you do. _You_ find it sexy, then?

[@thomasdupont7186]

@@joshargan1601 "Clothing hasn't got sexual orientation" I don't know man, I'm no expert, you may know more than me about fashion and clothes.... But to me it kinda tells a little bit sometimes when some of these guys overplay their masculinity like that... And it is no secret now that there is indeed a strong gay community within the skinhead movement. It used to be a secret; but some of us would heard stories sometimes.... Not judging obviously.... I have always welcome/tolerated skins at the gigs we would play/organise (if they were Sharp, apolitical , or if they would shut up about their right wing tendencies). Peace friend.

[@joshargan1601]

@@thomasdupont7186 Yes, there's definitely a gay skinhead population. I just don't see clothing defining sexual orientation as much as it used to. (Forgive me, I interpreted your initial remark as pejorative).

[@suggoz]

I talk like a robot, i am a robot and i am not human, just a robot.

[@ritadamayanti2087]

Back in the mid 80's and through the early 90's I was deep into the S.H.A.R.P movement. Along with my friends we would come across the opposition which lead to fights. Now that I'm in my early 50's and still love my Skinhead subculture I find that both sides of the aisle are too much for the brain. There for I say good night to both sides and just enjoy my last days of my life. A word of suggestion. When going to punk or skinhead gigs, leave your politics at home. Make friends not enemies. Oi! 🇺🇲🍻🇲🇽

[@thomasdupont7186]

so many fights over some minor differences in the end (I put boneheads to the side obviously, that's another problem...). Personally, when I would play gigs, it was sometimes a pain in the ass when a fight would end a concert. Many Skins used to be punks and vice a versa, it truly is a shame that there is still to this day a minority of people that won't let some gigs happened because of some tribal rivalry.

[@Ragnarokr]

Politics left at home yeah. But that all ends once someone is racist or xenophobe.

[@ritadamayanti2087]

@@Ragnarokr ... I agree, It's been years since I've been to a Punk/Skinhead show. And I mean Skinhead not bonehead . There's a big difference. Anyhow. Yeah still loud proud and punk. Take care my friend. Oi!

[@ritadamayanti2087]

@@thomasdupont7186 ... that's right. Be safe my friend

[@waskerbasket9601]

word

[@stevenknight1775]

1972 was bootboys who went to football matches went for aggro

[@davidhinds9816]

I was a 1960s Skinhead I was part of the Hounslow Mob under Derick Ferron, we used to hangout at Hounslow Bolling Alley,we used to go the Boathouse dancehall our main rivals back then were in Twickenham, but that was a long long time ago and then I ended up as a Hippy after getting into too many gang fights.

[@royjameson2097]

That sounds like the American play West Side Story, like the Jets vs the Sharks, must have been awesome times being angry and fighting all the time over bullshit to only become a hippie🙄, so Skrewdriver to the Beatles, what a transformation.

[@shawnfaddoul8616]

So you were never a skinhead you were a wannabe who learned you couldn't fight so you grew your hair out and went and sat with the stinky lames.

[@thomasdupont7186]

Damned ^^I never heard about a skinhead becoming a hippy before, you say "hippy" as a pacifist and a music enthusiast right ? Or did you totally embrace the hippy style ? I'm genuinely curious lol ^^

[@thomasdupont7186]

@@royjameson2097 " so Skrewdriver to the Beatles, what a transformation" screwdriver (like most bonehead bands) is terrible anyway.... Good for him right ? (if he ever listened to screwdriver since he said he used to be an original 60's skinhead).

[@waskerbasket9601]

@@royjameson2097 skrewdriver wasnt around yet. more like ska to beatles

[@DankAudioStash24]

Nice Wiki read :)

[@markjones7185]

I wish people wouldn't associate skins with nazis, that's not what it is.

[@thomasdupont7186]

we can thanks bad tv/journalism and sensationalism for that. And the skinheads who couldn't stop fighting over nothing as well....

[@JohnnyAngel777]

@@thomasdupont7186 no thanks

[@alteElisabeth-nv4ul]

Yes me too !!

[@BumsnotDead]

In the russia skinheads are nazis.

[@pedroviriato9356]

Cierto pero los Skins ,tampoco son el movimiento Sharp o Red Skin,los skins son solo Skins.

[@arricammarques1955]

'England for the english'

[@martinvyslouzil2163]

Deport the welsh and scotts!!!!!!

[@curtislovecraft2389]

Symarip

[@AtZero138]

Seen a Neo Fascist wearing this Patch.. Boots apparently on the Moon,, 1992,, They stopped wearing that particular patch, Stay Rude, Stay Roots and Keep Your Boots Stomping... My Playlist, Essential Learning...

[@stevenknight1775]

Docs only 150 pounds lol now

[@securityscorpion8687]

3:44 Nah...Slade were REAL skins.

[@cashbrooks7223]

Alcohol money and cigarette money can be donated to charity

[@johnfrew2798]

Waiting for haymaker's reggae album skinhead rock n roll

[@ritadamayanti2087]

Right on. Haymaker,great band. And yes, Skinhead Rock ~n~Roll!

[@agentofchaos8239]

Oi!

[@rigatonyspagetio3133]

Native skinhead here 🙋‍♂️. Its a life not a style. Boots and braces dont make u racist. F.N.S. First Nations Skinheads 💪🏽

[@AtZero138]

Oi Oi Oi and Cheers from Orange County California, Music is everything... Stay Rude, Stay Roots and Keep Your Boots Stomping... I'm 50 and still find new music..

[@ritadamayanti2087]

Oi! From Bridgetown CA SGV/USA 🇺🇸🎸🎤🛠💪🙏🇲🇽

[@ritadamayanti2087]

@AtZero138 ... Sup OC?! Oi! From Bridgetown CA SGV/USA 🇺🇸🎸🎤🛠🍻💪🙏🇲🇽

[@Punkclubber]

🍺🕸️🚬

[@shonenbastard4317]

Haven't watched this yet but I don't like the image you chose to portray skinheads. Maybe you thought you would get more clicks with that. I think if you used the classic black and white hand shake image or a diverse ethnic background photo of skinhead's, that would intrigue the interest of people not familiar with the real skinhead culture and would represent the skinhead movement better. "What?? A black skinhead what is this shenanigans?" Click, haha

[@kookadams85]

Fu¢k sh.arp!

[@royjameson2097]

I don't like Skrewdriver but the people who commented here do, the video doesn't speak of any Nationalist Skinhead bands but there was definitely an abundance of them.

[@trevorhensby2118]

Screwdriver were a punk band from Blackpool as a kid I used to see them at stanley park practicing with a generator in Blackpool didn’t know who they were until my mate bought their 1st single don’t think that they were racist band then that was 1977 🎸🥁they were good then then they started doing that white noise shit.Back with a bang

[@trevorhensby2118]

It goes against the grain to be a racist skinhead. nazi skinheads and punks f👀koff back in the woodwork where you came from I like ska and punk and northern soul ✊🏼

[@SKINHEAD1981]

And so say all of us C18

[@douglaswelsh178]

😂😅😂😅

[@cashbrooks7223]

Alcoholics anonymous narcotics anonymous smokers anonymous gambler anonymous tattoo removal

[@Jacckone]

can we please stop saying that skinheads are nazis? those are boneheads, skinheads are meant to be anti racist and leftists. as you say they showed solidarity towards the working class.

[@pedroviriato9356]

No, un skin es un skin ,ser " bonehead ",Sharp o Red Skin,fue un error, al principio algunos skins eran solo patriotas y ya esta,y todos los skins no tienen porque pensar igual,los skins no son obejas,derecho a pensar diferente ,sin que te conviertas en un enemigo por ello.

[@stevenknight1775]

1969 trojan skinheads lived in mix race london no racism no politics no austerity stomp to ska reggae you mean late 1970s early 1980s were racist which arent skinheads

[@user-jt9vp1un8x]

EXACTLY those racist were boneheads and some were even Skrewy Drivers ;)

[@SKINHEAD1981]

Bollicks I was there ya full of shit

[@cashbrooks7223]

College is Free on the military

[@randygiannini1418]

The best Skinheads were the Redskins, Chris Dean and Martin Hewes 🇻🇳

[@shawnfaddoul8616]

Commie scum just like the Nazi garbage

[@tfries1607]

Fuck the Redskins

[@mummyd1990]

Skrewdriver were the proper skinhead group of all time.

[@favodeferro2340]

They are just bonehead rubish!

[@jamesguy1030]

mummyd ~ Yeah, Anyone that was a Skinhead in the early 1980’s would have Loved SKREWDRIVER. Boots & Braces is Still one of my favourite Tracks to Date. Just Great Patriotic Skinhead Music. it Just had a Really Good Punch Skinhead Style. Along with the growth of Punk in the 1977/ 1978 era , there had also been a steady increase in Racial Violence. The Mainstream Media blamed this on the violent youth & the violent music (Punk/Oi!) That they were listening to. Of course the fact that every major city & town was now overrun with immigrants had nothing to do with it whatsoever. & the fact that most of the Punk Bands at that time were Left Wing Especially The Clash & the Tom Robinson Band, Also didn’t seem to matter as the media launched it’s very own Cure. A Musical umbrella movement called “ROCK AGAINST RACISM” Working alongside the GLC the R.A.R Movement organised quite a few festivals in & around London. in Response to all this the Right Wing Launched it’s very own musical umbrella movement = ROCK AGAINST COMMUNISM. & Started to organise their own shows & mini festivals. at that time following on from the Southall Race Riots where Hundreds of Asians armed with petrol bombs attacked the Hanborough Tavern . After the 4-Skins had been playing. Skinhead Bands weren’t really welcome anywhere & so the R.A.C was Just what the scene needed. A Self Financed & Self Motivated underground Scene that attracted over 500 + people to each gig simply by word of mouth. The New Breed Had Arrived ~ THE OVALTINEES, PETER & THE WOLF, THE DIEHARDS, LONDON BRANCH, BRUTAL ATTACK, SKREWDRIVER, A.B.H, NO REMORSE, Were the first Bands to Play under the Rock Against Communism Banner. These Bands entertained us but only a couple of them gained any real notoriety.

[@favodeferro2340]

Symarip, the oppressed

[@thomasdupont7186]

@@jamesguy1030 screwdriver is a terrible band come on, there is a tone of punk/oï bands that sounds better than screwdriver.

[@Ragnarokr]

@@jamesguy1030 If you believe the problem of society are caused by migrants, congrats for being ultra basic, simple-minded, uninformed and ignorant.

[@inter_1097]

Did anyone ever take the skinheads bowling?

[@Hellawaits1]

Hail skrewdriver 🎉

[@user-jt9vp1un8x]

Hail his driving skills.

[@bushratbeachbum]

Go back to your racist hole and stay there.

[@andrewchippendale2820]

Burnley boot Bois ❤

[@chevyvet69]

To all my white brothers and sisters tomorrow will belong to us greetings from the USA

[@BiLdoEMcLown]

Also... the baldies were the first skinheads... aaaaaand they're from Minneapolis... not the UK.

[@Millwall77]

Meanwhile, in the real world-the baldies came around in the 80's while the original skinhead cult goes back to as far as 67.

[@BiLdoEMcLown]

@@Millwall77 except the original baldies were started in 58. The ones from the 80s were a reboot... pun intended.

[@BiLdoEMcLown]

@@Millwall77 my grandfather hung out with them.

[@BiLdoEMcLown]

@@Millwall77 aaaaaand its not a cult, you unfrosted pop tart.

[@Millwall77]

@@BiLdoEMcLown Its short for subculture my friend. And you know this, so come on.

[@kookadams85]

The Greatest skinhead was the late Ian Stuart.🇮🇲

[@Mark.H3721]

He was nothing more than a complete nazi, racist piece of shit. One of the many scumbags who gave skinheads a bad name.

[@karolwilkowski1857]

🤣he was a jew

[@kookadams85]

@@karolwilkowski1857 no he wasn't!

[@favodeferro2340]

Ian is Dead and we are happy! Symarip and reggae: this is The proper skinhead sound!

[@kookadams85]

@@favodeferro2340 you mean the pyramids penetration

[@averagendhenjoyer7149]

28🇮🇲🇮🇲

[@carbonthoughtproject6037]

nazi trash come fight me