ENGLAND, 1966: A new youth subculture emerges in an era of Hippies and "Flower Power." Adopting Reggae as their music of choice, short cropped hair and a street style born out of their Working Class roots, this new breed are dubbed "Skinheads."
A mixture of Mod and Jamaican Rude Boy influences (and later redefined by 2 Tone, Punk, Oi and Hardcore), Skinhead represents a cross of cultures that came together to form a singular identity. From the onset, it was a positive match. But as their numbers swelled across the UK, so did their dubious reputation in the media, largely for public drunkenness, football hooliganism, and confrontations with Police. Although some of these reports were well deserved, most were often exaggerated.
Over time this unabated negative characterization by the British media (mixed with the rise of Right Wing politics in the '70s) would peg Skinheads with a new identity, one that embodied only the worst elements of society... Violent, Racist, Ignorant, Criminal. By the time Skinheads came to the attention of the American media (and Hollywood) in the mid-'80s, most of the mainstream public would only know this image of a Skinhead.
Yet, despite all the misinformation about Skinheads, the original spirit and style still thrives to this day. Its sense of Working Class pride is universal and bridges borders from Europe to the Americas, Malaysia and beyond. International and multicultural, Skinhead knows no bounds. The music, style and attitude still appeals to new generations across the globe. This documentary is a testament to that spirit.
A mixture of Mod and Jamaican Rude Boy influences (and later redefined by 2 Tone, Punk, Oi and Hardcore), Skinhead represents a cross of cultures that came together to form a singular identity. From the onset, it was a positive match. But as their numbers swelled across the UK, so did their dubious reputation in the media, largely for public drunkenness, football hooliganism, and confrontations with Police. Although some of these reports were well deserved, most were often exaggerated.
Over time this unabated negative characterization by the British media (mixed with the rise of Right Wing politics in the '70s) would peg Skinheads with a new identity, one that embodied only the worst elements of society... Violent, Racist, Ignorant, Criminal. By the time Skinheads came to the attention of the American media (and Hollywood) in the mid-'80s, most of the mainstream public would only know this image of a Skinhead.
Yet, despite all the misinformation about Skinheads, the original spirit and style still thrives to this day. Its sense of Working Class pride is universal and bridges borders from Europe to the Americas, Malaysia and beyond. International and multicultural, Skinhead knows no bounds. The music, style and attitude still appeals to new generations across the globe. This documentary is a testament to that spirit.
