First look at ‘Mods: The New Religion’ – Paul ‘Smiler’ Anderson’s forthcoming book on the original Mod scene could be the most important yet!!! says Paul Hooper-Keeley

I have just had the proof e-copy of Smiler’s book through from the publisher and am about 20 pages in so far.

What I can already tell you is that this 300+ page book is cram-packed with new and exclusive interviews that Paul has undertaken with participants of the original scene, and is chock-full of photos, news clippings, membership cards, tickets – much of which I haven’t seen before. It’s beautifully illustrated (I will be able to comment further on this when a hard copy arrives) and looks to have been a real labour of love.

The contents of, ‘Mods: The New Religion. The Style and Music of the 1960s Mods’, are as follows: -

INTRODUCTION

1 A BRIEF HISTORY OF MODERN BRITISH FASHION 7

2 DRESSIN’ FINE, MAKIN’ TIME 11

3 GETTING THE PLATTERS THAT MATTER... 49

4 I GOT THE BLUES! 57

5 LET’S GO BABY, WHERE THE ACTION IS! 81

6 DO THE SKA! 91

7 BETTA GETTA VESPA 103

8 RIOTS AND ROCKERS 121

9 READY STEADY GO! 147

10 CAN YOU JERK LIKE ME? 159

11 PURPLE PILL EATER 163

12 THE CLUBS 167

13 I’M A SOUL MAN 225

14 HERE COMES THE NICE 259

15 IT’S ALL TOO BEAUTIFUL 285

EPILOGUE 301

The brief history of modern British fashion takes us right back to 1660 and the origins of modern suit design, through Beau Brummell, the Victorian age, Edward VII (and the significance of this period to the youth of the 50s), the WW2 demob suit and the arrival of the teenager.

'Dressin’ Fine, Makin’ Time' is where the original interviews kick in, with Paul speaking to original Edwardian & Teddy Boys from the 50s and early adopters of the Modernist style (Ray Johnson, Jeff Dexter, Lloyd Johnson and Mickey Modern) who comment on their first sightings of like-minded souls and how the scene started coagulating.

Skimming through the rest of this ebook proof version, I can tell you that this appears to be the most comprehensive, detailed and original piece of work on the original Mod scene to date, bar none. And with the author being a scene participant himself of such high standing and longevity, it’s clear that all of the important questions (and resulting deductions) have been made.

There’ll be more on this excellent book as I read through it further (and get the hard copy through), but suffice to say that if you haven’t yet got this book on order (Amazon are currently running a discounted offer for pre-orders) then I can wholeheartedly recommend that you do so without further delay because when 14^th April arrives, you will want this book in your hands.

‘Mods: The New Religion’ – quite possibly The New (Mod) Bible too!!!!!!!

Paul Hooper-Keeley