The Skinhead subculture was culled from two distinct youth groups of the early '60s in England and Jamaica...

1. MODS (short for Moderns or Modernists), predominantly white British youths who indulged in the latest forward-thinking fashions on London's Carnaby Street, Italian motor scooters from Vespa and Lambretta, and an eclectic selection of music that ranged from rock bands like The Who and The Small Faces to American Soul, R&B and Jamaican Ska. Amphetamine-fueled all-nighters at West Indies-themed dancehalls and scooter rallies at seaside resorts were commonplace in Britain (along with clashes with opposing subcultures like 'Rockers,' inspired by the American Hell's Angels) and represented the height of the Mod lifestyle. The Working Class version of these fashion-conscious elitists were known as 'Hard Mods,' and would eventually become 'Skinheads.'

2. RUDE BOYS (aka Rudies or Rudy), predominantly black Jamaican youths who emulated the American gangster look of the time with sharp suits, thin ties, pork pie hats and wrap around sunglasses. "Rude Boy" was Jamaican slang for a juvenile delinquent or street criminal. So in addition to their impeccable style, the original Rude Boys of Kingston Town were well known for their emphasis on attitude, disdain for authority, and a propensity for violence. Although their fierce demeanor and irrepressible manner was tempered by their love of Reggae, Ska and Rocksteady.

It was the merger of elements from these two groups in the Working Class towns of England, where Jamaican immigrants lived side by side with whites, that formed the Skinhead identity. At a time when America was still struggling with segregation and race riots, the original Skinheads were freely mixing with Jamaicans at dancehalls and embracing black Reggae and Ska artists with reckless abandon. Their fervent musical appetite fed primarily by record labels like Trojan and Pama.

But it wasn't the perfect picture of brotherly harmony. Not by a long shot. "Aggro" was part and parcel of the Skinhead scene, whether you were an active participant or just caught in the fray. But contrary to popular opinion, it wasn't any more than you would find among any youth subculture born on the streets. Whether you were a Mod, Rudy, Ted, Rocker or Skinhead (and later, a Punk), from the schoolyard to the football terraces, fights were a part of life. In a Working Class town, there's little room for pacifists.

Often fueled by football rivalries and one pint too many, street violence was a harsh reality. Racially motivated attacks did occur too of course, there's no denying it. But this disease of violence was more symptomatic of society than Skinheads. A fact largely overlooked by the media, who helped perpetuate (along with Right Wing groups) the fallacy that Skinhead was somehow synonymous with racism. In the mid-'70s, the National Front were polling more than 40% of the vote in local townships in Northern England, indicative of a much a larger, widespread epidemic. What was never publicized was the fact that the vast majority of Skinheads were either indifferent about race or anti-racist. But the stereotype stuck and still lingers to this day.

Being singled out was nothing new to Skinheads as they were hard to overlook. Their appearance blended traditional British brands like Ben Sherman and Fred Perry with smart suits and pork pie hats (mostly reserved for nighttime) as well as durable gear like Levi's Sta-Prest jeans with braces (or suspenders), Crombie coats and Doc Marten work boots. Although some in the media originally attributed their shaven heads to the popularity of the American astronauts of that era, and the clean-cut collegiate look they inspired, most sources recognize the 'short crop' as a Jamaican influence.

Always noticed, the Skinheads stood out in stark contrast to their long-haired, Hippie contemporaries; who they viewed with utter contempt. The token rebellion of a Middle Class drug culture with its pseudo-intellectual ramblings, religious meditations and political protests was completely at odds with the traditional values, love of country and Working Class pride of the Skinhead. This clash of classes may explain the disparaging depiction of Skinheads by the largely Middle Class media in Britain, but that conclusion would be purely speculative. The fact was, they couldn't (and wouldn't) be ignored.

ENGLAND, 1966: Out of the Mod scene, a new youth subculture emerges. Adopting Jamaican Reggae and Ska 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... regardless of race, religion or nationality. This documentary is a testament to that spirit.

This is not a definitive history of Skinheads, only a basic introduction to provide a context for the documentary.