Who were the Mods and Rockers?
The Mods and Rockers were two rival British
gangs. The Mods based their image and attitudes to be sophisticated and be in
touch with the current times. The Rockers, based their lifestyle and behaviour
to mimic 1950s rock and roll. The two rival gangs often came to blows.
The Mods were working class, traditionally working in factories and
mines. However, a slight shift in the working- class pattern enabled the Mods
to begin working in shops and offices. The
era of the Mods became extremely popular especially due to the post- war
economic boom. It enabled the Mods to spend money freely on things such as, tailored
suits, popular jazz music and their personal appearance. Vespa’s became a
popular choice of vehicles amongst the Mods due to further spending because of the
liberalisation of credit law. Making it possible for the Mods to purchase a
Vespa for a small price of £20.
The Rockers were extremely different from
the Mods. The rockers based their image from the 1950’s Hollywood rock and roll
style. The rockers had a very blasé attitude. The rockers had many differences
to the Mods such as their personal appearance being contrastingly different. Also,
the Rockers had a more aggressive attitude to accompany their rocker style. Having
newly found ‘freedom’ the Mods and Rockers were able to explore new
opportunities, instead of being limited to their ‘class’ status.
The Mods and Rockers often came to a head especially with ‘The Battle
of Brighton.’ The Battle of Brighton
took place over two days in 1964, which saw an influx of Mods and Rockers
descend on Brighton seafront with ferocious fights outbreaking.
The Rockers asserted their dominance on Brighton Sea Front and anyone
who was not a Rocker would pay the price for ‘trespassing’. The violence was so
extreme that weapons such as iron bars and knives were used in the attack. A
former Mod, Tony Edwards, participated in the Battle of Brighton and described
the violent events that took place. “Then someone on our side threw a pebble at
them and within a few seconds they were just being blitzed. I saw one guy who’d
been cut on the head with blood running down his face”[1] The Mods and Rockers were
adamant to keep their pride at whatever the cost. The outbreaks of bloody and
violent fights over the bank holiday weekend in Brighton attracted huge media
attention, with the fights being displayed as front-page news. The Battle of
Brighton caused huge concern and moral panic about the British Youth. The Daily
Mirror captured much of the fighting, showing the Mods and Rockers in action.
‘Living for Kicks’ highlighted the extreme violence of a Mod kicking a Rocker
in the head whilst fighting. The Mods and Rockers also chanted “Down with the
Rockers” and “We want blood.”[2] 
[1] The Mirror, ‘Mods V Rockers!
The beach battle that rocked Britain in 1964- and terrified bank holiday
tourists’. www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mods-v-rockers-1964-beach-3437302.amp.
(April 2014)
[2] Douglas D’Ennon, ‘Brighton
Crime and Vice, 1800-2000’, (Wharncliffe Books: 2007) P.134
[3] Subcultures, ‘Mods and Rockers.’ http://subcultureslist.com/mods-and-rockers/
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