Mods & Rockers

By 1964, the majority of British youth was split into two factions called Mods and Rockers who each dressed in their own distinctive style. 

Mods were the smarter of the two and wore sharp lightweight suits or smart jackets over polo necks or Fred Perry shirts, and donned US Army Parkas to ride their Vespa and Lambretta scooters to a club to dance to Soul music.

The Mods were originally an exclusive group of fashion-conscious men, but by 1963 the term 'Mod' had taken on a much looser meaning and could be applied to most tailored youth fashions of the period. 

The Rockers wore winklepicker shoes, tight jeans and leather jackets with polished studs. They rode large motorcycles such as Triumphs, BSA's and Norton's - and had a greater affinity with motorbike grease than a tailor's measuring tape.

Their rivalry often spilled over into violence. Every Saturday night the Mods and the Rockers would dress themselves with great care, groom their hair so that not a strand was out of place, go out on the town and beat the shit out of each other. 

The 1964 holiday weekend clashes in resort towns such as Margate, Clacton and Brighton on the south coast terrorised local residents and outraged much of the nation. 

In May 1964, most major southern seaside resort in England were turned into a battlefield by the warring factions.

Worst hit was Brighton where over 600 youths had to be controlled and 76 were arrested. The violence, which included fist fights, bottle and stone throwing and general vandalism, terrified holidaymakers engulfed by the chaos. 

51 youths were also arrested in Margate, where two teenagers were stabbed.