[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t’s been more than 50 years since mod culture got its start, but the hip scene known for sharp suits, Italian scooters, and soul music forever lives on among its worldwide devotees. Club organizer, DJ, and now author Paul “Smiler” Anderson is one of those mod disciples, and his new book, Mods: The New Religion: The Style And Music of the 1960s Mods (Omnibus Press, September 2014) is the quintessential guide to the subculture of the 1960s, documenting everything from the fashion to the clubs to the drugs. Featuring more than 300 full-color pages jam-packed with photographs, interviews, and more, the hardcover book has even earned the seal of approval of the Modfather himself, Paul Weller.
Anderson hopes that the book, published this year to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the infamous “Mods Vs Rockers” riots of 1964, will appeal to well-versed members of the mod community and interested newbies alike, giving a colorful glimpse of a history that never managed to go out of style.
We recently caught up with Anderson to learn more about his personal history with mod culture and how the book came to be.
Kayley Kravitz: How did you get into mod culture? What did you find so intriguing about it?
Paul “Smiler” Anderson: The mod thing really started for me around September 1979 when I finally became a mod after watching it flourish from a distance. I was 14 at the time, so I was too young to have been a punk but I loved new wave and punk music, and through the Jam, the mod scene became more noticeable. I wasn’t really very good in the early days (cherry red loafers and grey socks!) but once I became a mod I knew that it was going to stay with me forever.
As I was 14 and living in Reading (40 miles from London) there really wasn’t anything more than our local youth club. I was always one of the youngest mods it seemed — the older lot got scooters and went off to see bands such as Secret Affair, the Chords, and other revival bands. As I got older I too got a scooter and went to see bands. By the time I was 18 in 1983, a lot of the older mods had become scooter boys. Clothing and music became more irrelevant to them as it was more about just having scooters. I loved scooters and have owned at least one every year since 1982 but it was always clothes and music that took priority to me. So luckily I found a like-minded soul in a guy called Richard Molyneux who rejected the local Reading scene in search of something different.
In 1984, we went off to London one Saturday night to a club I’d read about called the Phoenix in Cavendish Square. It was fantastic and a million miles away from the local soul nights I had been to up until then (and never felt comfortable at). It was full of sharp suited kids dancing to old R&B, beat, soul, and jazz. It was my mod nirvana. After that we became regulars at the Phoenix on Saturdays and Sneakers in Shepherd’s Bush every Sunday. I started getting suits and shirts handmade and collecting vinyl records with a passion. I had no interest in fitting in with what society expected of me. I hated ’80s fashion and the music of Wham! and Madonna meant nothing to me.
What makes mod culture endure and remain consistent over the past 50 years, especially when compared to other “subcultures” like punk and goth? Do you think the vinyl revival has helped mod culture stay relevant?
To me, mod will endure because it’s simply about good taste. Let’s face it — most aging punks, goths, etc. tend to look a little sad whilst most aging mods (if they get the look right) still look good. A nice understated look, obviously — I am not talking parkas and targets here but well-cut suits and shirts.
Vinyl has always been integral to the scene. Somebody once asked me, “If mods embrace modern ideas then why don’t mods use download technology?” I thought it was a fair question but the answer is simple — anybody can do that! Mod will always have an exclusive element and so if you have a song on original vinyl then that is much harder to possess. If you have it on the rarest label it came out on or maybe a demo issue of it, then that is even more important in the mod scheme of things.
Now onto Mods: The New Religion — how long did it take for you to put the book together?
I first thought about writing a book back in 2002. I did some research on bands local to me in Reading like the Moquettes and did newspaper appeals for mods — got a couple of bits but then never progressed. I then thought about writing a book on ’80s mods but then I found out about a guy called Manu [real name: Enamel Verguren] writing that type of book so gave him all my membership cards, photos, flyers, and an interview which eventually turned up in his I’m Not Like Everybody Else: Mod Chronicles Vol. 2: The 1990s British Mod Scene book. I then made it really hard on myself and decided to write a book on ’60s original mods and started that back in 2005. But ideas, changes, and photos were still coming in right up until the end of December 2013 just before it had to be sent to be printed.
The book now though is exactly as I imagined it — 12 years ago! Getting a publishing deal is hard work. You must understand, only one percent of books actually make it to publication. Self-publication was not an option as my vision of it would cost far too much and I didn’t want to compromise. Firstly, I knew it had limited appeal for many publishers because of the subject matter so I needed either a music book publisher or one that dealt in fashion or youth cultures. Obviously then that limits the publishers who deal in those genres.
I finally finished the book in February 2011 so I approached a few and got my list down to those I thought were really interested. Lloyd Johnson [British fashion retailer] put me in touch with Adelita Publishing but after a bit of interest they said “not at the moment.” Paolo Hewitt [music journalist] tried to help me get Prestel Publishing interested but they didn’t think the book would suit their output. Eddie Piller at Acid Jazz was obviously really interested as he had published my previous book on the band he Fleur De Lys. I was helping write sleeve notes for his rare mod series of LPs but he realized that my book was going to be very expensive to initially fund.
My big hope was Omnibus as they are the biggest music book publisher in the world. I approached them but in June 2011 they declined citing that they thought my book would “cannibalize sales” of their own Mod: A Very British Phenomenon by Terry Rawlings. I explained that the book was over a decade old by then and that mine was different. I then asked if they would let me show them exactly what I had written, the photos, etc. They agreed and I went to London in August that year to meet managing editor David Barraclough who I’d dealt with all along via email. I was in there for three and a half hours! David loved it and said it was my passion for the subject that finally convinced him.
Four months of various emails and phone calls followed, waiting to see if he could convince the other staff members plus the managing director to believe in the book. I finally received the news that it was to be commissioned on December 20, 2011. That was one happy Christmas! The publishing deal was completed in February 2012. It has taken over three years to actually come out due to them changing publication dates. That said, I am really happy with the results and glad I went with them.
What is the target demographic for this book? Beginners? Diehards?
The book is for everyone! It is a social history document on the original mod movement of the 1960’s — not just the cliched mods and rockers fighting on a beach element. More importantly, it is for the original mods who paved the way and created the culture. Over the years, many other publications have got their story wrong or diluted it with other sub-cultures such as Northern Soul. I was determined to tell their story. Thankfully by their response, I seem to have got it right!
The Modfather himself, Paul Weller, gave you his seal of approval on the book. What did that mean to you? Do you think it validates the book?
Paul Weller was apparently given the book for his birthday and loved it. Through a mutual friend, the message came to me that he wanted to meet the author and a meeting was set up earlier this year. This was a big deal for me as it was Weller’s work with the Jam that got me into being a mod in the first place. I was so nervous — it was almost like going on a date!
I was worried about what to wear and what to say. My wife was laughing about it! We met for about an hour and a half. He greeted me with a hug and gave me a German Small Faces picture sleeve of “Tin Soldier.” I gave him a few things including some CDs I’d compiled. I never thought he would listen to them but a few days later his bass player Andy Lewis — who I know well — told me they had my CDs on in the dressing room before going on stage. I was over the moon. A few days after that, Paul was interviewed by the UK music paper New Musical Express and named my book as an essential for his tour. I have always admired Weller’s taste and style so it was the ultimate compliment to me. Another great coup was Ian McLagan of the Small Faces telling me he loved the book. Ian has sadly just passed away, but his backing gives the whole project credibility.
For more information on Mods: The New Religion by Paul “Smiler” Anderson, and how to buy it online, click here and here. Images below published with permission by the author.
