Scooterboy

A scooterboy is a member of a specific subculture based around riding motor scooters.

The subculture originated in the United Kingdom in the 1980s among Vespa and Lambretta riders. It developed out of the mod, northern soul, punk, psychobilly, goth and skinhead cultures, becoming a separate and distinct group.fact|date=August 2008

Characteristics and history

Unlike the mods, who often customize their scooters with 1960s-style paint jobs and accessories (such as extra mirrors), scooterboys generally use a more modern style of paint work, sometimes adding murals depicting events or music, or in some cases turning them into cutdowns.

In the UK, scooterboys typically attend scooter rallies in seaside towns, with attendance numbers usually in the thousands. Rallies usually involve camping, watching bands, dancing to DJs, drinking and participating in various scooter-related activities. In the 1980s, scooterboys listened to various styles of music, including ska, 2 Tone, psychobilly, punk rock, Oi!, and northern soul. A few popular songs at rallies in the 1980s included "The Snake" by Al Wilson", "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?" by The Clash, "Skinhead Love Affair" by Bad Manners", "Surfin' Bird" by The Trashmen, and "Tony Blackburn" by Binky Baker.fact|date=August 2008

The huge number of scooter clubs that sprung up around this movement best identified the scooterboy movement. Gangs of scooterists travelled in packs around Britain to indulge in alcohol- and drug-fuelled mayhem. The scooterboy movement came at a time when huge sections of Britain’s youth where alienated by the establishment and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s policies. New police powers meant to combat striking miners where sometimes used against scooterboys, often leading to the police stopping scooterboys from attending rallies.fact|date=August 2008

Over the next ten years, the scooterboy subculture spread around the world, largely due to magazines such as "Scootering" and "Scooter Scene". In the 2000s, there has been a sizable scooterboy (or as they are now known, scooterist) scene in many countries, notably Germany, the United States, France and Italy.

Fashion

There are no rigid fashion rules among scooterboys, although many have resembled punk-influenced-skinheads. However, many have had either normal hairstyles, psychobilly-style quiffs or flattops, or dreadlocks.fact|date=August 2008 Scooterboys rejected the more formal clothing styles of the mods and traditionalist skinheads (such as suits). Typical Scooterboy clothing includes MA-1 bomber jackets, military surplus parkas, and leather or denim jackets (or vests). It is common for scooterboys to sew patches onto their jackets showing the rallies they have attended, the clubs they have belonged to and the brand of scooter they prefer.

Many scooterboys have worn Dr. Martens or military surplus boots and Ben Sherman or Fred Perry shirts, showing some throwback to their mod/skinhead roots, although T-shirts with the wearer's club emblazoned across the front or back were most popular at parties and rallies.

External links

* [http://www.scootering.com Scootering Magazine]
* [http://www.scooterboy-world.com/ Scooterboy-World]
* [http://scooter-rallies.com Scooter Rallies in 1980s Britain]