The mods and the rockers of the 1960s tore the beaches of England apart. It was war: leather-clad rockers against the stylish mods.
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The Zoot Suit Riots: When Fashion And Racism Erupted Into Violence
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1 of 31A gang of mods, dressed in suits and parkas, show off the modified scooters they’ve covered in mirrors and headlights.
Peckham, England. May 7, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 2 of 31Rockers enjoy a soda at a roadside cafe.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 3 of 31A lone mod drives his scooter up alongside of a gang of rockers on motorcycles.
Hastings, England. August 4, 1964.Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 4 of 31A rocker tries to kick over the scooter of a rival mod.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 5 of 31Fashion-conscious mods smoke pipes on the streets of London.
London, England. February 9, 1965.Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 6 of 31An old man falls to the ground, caught up in the middle of a street fight between mods and rockers.
Hastings, England. August 4, 1964.Terry Fincher/Express/Getty Images 7 of 31A mod is pulled away by the police after a scuffle on the streets.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Freddie Whackett/Express/Getty Images 8 of 31A group of mods flees the scene after a brawl with rockers.
Margate, England. May 18, 1964. Evening Standard/Getty Images 9 of 31Mods on scooters ride down the streets of England.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 10 of 31A gang of rockers in leather jackets gathers outside a roadside cafe.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 11 of 31A mod takes a nap on his scooter.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 12 of 31Teenage mods convene around their scooters.
London, England. 1964.PYMCA/UIG via Getty Images 13 of 31A rocker uses the mirror on a mod’s scooter to fix his hair.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 14 of 31A mod and a rocker come to blows in the middle of the street.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Evening Standard/Getty Images 15 of 31A group of young mods partying on their scooters.
London, England. 1964.David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images 16 of 31A rocker and his girlfriend pose for a Life Magazine photographer, leaning against their bike.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 17 of 31Two girls, one a mod and one a rocker, tackle each other to the ground and start beating each other senseless.
Margate, England. May 17, 1964.Bettmann/Getty Images 18 of 31Hundreds of mods and rockers convene on a beach for an all-out brawl.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Bettmann/Getty Images 19 of 31A crowd swarms to join a massive fist-fight on the beach.
Brighton, England. August 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 20 of 31Victorious mods chase the rockers off the beach, hurtling bottles and chairs at them as they run.
Margate, Kent. May 18, 1964.Keystone/Getty Images 21 of 31The teenagers flee as a mounted police officer rides onto the scene.
Brighton, England. October 18, 1965.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images 22 of 31Police swarm in, trying to break up a fight.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 23 of 31A mod takes a swing at a police officer.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 24 of 31Police drag away a bruised and beaten but ever-defiant mod.
Margate, England. August 1964.Terry Fincher/Express/Getty Images 25 of 31An officer leads a rocker away by his arm.
Margate, England. May 1, 1964.Ronald Dumont/Express/Getty Images 26 of 31Three police officers have to work together to drag away a rocker who refuses to stop fighting.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Freddie Whackett/Express/Getty Images 27 of 31Police officers march a group of mods away.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 28 of 31Police officers stand between a pack of mods and rockers, struggling to keep the peace.
Margate, England. May 19, 1964.Keystone/Getty Images 29 of 31A group of rockers relaxes on a bench.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 30 of 31Mods on scooters ride away. After tormenting the beaches with their battles, the holiday has ended and the mods and the rockers and going home.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 31 of 31Like this gallery?Share it:
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Mods Vs. Rockers: When The Youth Of The ’60s Erupted Into Violence View Gallery
The 1960s were a tumultuous time around the world, and England was no exception. Baby boomers were just entering their teen years – and they were wilder, more rebellious, and more obsessed with their own identities than their parents had ever had the time to be.
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And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
The Zoot Suit Riots: When Fashion And Racism Erupted Into Violence
25 Rocking Images Of 1950s Britain’s ‘Feral Youth’, The Teddy Boys
Meet The Mods: The Mid-Century Fashionistas Who Took Britain By Storm
1 of 31A gang of mods, dressed in suits and parkas, show off the modified scooters they’ve covered in mirrors and headlights.
Peckham, England. May 7, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 2 of 31Rockers enjoy a soda at a roadside cafe.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 3 of 31A lone mod drives his scooter up alongside of a gang of rockers on motorcycles.
Hastings, England. August 4, 1964.Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 4 of 31A rocker tries to kick over the scooter of a rival mod.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 5 of 31Fashion-conscious mods smoke pipes on the streets of London.
London, England. February 9, 1965.Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 6 of 31An old man falls to the ground, caught up in the middle of a street fight between mods and rockers.
Hastings, England. August 4, 1964.Terry Fincher/Express/Getty Images 7 of 31A mod is pulled away by the police after a scuffle on the streets.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Freddie Whackett/Express/Getty Images 8 of 31A group of mods flees the scene after a brawl with rockers.
Margate, England. May 18, 1964. Evening Standard/Getty Images 9 of 31Mods on scooters ride down the streets of England.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 10 of 31A gang of rockers in leather jackets gathers outside a roadside cafe.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 11 of 31A mod takes a nap on his scooter.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 12 of 31Teenage mods convene around their scooters.
London, England. 1964.PYMCA/UIG via Getty Images 13 of 31A rocker uses the mirror on a mod’s scooter to fix his hair.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 14 of 31A mod and a rocker come to blows in the middle of the street.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Evening Standard/Getty Images 15 of 31A group of young mods partying on their scooters.
London, England. 1964.David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images 16 of 31A rocker and his girlfriend pose for a Life Magazine photographer, leaning against their bike.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 17 of 31Two girls, one a mod and one a rocker, tackle each other to the ground and start beating each other senseless.
Margate, England. May 17, 1964.Bettmann/Getty Images 18 of 31Hundreds of mods and rockers convene on a beach for an all-out brawl.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Bettmann/Getty Images 19 of 31A crowd swarms to join a massive fist-fight on the beach.
Brighton, England. August 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 20 of 31Victorious mods chase the rockers off the beach, hurtling bottles and chairs at them as they run.
Margate, Kent. May 18, 1964.Keystone/Getty Images 21 of 31The teenagers flee as a mounted police officer rides onto the scene.
Brighton, England. October 18, 1965.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images 22 of 31Police swarm in, trying to break up a fight.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 23 of 31A mod takes a swing at a police officer.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 24 of 31Police drag away a bruised and beaten but ever-defiant mod.
Margate, England. August 1964.Terry Fincher/Express/Getty Images 25 of 31An officer leads a rocker away by his arm.
Margate, England. May 1, 1964.Ronald Dumont/Express/Getty Images 26 of 31Three police officers have to work together to drag away a rocker who refuses to stop fighting.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Freddie Whackett/Express/Getty Images 27 of 31Police officers march a group of mods away.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 28 of 31Police officers stand between a pack of mods and rockers, struggling to keep the peace.
Margate, England. May 19, 1964.Keystone/Getty Images 29 of 31A group of rockers relaxes on a bench.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 30 of 31Mods on scooters ride away. After tormenting the beaches with their battles, the holiday has ended and the mods and the rockers and going home.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 31 of 31Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
Like this gallery?Share it:
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And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
The Zoot Suit Riots: When Fashion And Racism Erupted Into Violence
25 Rocking Images Of 1950s Britain’s ‘Feral Youth’, The Teddy Boys
Meet The Mods: The Mid-Century Fashionistas Who Took Britain By Storm
1 of 31A gang of mods, dressed in suits and parkas, show off the modified scooters they’ve covered in mirrors and headlights.
Peckham, England. May 7, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 2 of 31Rockers enjoy a soda at a roadside cafe.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 3 of 31A lone mod drives his scooter up alongside of a gang of rockers on motorcycles.
Hastings, England. August 4, 1964.Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 4 of 31A rocker tries to kick over the scooter of a rival mod.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 5 of 31Fashion-conscious mods smoke pipes on the streets of London.
London, England. February 9, 1965.Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 6 of 31An old man falls to the ground, caught up in the middle of a street fight between mods and rockers.
Hastings, England. August 4, 1964.Terry Fincher/Express/Getty Images 7 of 31A mod is pulled away by the police after a scuffle on the streets.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Freddie Whackett/Express/Getty Images 8 of 31A group of mods flees the scene after a brawl with rockers.
Margate, England. May 18, 1964. Evening Standard/Getty Images 9 of 31Mods on scooters ride down the streets of England.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 10 of 31A gang of rockers in leather jackets gathers outside a roadside cafe.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 11 of 31A mod takes a nap on his scooter.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 12 of 31Teenage mods convene around their scooters.
London, England. 1964.PYMCA/UIG via Getty Images 13 of 31A rocker uses the mirror on a mod’s scooter to fix his hair.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 14 of 31A mod and a rocker come to blows in the middle of the street.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Evening Standard/Getty Images 15 of 31A group of young mods partying on their scooters.
London, England. 1964.David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images 16 of 31A rocker and his girlfriend pose for a Life Magazine photographer, leaning against their bike.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 17 of 31Two girls, one a mod and one a rocker, tackle each other to the ground and start beating each other senseless.
Margate, England. May 17, 1964.Bettmann/Getty Images 18 of 31Hundreds of mods and rockers convene on a beach for an all-out brawl.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Bettmann/Getty Images 19 of 31A crowd swarms to join a massive fist-fight on the beach.
Brighton, England. August 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 20 of 31Victorious mods chase the rockers off the beach, hurtling bottles and chairs at them as they run.
Margate, Kent. May 18, 1964.Keystone/Getty Images 21 of 31The teenagers flee as a mounted police officer rides onto the scene.
Brighton, England. October 18, 1965.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images 22 of 31Police swarm in, trying to break up a fight.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 23 of 31A mod takes a swing at a police officer.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 24 of 31Police drag away a bruised and beaten but ever-defiant mod.
Margate, England. August 1964.Terry Fincher/Express/Getty Images 25 of 31An officer leads a rocker away by his arm.
Margate, England. May 1, 1964.Ronald Dumont/Express/Getty Images 26 of 31Three police officers have to work together to drag away a rocker who refuses to stop fighting.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Freddie Whackett/Express/Getty Images 27 of 31Police officers march a group of mods away.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 28 of 31Police officers stand between a pack of mods and rockers, struggling to keep the peace.
Margate, England. May 19, 1964.Keystone/Getty Images 29 of 31A group of rockers relaxes on a bench.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 30 of 31Mods on scooters ride away. After tormenting the beaches with their battles, the holiday has ended and the mods and the rockers and going home.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 31 of 31Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
The Zoot Suit Riots: When Fashion And Racism Erupted Into Violence
25 Rocking Images Of 1950s Britain’s ‘Feral Youth’, The Teddy Boys
Meet The Mods: The Mid-Century Fashionistas Who Took Britain By Storm
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1 of 31A gang of mods, dressed in suits and parkas, show off the modified scooters they’ve covered in mirrors and headlights.
Peckham, England. May 7, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 2 of 31Rockers enjoy a soda at a roadside cafe.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 3 of 31A lone mod drives his scooter up alongside of a gang of rockers on motorcycles.
Hastings, England. August 4, 1964.Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 4 of 31A rocker tries to kick over the scooter of a rival mod.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 5 of 31Fashion-conscious mods smoke pipes on the streets of London.
London, England. February 9, 1965.Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 6 of 31An old man falls to the ground, caught up in the middle of a street fight between mods and rockers.
Hastings, England. August 4, 1964.Terry Fincher/Express/Getty Images 7 of 31A mod is pulled away by the police after a scuffle on the streets.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Freddie Whackett/Express/Getty Images 8 of 31A group of mods flees the scene after a brawl with rockers.
Margate, England. May 18, 1964. Evening Standard/Getty Images 9 of 31Mods on scooters ride down the streets of England.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 10 of 31A gang of rockers in leather jackets gathers outside a roadside cafe.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 11 of 31A mod takes a nap on his scooter.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 12 of 31Teenage mods convene around their scooters.
London, England. 1964.PYMCA/UIG via Getty Images 13 of 31A rocker uses the mirror on a mod’s scooter to fix his hair.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 14 of 31A mod and a rocker come to blows in the middle of the street.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Evening Standard/Getty Images 15 of 31A group of young mods partying on their scooters.
London, England. 1964.David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images 16 of 31A rocker and his girlfriend pose for a Life Magazine photographer, leaning against their bike.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 17 of 31Two girls, one a mod and one a rocker, tackle each other to the ground and start beating each other senseless.
Margate, England. May 17, 1964.Bettmann/Getty Images 18 of 31Hundreds of mods and rockers convene on a beach for an all-out brawl.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Bettmann/Getty Images 19 of 31A crowd swarms to join a massive fist-fight on the beach.
Brighton, England. August 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 20 of 31Victorious mods chase the rockers off the beach, hurtling bottles and chairs at them as they run.
Margate, Kent. May 18, 1964.Keystone/Getty Images 21 of 31The teenagers flee as a mounted police officer rides onto the scene.
Brighton, England. October 18, 1965.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images 22 of 31Police swarm in, trying to break up a fight.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 23 of 31A mod takes a swing at a police officer.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 24 of 31Police drag away a bruised and beaten but ever-defiant mod.
Margate, England. August 1964.Terry Fincher/Express/Getty Images 25 of 31An officer leads a rocker away by his arm.
Margate, England. May 1, 1964.Ronald Dumont/Express/Getty Images 26 of 31Three police officers have to work together to drag away a rocker who refuses to stop fighting.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Freddie Whackett/Express/Getty Images 27 of 31Police officers march a group of mods away.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 28 of 31Police officers stand between a pack of mods and rockers, struggling to keep the peace.
Margate, England. May 19, 1964.Keystone/Getty Images 29 of 31A group of rockers relaxes on a bench.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 30 of 31Mods on scooters ride away. After tormenting the beaches with their battles, the holiday has ended and the mods and the rockers and going home.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images 31 of 31Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
1 of 31A gang of mods, dressed in suits and parkas, show off the modified scooters they’ve covered in mirrors and headlights.
Peckham, England. May 7, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
2 of 31Rockers enjoy a soda at a roadside cafe.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
3 of 31A lone mod drives his scooter up alongside of a gang of rockers on motorcycles.
Hastings, England. August 4, 1964.Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
4 of 31A rocker tries to kick over the scooter of a rival mod.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
5 of 31Fashion-conscious mods smoke pipes on the streets of London.
London, England. February 9, 1965.Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
6 of 31An old man falls to the ground, caught up in the middle of a street fight between mods and rockers.
Hastings, England. August 4, 1964.Terry Fincher/Express/Getty Images
7 of 31A mod is pulled away by the police after a scuffle on the streets.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Freddie Whackett/Express/Getty Images
8 of 31A group of mods flees the scene after a brawl with rockers.
Margate, England. May 18, 1964. Evening Standard/Getty Images
9 of 31Mods on scooters ride down the streets of England.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
10 of 31A gang of rockers in leather jackets gathers outside a roadside cafe.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
11 of 31A mod takes a nap on his scooter.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
12 of 31Teenage mods convene around their scooters.
London, England. 1964.PYMCA/UIG via Getty Images
13 of 31A rocker uses the mirror on a mod’s scooter to fix his hair.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
14 of 31A mod and a rocker come to blows in the middle of the street.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Evening Standard/Getty Images
15 of 31A group of young mods partying on their scooters.
London, England. 1964.David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images
16 of 31A rocker and his girlfriend pose for a Life Magazine photographer, leaning against their bike.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
17 of 31Two girls, one a mod and one a rocker, tackle each other to the ground and start beating each other senseless.
Margate, England. May 17, 1964.Bettmann/Getty Images
18 of 31Hundreds of mods and rockers convene on a beach for an all-out brawl.
Hastings, England. August 3, 1964.Bettmann/Getty Images
19 of 31A crowd swarms to join a massive fist-fight on the beach.
Brighton, England. August 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
20 of 31Victorious mods chase the rockers off the beach, hurtling bottles and chairs at them as they run.
Margate, Kent. May 18, 1964.Keystone/Getty Images
21 of 31The teenagers flee as a mounted police officer rides onto the scene.
Brighton, England. October 18, 1965.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images
22 of 31Police swarm in, trying to break up a fight.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
23 of 31A mod takes a swing at a police officer.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
24 of 31Police drag away a bruised and beaten but ever-defiant mod.
Margate, England. August 1964.Terry Fincher/Express/Getty Images
25 of 31An officer leads a rocker away by his arm.
Margate, England. May 1, 1964.Ronald Dumont/Express/Getty Images
26 of 31Three police officers have to work together to drag away a rocker who refuses to stop fighting.
Brighton, England. April 19, 1965.Freddie Whackett/Express/Getty Images
27 of 31Police officers march a group of mods away.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
28 of 31Police officers stand between a pack of mods and rockers, struggling to keep the peace.
Margate, England. May 19, 1964.Keystone/Getty Images
29 of 31A group of rockers relaxes on a bench.
England. July 1964.Terence Spencer/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
30 of 31Mods on scooters ride away. After tormenting the beaches with their battles, the holiday has ended and the mods and the rockers and going home.
Essex, England. March 30, 1964.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
31 of 31Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
Mods Vs. Rockers: When The Youth Of The ’60s Erupted Into Violence View Gallery
Mods Vs. Rockers: When The Youth Of The ’60s Erupted Into Violence View Gallery
Mods Vs. Rockers: When The Youth Of The ’60s Erupted Into Violence View Gallery
Mods Vs. Rockers: When The Youth Of The ’60s Erupted Into Violence View Gallery
Mods Vs. Rockers: When The Youth Of The ’60s Erupted Into Violence
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These teens fell into two primary camps: mods and rockers. The mods were the stylish kids – fans of psychedelic rock who wore skinny ties and suits and rode around the streets of England on scooters. The rockers were the tough kids; clad in leather, they greased their hair up into pompadours and took to the roads on motorcycles.
Fueled by hormones, rebellion and rock music, the mods and the rockers broke into fights that – warranted or not – drove England to the brink. Usually, these encounters were just little skirmishes, two people from different walks of life letting their differences come to blows in the middle of a busy street.
On Easter weekend in 1964, however, the small fights turned into a full-out war. The fashion-conscious cliques converged on the coast of England, breaking into all-out brawls on the beaches of Brighton and Margate. Hundreds of teenagers swarmed out onto the fields, beating each other senseless and hurtling bottles after anyone who ran away.
The country burst into what sociologist Stanley Cohen has called a moral panic. Indeed, newspapers across England started warning about mods and rockers, calling them “vermin” who were “wreaking untold havoc on the land.” The Daily Telegraph deemed the Easter smackdown a “day of terror.” The Daily Mirror described the event as an invasion of “wild ones.”
But the data paint a bit of a different picture than the headlines. While roughly one thousand people congregated at Brighton Beach that day, police made just 76 arrests. Instead, as sociologists Charles Hamblett and Jane Deverson wrote on the matter, the beach brawl was less about inciting “terror” for its own sake and more about youth of the time demonstrating that they had “arrived.” Perhaps the more interesting story, then, was the way older generations responded.
And that, as 18-year-old John Braden put it in Deverson’s and Hamblett’s 1964-published book on the subject, Generation X, was precisely the point:
“Yes, I am a Mod and I was at Margate. I’m not ashamed of it − I wasn’t the only one. I joined in a few of the fights. It was a laugh, I haven’t enjoyed myself so much for a long time. It was great − the beach was like a battlefield. It was like we were taking over the country. You want to hit back at all the old geezers who try to tell us what to do. We just want to show them we’re not going to take it.”
For more on being young and cool in the 1960s, read about the mods and feminism and the hippies of San Francisco.
