SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Inside the Whip Pub, Leeds late 1970'sI recently coame across this website about the Teddy Boy revival in the 1970/80's. There's a selection of photos taken in Leeds pubs of that era. http://www.edwardianteddyboyassociation ... ge19.htmIn these days when there doesn't seem to be any music trends, or fashions like we used to have. Infact there seems nothing of any interest in this day and age whatsoever. I don't think it's really been covered on Secret Leeds before, but I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who have fond memories of how they spent their mispent youth following the latest trends, and spent their money on the music fashion of the day. Whether it be Teddy Boys, Rockers, Two Tone/Ska/Mod boys, New Romantics, or Punks, I'm sure we have plenty of old timers on S.L. Looking back it's easy to say there was nothing creative, or individual about copying everyone else, but what the heck. It was at least fun One thing that stands out in my mind is the badge shop at the top of Kirkgate market. Anyone else remember it in the 70/80's. It would be great to see some old photos of Leeds places, shops, and fashion over the years again.     

Aye, just walk past the Corn Exchange any Saturday afternoon. Seems to be the modern version of what used to be the place to show off your threads - the top of the stairs in the the old, old Woolworth's.

The late 70's and early 80's for me was the imperial era of the youth tribes of Britain. Walk through Leeds on any Saturday afternoon and you would witness a multitude of youngsters all decked out in their individual movements uniform of choice. Skins, Punks, Mods, Teds, Rockers (more NWOBHM i suppose) and New Romantics. Exciting but at times frightening, especially if like myself you modelled your futurist look on Quentin Crisp crossed with Captain Scarlett. Still it wasn't always the sound of mocking laughter that greeted my dandyish Beau Brummell image. I remember a Ted outside the Whip telling me that i looked like a Count.

franco wrote: The late 70's and early 80's for me was the imperial era of the youth tribes of Britain. Walk through Leeds on any Saturday afternoon and you would witness a multitude of youngsters all decked out in their individual movements uniform of choice. Skins, Punks, Mods, Teds, Rockers (more NWOBHM i suppose) and New Romantics. Exciting but at times frightening, especially if like myself you modelled your futurist look on Quentin Crisp crossed with Captain Scarlett. Still it wasn't always the sound of mocking laughter that greeted my dandyish Beau Brummell image. I remember a Ted outside the Whip telling me that i looked like a Count. That's my particular era too, and one I remember with great affection. Yes frightening was the word, those Punks and Skinheads not only scared Grannies lol Here's a section of Leeds Mod, photos and memories from the 1980'shttp://www.modrevival.net/Modstories.html

There was also the fancy dres stall in the merrion centre indoor market which also sold badges and was one of the last places to print up T-shirts to your own design for a while (I know that there are new places opened in reent years for T-shirts).

Steve Jones wrote: There was also the fancy dres stall in the merrion centre indoor market which also sold badges and was one of the last places to print up T-shirts to your own design for a while (I know that there are new places opened in reent years for T-shirts). Oh yeah. I forgot about those printed T shirts. They smelt nice when they were hot, and first pressed. They were on sale everywhere in the late 70's. It's a shame to see the Merrion market the way it is today. There used to be loads of good knick knac shops in there.     

For a short while in the mid eighties i had a Saturday job working in a Goth shop called (cringe ) Shock on Call Lane. I think it's where the Arts Cafe is now, and was the original site of X clothes. Anyway it used to attract all sorts. The usual Goth/Punk crowd of course, who were always charming and impeccably behaved, but also a disturbing subculture of obese middle aged married couples, who used to squeeze into the changing rooms and cram their mammoth bulks into the tiniest rubber mini skirts, plastic trousers and leather Basques available. Then (the horror) they would proceed to take photos of each other with a cleverly pre- concealed camera. After removing the now irreparably stretched violated and ruined garment they would quickly scuttle out and away with a cursory " it didn't really suit me". Oh well, i suppose it was before the internet.

Oh my, I've been thru most fashions mentioned on this thread! I was a new romantic when I was 12 in 81, then when I was 14 I fancied this lad who was a mod so I bought the fishtail Parker and adorned it with loads of mod badges from the aforesaid shop in the Market. When I got to 16/18 I was well and truly into goth and bought a pair of thigh length boots from the shop down call lane, which I wore with pride when going to the phono on Saturday nights, hair crimped, backcombed and sprayed to death with shockwaves hairspray. Happy memories.

Talking about Mod Era my late husband in late 60's was a mod and had a Lambretta scooter which he paid to have it Chromed and all the mirrors on also he had the fish tailed Parka and Scarborough was the place to meet on a weekend, then it was coparing scooters who had the beat Lambretta or Vespa. Oh what happy times.

FLOJO wrote: Talking about Mod Era my late husband in late 60's was a mod and had a Lambretta scooter which he paid to have it Chromed and all the mirrors on also he had the fish tailed Parka and Scarborough was the place to meet on a weekend, then it was coparing scooters who had the beat Lambretta or Vespa. Oh what happy times. Yes great times Flojo, I was also a scooter boy in the 60s I had several Makes and Models from a Lambretta LD150 to a SX200, didnt go for the full bling job though. I was a member of the Gemini Scooter Club, meets were regular sometimes at the BG and the Peel, with trips to Scarborough where we would meet up with like minded lads from Hull and York. Fashion in the 60s was either Mod or Rocker not much in between other than the student look, loons and Afgan Coats and that horrible scent bought from Skythrop was it petuli oil (sic). got my mod gear from Ray Allen and Hopkins on Merrion Street. Skin head scene started in the late 60s, I flogged my scooter and bought a Renault 4, warmer and safer, but not as much fun. Happy memories