Brutus Nevapress revisited

A year ago, I announced the reissue of the ‘iconic’ 1966 Brutus NevaPress on this blog, concluding, “If they hold that crease, they might just be perfect”. Now that I’ve owned a pair of navy Brutus NevaPress for a year, it is high time I pass a verdict.

My trousers came in a very neat shade of navy, and the quality of the material seemed decent enough. 70% polyester and 30% cotton – probably no different from the much lower-priced Warrior or Relco trousers, but somehow, they seemed sturdier and more solidly finished, leaving a good first impression.

Advertisement

March 31, 2017July 26, 2017 by Crombieboy Categories: ClobberTags: Brutus, Brutus Nevapress, Brutus Trimfit, Charles Tyrwhitt non-iron chinos, sta prest 14 Comments

Literary hooligan: an interview with John King

Headhunters, White Trash, Skinheads and, most recently, The Liberal Politics of Adolf Hitler – as the titles of John King’s novels alone suggest, the godfather of hoolie lit is not one to dodge controversy or trouble. Living it as he’s writing it, the same has certainly been true for his real life persona.

King is something like British literature’s face of Oi. As many Londoners will know, this connection extends to the live events he puts on at the 100 Club. Named after his fourth novel, Human Punk, King’s night frequently features prole punk icons such as The Last Resort, Cockney Rejects, Ruts DC and Sham 69.

March 29, 2017March 30, 2017 by Crombieboy Categories: Football, Literature, Oi!Tags: 100 Club, Human Punk, John King, London Books Classics, The Football Factory, White Trash 7 Comments

Made to intimidate: before Dr Marten’s ruled

So you still think the ‘spirit of 69’ was all about cropheads polishing their Dr Marten’s to a mirror shine? You reckon battered footwear is for punks and high commando boots for boneheads and fetishists only? Well, think again. The Northern Avenger will give you a quick rundown of various boots worn before DM’s became all the rage.

March 27, 2017March 28, 2017 by Crombieboy Categories: ClobberTags: boots, Dr Marten's, original skinhead boots, steelies 32 Comments

Long live Eccles: rare Chelsea Shed Boys pictures resurface

Yesterday on the unofficial Chelsea FC forum, The Shed End, a photographer named David Nicolson posted a couple of rare Chelsea Shed Boys pictures, including of their notorious leader, Danny ‘Eccles’ Harkins. 

March 23, 2017March 23, 2017 by Crombieboy Categories: Skinhead historyTags: Chelesea Shed Boys, David Eccles, David Nicholson, London, original skinheads 20 Comments

Combat: an interview with Ben Nevis Clothing of Camden

Among affordable clothing brands, there is one that enjoys almost unreserved respect among skinheads: Ben Nevis Clothing of London, known especially for its ‘Combat’ Harrington and donkey jackets. With its shop located within a few minutes walk from Camden Town station, Ben Nevis has been producing quality clobber for generations.

March 17, 2017March 21, 2017 by Crombieboy Categories: ClobberTags: Ben Nevis clothing, Camden Town, Combat, Combat donkey jacket, Combat Harrington 3 Comments

Are these the earliest pictures of German skinheads?

The first picture, shot in 1979, shows bassist Erwin Lieske of Hamburg punk band Kotzbrocken (not to be confused with Cotzbrocken from Cologne) playing live at Krawall 2000, a short-lived punk venue in the St Pauli quarter. Note the two skinheads  standing behind him. This is a scan from an early German book on punk titled Der Grosse Schwindel (authors: Jürgen Stark and MIchael Kurzawa, published in 1981 and long out of print).

March 16, 2017October 5, 2021 by Crombieboy Categories: Skinhead historyTags: German skinheads, Hamburg skinheads, Kotzbrocken, Krawall 2000 Leave a comment

A rough guide to trucker jackets

The trucker jacket – or denim jacket, to some – is a staple of the skinhead and bootboy wardrobe that has been worn for generations. The Northern Avenger will not explore the entire history of the trucker jacket, but he will provide a rough guide mainly to the models that were worn in the original skinhead era.

March 13, 2017July 2, 2017 by Crombieboy Categories: ClobberTags: denim jackets, double denim, skinheads up north, trucker jackets 15 Comments

Close Combat: local dialects and misbehaviour

I’ll be honest: there’s one aspect of skinhead culture I never liked: subcultural self-pity. OK, Mick Furbank’s famous ‘crucified skinhead’ design looks cool and always will. But the whole “misunderstood & blamed for everything” victim complex does get on my tits. How many more documentaries and Vice articles where we whine about being misrepresented as racist thugs? Come on. No black person ever gave a shit what I wear. Only white liberals eye you with suspicion. And so they should – because that’s what keeps them from co-opting our culture wholesale. After all, would you want skinhead to become as acceptable as punk is today?

March 7, 2017April 11, 2021 by Crombieboy Categories: MusicTags: Close Combat, Dutch skinheads, Maastricht, Pie Menton, Spiet vaan niks 4 Comments