California Mods

I made this slideshow about the California Mod revival that took place in the early 80's; I don't know if I can do justice to the old scene, constrained by the 2:30 soundtrack. The photos and flyers primarily show the L.A.-area scene, although a handful are from San Diego and San Francisco. They are all from 1982 and 1983.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 80's
• mod
• ska
• Lambretta
• Vespa
• Untouchables
• Ronettes
• Soul

[chrisallen2004]

Can anyone tell me if there is any kind of mod / scooterist scene in California still? Would love to here back from anyone.

Cheers Chris (A British original 80's mod who still riding scooters :)

[ONKlub]

@chrisallen2004 - Yeah, there's a small scooterist scene which the weather here allows. There's no "mod" sceme to speak of, although once in a while people will throw Northern do's or what have you.

[drwhatson]

I notice one guy had a German cross on the back of his parka instead of a red, white & blue roundel! - How very bizarre!

[ONKlub]

@drwhatson Yeah I didn't quite understand that either.

[ocsuedehead]

Thanks for the awesome slideshow. I went to a bunch of those shows at the ON and Lhasa clubs, especially the concert factory. Where did you find that newspaper photo of the big rally (towards the end of the show)? I see myself and a couple of buddies in it and would love to get a scan of it!

[ONKlub]

@ocsuedehead - send me a private message with your email, and I'll get it to you.

[tony671]

ive always been can u have yank mods when its such a brit thing mods, but it looks if you hade a scene!! cool!!!!!!!!!! mod for life since 78 and still going till i die

[zsazsa3]

Thats the greatest clip i've ever seen. I'm in 3 different spots, what memories. Kids today have NOTHING!

[oldmodska]

@chrisallen2004 Hey Chris, just noticed your post, I was a mod back in the 80's really missed not having scoot's for years, finally getting back into it. I have 62 vespa restored. I used to have a jet 200 built by wclw with a full race rayspeed 225. Damn I miss that lam my! I don't know of any scene at all, I don't have any friends into them anymore either. This music and scooters still are still the SHI*T.. thanks, Jack

[onklubmod]

Great memories of the ON KLUB all the old skool boys Ut's owned that place .... only other MOD I knew back then was a cool kid ( mike ) both of us rode Lambrettas to L.A. ...freeway riding no helmets ..... house party's , girls , muzik = fun fun fun ..cheers

[valerie4975]

OH MY GOSH I WANT TO CRY! Thanks so much this brought back so many memories my girlfriend Charlotte dated Chuck from the Untouchables and my girlfriend Mignon dated the drummer crap cant remember his name - was it Rob? So I have great memories hanging out back stage with the Untouchables et al. Good guys.

I had a crush on a guy from The Crawdaddys who would never give me the time of day - lol.

Crazy crazy times at the Roxy - ON Club , Lhasa etc.

Thanks again!

Valerie

[Elvesse1]

The mods in So Cal wore a great variety of things on their parkas, from beer mats, to flags of all kinds, pins, Bob Marley, all kinds of band patches, Stiff LIttle Fingers, numbers, everyone wore original things on their parkas partly for pride's sake and partly to prevent theft. It's a live and let live kind of thing....

[traceymod]

Secret Affair played the Whisky A Go go in 82 is there any promoters out there interested in getting the band back?We get so many requests on the website from Californian Mods.

[pigjesus]

Ah, remembr the days when you could find killer 60s clothes at Savlation Army. Now it's all '80's stuff and "vintage sections" that cost as much as new clothes.