Thursday 16 August 2012

Seaside Rock

Back in the 1960s when I was "jest a little ol' boy" the young men used to visit coastal resorts at holiday weekends. Some rode scooters, dressed fashionably and liked music by The Who, The Small Faces and obscure American soul records. Scooters like this one....

They were called Mods and their arch-enemies were the Rockers who rode big motorbikes, wore jeans and leather jackets and liked music by Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley and Elvis Presley. They would have liked bikes like this, though no one had that kind of money at the time...

They'd have liked to own a car like this too...

...but usually had to settle for something more like this...

There were so many old cars and bikes around that you almost expected to see Elvis around the next corner. Blimey, who's this singing "Jailhouse Rock"?

No, I know, he doesn't look much like The King and to tell the truth he didn't sound much like him either. It's probably just as well that Elvis didn't live to see some of the army of 'impersonators' around today! Never mind, this isn't Las Vegas and everyone was having a grand time and not taking themselves too seriously.

The whole event was raising money for charity and they had picked a beautiful weekend.

"It'll look great when I get it finished. Just needs a bit more work on it."


"Do you remember the fights we used to have when we rode down here in the nineteen sixties? Mind you, I still say the Kinks were better than Elvis."

 Take care.
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12 comments:

  1. Pam16 August 2012 at 13:46

    Now this post brought some happy memories back to me John!

    Those were the days, my friend
    We thought they'd never end
    We'd sing and dance forever and a day
    We'd live the life we choose
    We'd fight and never lose
    For we were young and sure to have our way!

    I have enjoyed immensely reading and viewing this and your recent posts John!

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  2. Scott16 August 2012 at 14:42

    At least this seaside impersonator approximates the "look" that made Elvis famous; so many of the impersonators look like Liberace in drag.

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  3. John @ Beans and I on the Loose16 August 2012 at 16:42

    Great post! I am impressed with the amount of "Detroit Iron" that made it across the pond.

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  4. Rowan16 August 2012 at 18:21

    Those were the days!

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  5. Rosie16 August 2012 at 18:46

    Ah, The Kinks and The Small Faces - two of my favourites back in the day:)

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  6. The Weaver of Grass16 August 2012 at 19:01

    Ah, as Rowan says, "Those were the days" - I had a Lambretta scooter in those days - I loved it except when it poured with rain and then it all seemed to land on my knees.

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  7. Elizabeth16 August 2012 at 20:46

    And I was there ... well, I think I was but I don't remember :) I do remember the news reports on the Mods and Rockers little fracas on Brighton Beach, or was it Margate ...

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  8. Mo16 August 2012 at 21:58

    Now they all play at olympic closing ceremonies

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  9. Dianne16 August 2012 at 22:42

    Great post John ... a guy here in Adelaide owns Elvis Presley's pink 1969 Eldorado Cadillac .... He used to take it around to different shows but I guess it's getting a bit old now.

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  10. Jack17 August 2012 at 02:42

    What an enjoyable post. I like Pam's comment. Those were the days, my friend.

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  11. Rune Eide18 August 2012 at 09:23

    We seem to be of the same generation :-)
    I recognize it all - from another country.

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  12. Nan18 August 2012 at 18:17

    The Kinks were (are) better than anybody! :<)

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