Rockers

Social context At the end of the 1950s, in the UK, the C.N.D. (the Campaing for Nuclear Disarmament) was created. In this period, there were a lot of immigrations from West Indies, India and Pakistan. Consequently, there were racial prejudices and a lot of violence. Thanks to prosperoust economy, motorbikes were cheap.

Origins The Rockers, also called Ton-up Boys, Leather Boys or Greasers, emerged at the late 1950s, in Great- Britain. They originated among working-class families. Besides they had unskilled jobs. They were greatly influenced by the American motorcycle’s culture in the 1950s.

Way of life In 1964, the Rockers due to their violent gang culture, fought with their rivals, the members of Mods. They met in transport cafés like The Ace Café and Chelsea Bridge tea stall, in London. They liked listening to white American rock’n roll and dancing. They were crazy about motorbikes whereas, they didn’t like drugs and people connected with drugs like the Mods.

Appearance They wore leather clothes like leather jackets, decorated with metal studs, but they didn’t wear bomber jackets. They enjoyed Levi’s or Wranglers jeans and motorcycle boots. Moreover they had silk scarves, aviator glasses, helmets and greased hair. Girls had the same clothes as boys except of Capri pants or skirts at night, high heels and special « beehive » hairstyles.

Music They listened to 1950s and early 1960s Rock’n roll. They were found of white American singers like for example, Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran. They didn’t listen modern jazz at all.

Lisa Guillaud-Bernard and Ketia Keo Sources : Lisa Guillaud-Bernard and Ketia Keo Image 1 : SammyJoanna https://sammyjoanna.wordpress.com/ Image 2 : Courrier Australien http://www.lecourrieraustralien.com/les-15-meilleurs-pays-pour- limmigration/ Image 3 : motoplanete https://www.motoplanete.com/bmw/6181/R24-1950/contact.html Image 4 : Prologues http://prologues.modspenews.com/2017/03/27/bleu-de-travail- quand-le-vetement-ouvrier-devient-une-piece-mode/ Image 5 : Flashbak https://flashbak.com/mods-and-rockers-fighting- for-fashion-and-fun-in-1960s-england-25506/ Image 6 : Pinterest https://www.pinterest.fr/ Image 7 : Nouvelle coiffure http://modeledecoiffure.com/ducktail- coupe-de-cheveux-pour-les-hommes-30-canards-cul-coiffures/ Image 8 : Gettyimages https://www.gettyimages.fr/photos/elvis- presley?sort=mostpopular&mediatype=photography&phrase=elvis %20presley