The Oppressed - Joe Hawkins

While we are waiting for the new blog post to be ready (Almost, we promise) we figured we'd bring you a bit of skinhead history.

The Oppressed was a Welsh anti-fascist Oi! band that was formed in 1981 in Cardiff and split up in 2006. Most of the musicians in the band's various lineups were skinheads. Throughout the band's career, the members (especially vocalist Roddy Moreno) openly expressed opposition to racism and fascism, in their lyrics, interviews, on-stage comments and other actions. In 1989, Moreno visited New York City and met many members of Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP). On his return to the United Kingdom, he started promoting SHARP ideals to British skinheads.

Here they are doing Joe Hawkins. Enjoy!

One SHARP story

I remember the first time I shaved my head. It was kind of cool out, the end of summer, but not quite the start of fall. It was late in the evening, I laced up my boots, put on my flight jacket, and as I stepped out onto the street for the first time, the cool breeze hitting my freshly cropped hair felt tingly and electric. It was an amazing feeling, one that I have never forgotten, some 15 years later.

This was back in the mid 1990's. The "bad old days" of the skinhead scene. Not only had the boneheads started to pop up everywhere, but they had organized, and many older skinheads from the 80's had decided to hang up their boots, out of disgust at what they saw as an invasion, and a distortion of what they had been for many years. What had made it worse was not only that the popular media was convinced that all skinheads were thick headed, jack booted neo-nazi thugs, but the general public seemed to agree with them. Hate groups like the Heritage Front, and the Northern Hammerskins had taken an amazing and long lived youth culture, and in the span of a few years had all but ruined it.

But there were still hold outs. People who were unwilling to just hand over the keys to the boneheads. The ska scene was going through it's 3rd (or 4th depending on who you ask) wave, and people were starting to remember (again) 2 Tone and first wave ska. Old classic tracks like Symarip's "Moon Hop" had started to see the light of the modern day being issued on "Best Of Ska" style cd comps. George Marshal and STP came out with "The Spirit of 69: a Skinhead Bible". And lets not forget the scooter clubs and football clubs. The Real skinheads were still out there. 

Walking down my street, heading downtown, was amazing. People crossing the street, or walking faster, the thought hitting me that they were afraid of me, just because I was a skinhead was an ego boost. When you are used to people looking at you like some dirty little punk, with eyes rolling in their heads, thinking you are some glue sniffing dolt, the change in how people look at you as a skinhead will stand out in your memory forever. I'm here. I'm a trad. Deal with it. Ahh, the memories of that first night...

Because of the organized racist boneheads, some traditional, non-racist and anti-racist skinheads formed crews like Anti-Racist Action (formerly the Baldies) and Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (S.H.A.R.P.) in the late 1980's. These groups (or crews) were formed to fight the stereotype of skinheads that was being presented to the general public. This is not to say that skinheads were sweet innocent little tykes out to collect butterflies or anything. Skinheads drank, smoked, swore, danced, shagged and fought just as much, or more than the punks, hippies, goths and jocks. We just strongly opposed people looking us and seeing Hitler Youth. Considering the number of skinheads who were (and are) Catholic, Jewish, black and Asian, it's not hard to see why we objected.

I fell in love with skinhead because of the music mostly. Such great artists like the Maytals, with singer Frederick "Toots" Hibbert singing songs with such raw emotion and power, it was hard to not be blown away. This was fantastic music! This was skinhead music! The people were amazing! The beer was flowing! This is where I wanted to be!

The Heritage Front had their "hateline" phone number openly printed in the phone book. Neo-nazis were trashing Jewish cemeteries. Then there was the firebombings. In the high schools if you were not with the boneheads, they would target you. Fights. Beatings. Swarmings. People got stabbed. People got shot. Enough was enough.

The look was neat. It was clean. It was tough. The girls liked it. A polished pair of boots, jeans held up with braces, and a nice Ben Sherman or Fred Perry. What a look! A look you could take pride in. A look you could take and make your own. Stitch on a few ska or oi badges to your jacket, and you were ready to go. Off to see the Arsenals or Skaface. Off to a party. Off to meet your girl. Good times. The best times.

Anti-Racist Action was the group that I joined to help take a stand against these neo-nazi invaders. We founded a chapter, put on Rock Against Racism concerts. We wrote zines, and printed shirts. We were asked to come into the schools and talk to the students about racism. We fought with boneheads in the streets. We protected each other, and anyone we saw being picked on by them. We made a difference. We won. The Heritage Front became a joke. the Hammerskins were driven out. We could go back to just being skinheads again. 

2006 and groups like the Aryan Guard are popping up, and not just out west. The internet has brought out the hate in some people. It's helped them to form networks. It's spread a message of hate, that has infected new minds. 

It's 2009 now. The fights are starting back up. Bonehead gangs are starting to cause problems again. There are some amazing skinhead reggae bands out there today. The Aggrolites. Westbound Train. This time I'm S.H.A.R.P. Less politics. Pride without prejudice. As Judge Dread said... I'm still a skin.     

Ska ska ska

March 15 2009 @ The Reverb

Keepin'6
Staylefish
Sound One
Maple Street Impressions
The Dirty 30's

7pm, $10, All Ages

skinhead reggae, ska and soul music

Toronto SHARP has a last.fm account. If you happen to be a fan of old ska, 2 tone, skinhead reggae, rock steady and dirty soul, feel free to give it a listen, or add us as a friend.


http://www.last.fm/user/TorontoSHARP

looking for S.H.A.R.P. in the 80's and 90's

If there are any SHARPS from the 1980's and 1990's, in pretty much any country in the world, still skinheads, or having hung up there boots out there, or if anyone happens to know of any, please e-mail the Toronto SHARP blog.

torontosharpblogspot *at* gmail.com

Cheers!

Toronto SHARP Crew

Pins Patches and Shirts oh my!

There have been a LOT of requests coming in from people all over the world it seems looking to find quality S.H.A.R.P. gear.

No, Toronto S.H.A.R.P. patches are not for sale. These are just for people in the Toronto S.H.A.R.P. crew. Sorry.

However, we are about to start making generic S.H.A.R.P./Anti-Racist pins, patches shirts and hoodies that will be for sale to anyone who wants them. They will not be made in any sweatshops, and will be sold at working class prices for working class people.

A page will be set up when they are ready, and the link will be posted here. Or you could just e-mail torontosharpblogspot *AT* gmail.com

Cheers!

Raygun Cowboys and Rehab For Quitters at the Bovine

January 17th at the Bovine Sex Club : The Raygun Cowboys, Rehab For Quitters and Dj Vania. Doors at 9pm. $5 cover, NOT all ages (sorry youngins, and yippie for the drinkers).


www.myspace.com/rayguncowboys
www.myspace.com/rehabforquitters


Leave your politics at the door and good times will be had by all!

Cheers!