George Marshall’s Spirit of 69: A Skinhead Bible
Anybody else have this book?
This is probably the most expensive book I have in my collection. I say that because it is currently out of print and any good copies left floating around are listed online for more than $100. Fortunately my copy is well worn, so even if greed should overcome me (which it hasn’t) I probably can’t sell mine for more that $50-$60. I’d much rather have the book anyway. This is one of my favorite, and in testament to that, it has never endured out-of-sight storage but has always kept an enviable spot in my bookcase.
This book was first published by ST Publishing out of Scotland in 1991. The author, George Marshall, is a skinhead whose endeavors in writing and publishing started from his fanzine Zoot, which he later turned into Skinhead Times. He eventually began publishing under ST Publishing. In addition to Spirit of 69 Mr. Marshall also wrote the book’s follow up Skinhead Nation, The Two Tone Story (which Will has) and Total Madness.
If you interested in the traditional skinhead culture (not racist boneheads), this book is an enjoyable read and a good resource. There are a few skinhead photo books out there, and in the US there are a number of books on skinheads as a gang, mostly focusing on the violent and racist lots. What sets this book apart is that Mr. Marshall wrote it for his fellow skins, “a view from within” as he called it. He covered everything from the history of the movement from the 60’s, its later development, a good coverage on the music from rock steady to Two Tone to Oi!, and an encyclopedia of skinhead fashion, all illustrated with tons of photos. I especially like the cover photos selection – the back cover shows very a sharp looking girl, and I must say an umbrella had never seemed to me so threatening.
I had bought this book at Rhino Record in Claremont in 1995 or 1996. I had wanted to get Skinhead Nation as well but didn’t have the money, and a subsequent effort to order it by mail from ST Publishing didn’t work out as they said they never received my order. I didn’t feel the urgency to get it then. Now I’m kicking myself because I can’t find it for less than $90. *sigh* One day.
I believe this book is currently regarded as one of the most comprehensive and definitive look at skinhead culture. I don’t know what the general opinion of the skinheads out there may be on this book, but to me this is certainly true. If nothing else because most other skinhead books I have come across either focus more on photographs with considerably less background and cultural information or are about boneheads.
I took this book with me when I went on an exchange program to England in the fall of 1996. My intention was to personally delve deeper into the skinhead culture, which didn’t end up happening as I had dreamed it would (the only skin I met at Cheltenham, where I was, was a racist and was visibly hostile to me). But I did get to read Susie Daniel’s The Paint House which they had at the college library, and I wrote my term paper on the influence of Jamaican culture on the British working class. It was essentially about skinhead, and I don’t think it went over too well. Most people to whom I mentioned my interest on skinheads at the time still brought out the National Front.
Other books on skinhead I own include this one, Nick Knight’s Skin:
And this one, Gavin Watson’s Skins:
Out of those two Gavin Watson’s book is the one I like best. While Nick Knight was a photographer who took some pictures of skinheads, Gavin Watson was a skinhead who took pictures of his mates. Mr. Watson continues to pursue photography, has published another book called Skins & Punks, and I still enjoy looking at his pictures.
If anybody else has any suggestion on other skinhead books, hit me up. My collection needs to grow. Are the Richard Allen books any good?
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