Trojan skinhead

Skinheads in London in 1981

Trojan skinheads(also known astraditional skinheadsortrads) are individuals who identify with the original Britishskinheadsubcultureof the middle 1960s, whenska,rocksteady,reggae,andsoul musicwere popular, and there was a heavy emphasis onmod-influenced clothing styles. Named after therecord labelTrojan Records,these skinheads identify with the subculture'sJamaicanrude boyand Britishworking classroots.

Because of their appreciation of music played byblack people,such asskinhead reggae(also referred to as boss reggae), they tend to be either non-racistandapolitical,orleft-wingoranti-racist,unlike thewhite power skinheads.Trojan skinheads usually dress in a typical 1960s skinhead style, which includes items such as button-downBen Shermanshirts,Fred Perrypolo shirts,braces,fittedsuits,cardigans,tank tops,Harrington jacketsandCrombie-style overcoats.Hair is generally between a 2 and 4 grade clip-guard (short, but not bald), in contrast to the shorter-hairedpunk-influencedOi!skins of the 1980s.

Spirit of '69

The phraseSpirit of '69is used by traditional skinheads to commemorate what they identify as theskinheadsubculture'sheydayin 1969. The phrase was popularized by a group of Scottish skinheads called theGlasgowSpy Kids, a play on the Glaswegian pronunciation of spike heads.A skinhead history book entitledSpirit of 69: A Skinhead Biblewas written by George Marshall, a skinhead from Glasgow, in the early 1990s.

Related musicians

• Laurel Aitken
• Desmond Dekker
• Judge Dread
• The Ethiopians
• Tommy McCook
• Derrick Morgan
• The Pioneers
• Symarip
• The Upsetters
• The Melodians

External links

• Trojan Records
• Roots Of The Skinhead (video)
• Articles on skinheads and reggae
• Ska Party- article about traditional skinheads
• Spy Kids
• Electronic copy of Spirit of '69: A Skinhead Bible