I’m glad to say that the quality of the shirts have improved since the first batch since the company’s re-appearance. The latest shirts are better sized and made with thicker material. That’s certainly our experience comparing the Heritage Blue/Black Tartan with the earlier Red/Blue shirt which we purchased.

As the Dr Martens site explains, it’s all in the details. With shirts that make you feel this good, who needs an apple a day?

There will be new material and two gigs at Heaton Park in Manchester next summer. Ticket sales start on Friday at 0900. Good luck.

Originally there was to be a one off 88 film with a 1990 edition appearing in the spring. However after filming in May 2012, Meadows commented:

Well, The shoot is in the history books and we have set sail on the edit. Jeez we shot some footage in those four weeks. There’s almost enough for 3 hours judging by the way the first hour of edited material has panned out. I’m going to talk to C4 about getting some more shoot/edit time etc in the hope that it can morph into a 3 parter split over 3 consecutive nights. If that doesn’t come off, we will have a killer 2hr spesh, but quite how I’ll get it all in to that is beyond me at the minute.

Sounds like he has got his way after all. Happy Christmas? I doubt it…

Meadows picks up the action in the Christmas of 1988 as Lol struggles to cope with life as a single mother. Haunted by the devastating events that took place 18 months previously, she finds her reserves of strength ebbing away. With her soul mate Woody heartbroken from her betrayal and in self imposed exile from the gang, Lol also becomes increasingly isolated and alone.

They say Christmas is a time for forgiving and for forgetting, a time of love and laughter and joy ever after. But when all hope seems lost, what peace is there to be found? This is Christmas. This is England.

Shane Meadows original award winning 2006 picture, This is England, followed young skinheads in England in 1983. It showed the skinhead subculture with roots from the 1960’s, elements of black culture all of which which were gradually stolen and twisted by nationalists. The original film explores these divisions within the skinhead culture.

Hopefully we still have a This is England 90 to look forward to as well.

Suggs was down at the Ace Cafe recently – see and hear some more about London’s Ace Cafe as part of the annual ‘burn up’.

The program he was helping out with will be entitled ‘Teen Spirit- the Mod Rockers’ and will feature on the Yesterday channel as part of their 1960s season. Produced by Simply Media for UKTV’s 60s season. It is about the early 60s Mods and Rockers. It is introduced by Suggs and filmed at Londons Ace Cafe on Mod and Mini night.

The program airs on:

• Thurs 29th September at 9pm
• Fri  30th September at 12am
• Fri   30th September at 8am
• Fri  30th September at 1pm

Yesterday Channel – sky 537  – Virgin 203  – Freeview 12.

Not only that but they have a new store opening in London very soon so you can get them here and soon. Their only UK shop will be located at 2 Peter Street in the heart of Soho, and open it’s doors for the first time at 11am on Thursday September 22nd. See a pic here. I only hope they do them in your size :¬)

Blackpool Empress Ballroom (November 11)
Sheffield O2 Academy (12)
Birmingham O2 Academy (14)
Swindon Oasis Leisure Centre (15)
London O2 Academy Brixton (17)

Get tickets for Beady Eye here

The face behind pretty green’s mod influenced clothing range and menace with a microphone has also revealed that he will be in the studio early next year working on new material. He told Radio 6 Music

“We’ve got enough material for another record and that is what we shall do, whether people like it or not.”

He was also pressed to comment on his brother’s new stuff to which he said…

“it was a lot better when I was singing on them but I am sure people will like the soft approach.”

Always good for a quote is Liam Gallagher. I found this video of him at the opening of his Pretty Green store in Glasgow. He loves his gear and the put downs at the end of this piece are brilliant.

View video of Liam Gallagher in Glasgow at Pretty green store opening

Harry J. All Stars — Liquidator

Winston Samuels — Lick It Back

Bob & Marcia — Take Me

Looks like it will be a great purchase even at £29.99 and will be on many Christmas lists this year. With a window sticker and a 50 page book it will allow another generation to get up to speed with Trojan music.

Interesting to hear from old mods around at the time but why is the focus always on a 5 minute scrap from decades ago? Can’t we hear more about the music or the clothes? Good to see some nice scooters and read that youths are into the scene. Not sure if the Kaiser Chiefs are really behind this though :-/

The article does however give a ready excuse to mention the forthcoming release of the Quadrophenia box set which is due for release in November 2011. More on this later.

Everything in the modern male wardrobe has a ‘first of its kind’ – a definitive item, often designed for specialist use, on which all others were based. Icons of Men’s Style looks at the most important and famous of these products – their importance, the stories of their design, the brand/company that originally started making them and how that original item changed and shaped the way men dress today.

Featured items include the button down shirt, the desert boot, the polo shirt, the parka, denim jacket, Levi jeans and the doc martin boot. The pictures are a real treat with some great insights. Each item gets a couple of pages at least and sometimes you are left craving for more the interest generated is so great. If you love your classic clothes, you’ll love this book.

Warning: reading this book may result in you spending ages on eBay looking for original gear to please your esoteric ego.

“Made in England, this soft combed cotton pique shirt features wider tipping running along the textured flat knit collar and cuffs. The shirt’s body has a classic fit, and features two sewn-on badges alongside hand screen printed icons, referencing the artist’s renowned use of pop iconography.”

It’s also available in red and black with slightly different positioning of the patches and screen printing.

You can also still find the Fred Perry Northern Soul White Polo Shirt which is also a very limited edition featuring northern soul patches sewn onto a standard M12 Fred Perry polo shirt. The patches on this particular limited edition are for the twisted wheel and a heart of soul Wigan-casino-like patch.