Soulful Scootering

[ImberBoy]

Since 1978 I have been obsessed with Italian shopping bikes of the Lambretta and Vespa models one of my early memories is of me window licking Miles Kingsport's in Hull due to their latest delivery of the Vespa rally 200.

My eyes would glaze over as I watched the Beverley Mods Scooter Club ride through the town like conquering heroes on their copper and brass steeds, a very intoxicating image for an easily impressed teenager.

It wasn't long before I was to get my first Lambretta and bedecked with the ubiquitous Korean Patterned Parka I was off to rampage through Scarborough, 1979 was a good year.

I had my first taste of Northernsoul at Rudi's in Scarborough and The mighty Bub span the discs that washed over me and through me entering my DNA to define who I am to this very day, nothing fancy but Judy Street's "What" was thee sound at the time and it formed part of the soundtrack to my youth, happy daze.

Some years on and I now run one of the biggest scooter clubs in the world with 578 members, blowing my own trumpet I know but I am extremely proud of this. I am also a Northernsoul fanatic and love going to Allnighters.

I find my self meeting more and more people who are the same age as me, 47, and often five or even ten years my senior who tell of their exploits whilst riding Italian Shopping trolleys.

To be honest, the amount of people who tell me that they used to ride Lambretta to Wigan Casino the car park must have been chocker block with them yet I have never seen one picture of a scooter out side The Casino?

Is this just dreamy wishful thinking of people imagining their past Scootering or is it true?

How popular where scooters amongst the Northernsoul fraternity?

[Guest wigantojapan]

Since 1978 I have been obsessed with Italian shopping bikes of the Lambretta and Vespa models one of my early memories is of me window licking Miles Kingsport's in Hull due to their latest delivery of the Vespa rally 200.

My eyes would glaze over as I watched the Beverley Mods Scooter Club ride through the town like conquering heroes on their copper and brass steeds, a very intoxicating image for an easily impressed teenager.

It wasn't long before I was to get my first Lambretta and bedecked with the ubiquitous Korean Patterned Parka I was off to rampage through Scarborough, 1979 was a good year.

I had my first taste of Northernsoul at Rudi's in Scarborough and The mighty Bub span the discs that washed over me and through me entering my DNA to define who I am to this very day, nothing fancy but Judy Street's "What" was thee sound at the time and it formed part of the soundtrack to my youth, happy daze.

Some years on and I now run one of the biggest scooter clubs in the world with 578 members, blowing my own trumpet I know but I am extremely proud of this. I am also a Northernsoul fanatic and love going to Allnighters.

I find my self meeting more and more people who are the same age as me, 47, and often five or even ten years my senior who tell of their exploits whilst riding Italian Shopping trolleys.

To be honest, the amount of people who tell me that they used to ride Lambretta to Wigan Casino the car park must have been chocker block with them yet I have never seen one picture of a scooter out side The Casino?

Is this just dreamy wishful thinking of people imagining their past Scootering or is it true?

How popular where scooters amongst the Northernsoul fraternity?

[Guest wigantojapan]

Hi

I went fairly regularly to wigan 77-81 and i cant remember ever seeing one in the car park.having said that i did get a knock at my door one day by the boys in blue asking if i was a owner of a lambretta.,which had been abondoned down in the wigan car park.

My mate up in edinburgh was meant to be fixing it.

I guess he took it for a test run

cannae remember how we got it back.

No the mods just hung around the northern scene for a short while ,maybe around the time of Quadrophenia

[Paul R]

There was someone who had a brand new Rally Electronic, who used to park it next to the ABC cinema opposite the Casino. I went on mine twice in 1975. I was actually grounded, by my parents, from going to the casino for a while due to police finding some tablets that I was "looking after for someone". For a couple of months I mainly went to the Mecca, until someone spiked my drink with bombers , and after going home on the free coach, wheeled the trusty LI150 out and rode into Wigan. I parked in a backstreet well away from the actual Casino for some reason. As I said, I only did this twice. Once I got back into the regular alnighter scene it was back with the mates for the Saturday night ritual.

Quite a few soulies had Lammies in the early days, but didn't use them for allnighters.

I don't remember seeing many scooters at Wigan in the years 73-76, when I Joined the Senior Service.

Back on an LI125(200 rapido) nowadays.

Paul

Edited February 5, 2009 by Paul r

[Guest kid mohair]

We used to go st ives allnighter in huntingdon on our scooters i think it must of been around 1976, we were not legal as i was only 16 years old. whoops. wigan was a bit far we done that in a car......driven by someone else of course..Andy.

Edited February 5, 2009 by kid mohair

[Benji]

How popular where scooters amongst the Northernsoul fraternity?

In Germany the Northern Soul scene wouldn't have survived after it's first peak in the mid/late 80s without the scooter scene. At a typical Northern Soul allnighter in the mid 90s I estimate at least 75% of the punters had either scooters or had a scooterist background.

[Guest Ste Brazil]

I've never been to one on mine (had one scoot or another on the road constantly since 84), i have thought about it in the past but i enjoy drinking (and that other stuff!) too much so not a good combination!

Ste.

[Guest kid mohair]

I've never been to one on mine (had one scoot or another on the road constantly since 84), i have thought about it in the past but i enjoy drinking (and that other stuff!) too much so not a good combination!

Ste.

The drink drive law wern`t such a big issue back then, i remember being stopped by the law on a scooter and was told to get myself home before i do some damage, and i had been drinking, can you imagine that now.....

[Guest Ste Brazil]

The drink drive law wern`t such a big issue back then, i remember being stopped by the law on a scooter and was told to get myself home before i do some damage, and i had been drinking, can you imagine that now.....

Yeah i've heard similar stories, thankfully i have never been caught drink driving, and i did drink drive a bit back when i was a teenager as most did, especially as a big group of us used to ride everywhere and usually come back the same night - dont do it now though!

Ste.

[ImberBoy]

I once rode my GP from Doncaster to London to do the 100 club anniversary, can't remember which one?

I think it may have been the 16^th?

I arrived late Saturday afternoon and went to Camden market to see a couple of friends who have stalls there, opposite was Keb Darge who was selling cloths and a few Funk Cassettes, keb gave me a ticket for the nighter.

I remember bombing about dodging traffic and going to Carnaby Street to see the plastic mods lol I went to Merc? And flicked through the records. I remember Alfie Davison - Love Is Serious Business being there as a pressing.

Later I parked the scooter right out side The 100 Club!

White Lambretta GP 200 with Wigan Casino Patches air brushed, can any one remember it?

I spent the night dancing my ass off whilst wearing high leg Doc Martins lol

I also rode to Leeds on the scooter to the Griffin Hotel Allnighter with my mate Scotty from Doncaster.

[ImberBoy]

In Germany the Northern Soul scene wouldn't have survived after it's first peak in the mid/late 80s without the scooter scene. At a typical Northern Soul allnighter in the mid 90s I estimate at least 75% of the punters had either scooters or had a scooterist background.

Benji the German Scooter Scene seams to cross over from one genre to another a lot more than the UK scene, I spent many happy years in Germany both on The Northern and Scootering scenes, great Vespas, ropey Lambrettas and a real taste for Northernsoul but a little narrow.

Do you know the girls n boyz known as "The Northernsoul family"?

I hope to get out again to Germany to a weekender, the scooter thing is very small but superbly brilliant!

I miss it!!!

[Rugby Soul Club]

Same as Ste Brazil, never really went to all-niters on my scooters, I was usually driving a van to give everyone else a lift.

I'd forgotten I'd gone on mine to a Notts Palais until Jo Brock showed me a pic of me with a lovely flat hairstyle...

Think I may have gone to Loughboro (Leicester anniversary) on mine too.

I think for a long time, you didn't mention being into scooters too much as you weren't thought of as proper soulies (coming in on the back of a film)...

Nice to see that's has changed.

Maybe that's why I am more welcoming of new blood.

[Benji]

Do you know the girls n boyz known as "The Northernsoul family"?

Sorry, doesn't really ring any bells, are they the bunch from Bremen? Maybe I know them but not under this moniker I'm afraid

I hope to get out again to Germany to a weekender, the scooter thing is very small but superbly brilliant!

Due to other commitments my active days on the scooter scene are long gone now. Still got a rusty T5 to go around the city and attend the odd run or two each year but that's about it. Oh, and I got a TS1 equipped LI Special in parts and bits at my parents. I hope to get it back on the road this or next year...

Edited February 5, 2009 by Benji

[ImberBoy]

When I was in Germany I did a couple of write ups, I hope no one minds me adding theme here:

The Velvet & Silk Mod-Weekender Krefeld

Found my self in a strange town.............. Krefeld, West Germany to be exact!

Saturday the 24th of September and there is nothing going on, Carol and I are a little bored "What to do, what to do?" Quick surf of the net to find some thing local, any thing will do, and then we find "The Velvet & Silk Mod-Weekender Krefeld" only forty minutes from us! The flyer promises, live bands, ride outs, music and sixties markets! Quick time appreciation and we can get there in time for the ride out, "where did I put my Parka?"

You've got to wear the right clothes, be careful not to pick or scratch your nose

Suitably attired in our old and trusted Parkas, Carol and I were soon Scooting towards Krefeld. "The Malossi kitted Vespa purred away a real horrorshow, a nice warm vibraty feeling all through your guttiwuts!" The roads were clear and even, the sun was shining and we found our way to the rendezvous point at Krefeld's train station. The appointed hour for the ride out was 1500hrs and we had arrived at a quarter too so our hearts sank some what as there was no one else there!

But when you ask in a strange town, they say don't know, don't care, and I've got to go, mate

We waited and waited and to be perfectly honest I was starting to get a little pissed off! At twenty five past, Carol and I decided to 'Bin it" Just as we were about to climb back onto the Scooter I heard the comforting sound of a Lambretta! It was the ubiquitous Mario from D¼sseldorf riding his Lambretta DL 150, after exchanging the customary hellos. Mario informed us that there were two sides to the train station and guess what...... we were on the wrong side! Three minutes later we arrived at the correct place.

You can't be weird in a strange town; you'll be betrayed by your accent and manners.

Now before we go any further I would like to say for the record that I am not an expert on the German "Mod" Scene, so my observations are purely based on a comparison of what I know of the British Scene compared to those assembled at Krefeld. Carol and I rode up to this group of about fifty, The Scooter we were riding was a Metallic Orange Vespa PX200Disc with an Ironing Board back rest and a Malossi 225 kit, as far as I am concerned it looks a bit "Mod"? I was expecting a plethora of dazzling Mod Scooters, dazzled I was not!

They worry themselves about feeling low; they worry themselves about the dreadful snow

The group consisted of some of the tiredest Vespas I have ever seen in one place, no that's a lie, I have seen this site one or two times before usually in the "Scooters for sale India" section on the internet! The Mods were not the peacock strutting models I normally would see, It looked like a scene from a Austin Powers themed stag party were the costumes had been hired from the cheep and cheerful fancy dress shop! My next criticism was their hair! Those that still had it certainly had not visited a decent barber for some time and no self respecting Mod would be seen out with such unkempt hair and hair styles! Long sideies and thick locks do not constitute Mod! My blood was boiling, I was now the self appointed Mod Police and I was taking names and kicking ass! Next on my list of horrors were the shoes!!! Can't you get boot polish in Krefeld? Well, can ya huh can ya!!! If our lass had bought her clippers and I had my trusted "Kiwi" black, we would have made a fortune or at least made em look clean!

Though I've only been here for three weeks now, I've got blisters on my feet

Both carol and I were amazed and I was falling into shock! The run organiser approached me with a fag in his hand, does he know who I am! He spoke English with a fake American accent, he said a few things to me but I was looking at his shoes! I watched him walk to his scooter, a vespa 50 Special; I concentrated on my jaw dropping as he concentrated on bump starting this little Italian Classic. One hundred pounds spent on the flyer and three dollars on the scooter, I would have had him publicly flogged!

The rest of the group were talking and trying there best to look uncool as the run organiser entertained us for twenty minutes with his "I can push a vespa 50" routine. I studied the gathering; there were a few student types, some of the old and bold Mods from D¼sseldorf and an unhealthy smattering of Scooter Boys consisting of Krefeld's "Danger Seekers".

They all ignore me 'cause they don't know; I'm really a spaceman from those UFOs

As soon as the little Vespa 50 started, we donned our helmets and took off for the ride out. Krefeld is a busy little city and we wrestled the vespa through its smooth cobbled streets whilst playing Russian roulette with the trams and tram tracks that reminded you of your own mortality as your back tyre danced the tango of death! Carol was oblivious of the riding conditions and relaxed as the charming city unfolded before us, I concentrated on not shitting myself as Mod after Mod zipped in and out of the procession as if on tuned fifty kits! I needed a bit of air in my back tyre so indicated to turn into a garage, thank you to those who waited for me. Tyre inflated and it was back onto the road to play "Where has the ride out gone". I'm not too good at that game, so after half an hour it was time to ride back to The Dutch border and home.

I've finished with clubs where the music's loud, cause I don't see a face in a single crowd

The plan was to have a bite to eat, a little kip, we are both middle aged now, then back to Krefeld's Magnapop Club for the Night Do. A shit, shower and shave later we were on our way.

You've got to move in a straight line, you've got to walk and talk in four four time

The Magnapop Club is a typical student dive with concrete floors, there are the normal trendy posters declaring that they are cool and hip, you know the ones, film and band posters. It seldom works and a little more imagination is needed as this place came across as grotty and cheap. The usual cliental are those with not too much dosh in their pockets and I suppose the owners of the club are used to the "Pot Noodle student loan brigade".

I look in the mirror, But I can't be seen, Just a thin, clean layer of Mister Sheen

The entertainment looked promising with two live bands and both Dutch and German DJ's who were capable of steering the trendy bendies into a Modernist frenzy, well that was what it suggested on the flyer. The first DJ was a Dutch chap, Michel Da Capo T. (Utrecht-NL), "Vould you like a schmoke and pancake?" His set consisted of some sixties "Hammond Organ" and "Freak Beat" this could of gone down a storm but the night was still young and the punters were not yet in party mood. I enjoyed the first DJ set and I did appreciate the mans vinyl collection, the time was now 2200hrs and the first band was now setting up.

Break it up, Burn it down, shake it up, Break it up

The first of the two bands were the German four piece "Surf Band" named Cave 4 who play numerous Sixties Punk and Rock'n'Roll classics. Cave 4 consist of, Trich - Bass Guitar Oeli - Guitar and Vocals Joerg - Guitar Marc - Drums.

Now here was the turning point of the weekend, it went from being a bit "naff' to WOW!! Hold on coz we're gonna partyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! This was the sound of brain blasting supersonic surf guitars; this is the sound `Pulp Fiction! The set ripped up the audience into a blended thrash of Mods n Mockers who really needed this boot up the backside to let them selves go!

Cave 4 blasted out Journey To The Stars, Too Cool To Talk To You, Hot Ride, The Rebel, Boy Don't Tell Me, God Loves Cowboys, Sheena Was Right, Toes On The Nose, Nice Girls, Shapes Of Things To Come, Boulevard Patrol, Gotta Get Myself Together, Margaya and their latest version of the ELVIS classic "Burning Love"

I can honestly say that I was stunned! The set was electric, fast and furious, if you ever get a chance to see this ban do!

The band finished its last belter and the house lights went up in order for the stage to be cleared and the next band to set up.

Let me tell you how it will be There's one for you, nineteen for me 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

The young lads setting up looked as if they had just stepped straight out from the set of "Kevin and Perry Go large". Complete with track suites, trainers, fly away hair and the usual nineteen year old bum fluff. The band was Dutch and called De Biet and by the look of them I was ready to go home!! They disappear back stage for around five minutes only to emerge wearing matching crushed velvet suits and billowy shirts! At least these lads had made an effort.

Should five per cent appear too small Be thankful I don't take it all 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman

The first track they performed was The Beetles classic taxman, out of this world!! De Biet professionally transformed themselves into a dynamic band complete with drum, bass, lead guitar, percussion and a Hammond organ to boot! De Biet injected the sixties straight into the jugular, next up was Heat Wave, they sounded like the Who. I forgot to tell you that it only cost nine euros to get in to see this, I would have paid double to see De Biet.

De Biet cranked out Things we said today, Wrong from the start, I can hear the grass grow, Satan's Holiday, Get off of my cloud and believe it or not Pink Floyd's Astronomy Domine with the band proudly announcing to be all Pink Floyd fans!

Lime and limpid green, a second scene a fight between the blue you once knew.

My only criticism of De Biet was there rather strange insistence on bringing on a young Dutch girl who murdered a few Dutch sixties songs with her tuneless mother tongue, my advice to you guys is ditch the chick! I think it was a classic case of "I want my girl friend to sing" or maybe her dad owns the van?

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street, if you try to sit, I'll tax your seat. If you get too cold I'll tax the heat, if you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.

De Biet stole the show and both carol and I were glad to have made the effort to turn out, it was three o'clock in the morning before we decided that we decided to bale out.

Michael Wink had just completed his DJing set; he is by far the best Mod and RnB spinner in Germany.

Don't ask me what I want it for If you don't want to pay some more 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

On our way home we reflected on the day, I have to take my hat off to the German Mod Scene, it is seldom given, if ever, any kudos from the German Scooter Boy Scene and to be honest there is no love lost between them. There does not seam to be the same "cross over" from one cult to the other? Pity really as we had a fantastic night, I can not forgive the state of their Scooters and I do think a little more effort is needed on some of their grooming.

Now my advice for those who die Declare the pennies on your eyes 'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman And you're working for no one but me.

I look forward to next weekend at the "Unique Club" in D¼sseldorf were the next mod weekender will take place, stay cool.

Monsters of Funk and Soul Weekender

After last weeks trip to Krefeld's Mod Weekender, it was now time to get 'Hot funky and sweaty' in D¼sseldorf's Unique club as part of "The Monsters of Funk and Soul Weekender". The promoter promised to bring together a highly charged cocktail of musical genres, Funk, Soul, Northernsoul and Acid Jazz. The DJ crew were Gerald Jazzman, Henry Storch, Michael Wink, Benne, Eddie Piller, Karlsson, and Agent OO Soul.

The Funk scene is way COOL and the "Funky Funksters" seamed to wallow in a free and easy atmosphere void of the usual night club clichs. You aint going to see any handbags on the dance floor and you aint going to see groups of testosterone fuelled Chaves glaring "Oi Oi" What you do get are the Trendy Bendy beautiful people out for a roller coaster ride through the powerful, yet forgotten back catalogues of rare black dance music.

Those steering the Acid Jazz and funk scene have winkled out some of the best, rarest and at times surprising and crazy! Dance Floor Toonz from the most unlikely of places. To find that Funky Vibe on a shiny black piece of plastic aint that easy, most finds come after thankless searching of back street record shops and record company warehouses. Time and money by the shed load has gone into this scene and if it wasn't for the likes of Keb Darge and Gerald "Jazzman" Short's Herculean quest for those allusive discs then the scene would not be the quality it is!

Check out https://www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk to hear these disks

A few years ago I interviewed Keb Darge for the NorthernSoul magazine "Manifesto" Keb crossed over to the dark side of funk selling a considerable collection of NorthernSoul records to peruse BBE records. BBE and Jazzman Records have dominated the funk compilations over the last few years, with both Keb and Jazzman DJing; every were that is anywhere! Jazzman was on tonight at the Unique Club in D¼sseldorf spinning his tasty box of Funky vibes.

Jazzman Records was established by Gerald Short in the 90's as a music dealer. Later he went on a mission to re-release the best and most obscure & rare tracks from the late 60's and early 70's. His aim was to bring the long forgotten sound that didn't get any recognition in that time period. Over time, as Jazzman label was running he set up two more labels, 'Stark Reality' releasing even more obscure but modern produced music. 'Funk45' was also established to reissue Deep Funk/Hammond Funk rarities.

Gerald "Jazzman" Short is one of the worlds most prolific and active figures preserving and re-issuing rare funk and jazz today. With 50 releases and rising on 7 inch through his Funk 45 and Jazzman imprints, and his two excellent double LP compilations, Gerald continues to introduce funk veterans and newbie's alike to the never ending depths that were late 60s, early 70s, black music.

Just before jazzman took to the decks I managed to grab him for a few Q&A.

The first impression of jazzman is that he is a quiet unassuming guy with a real passion for his music, 37 years young and here by invitation from the organisers. Jazzman praises the Unique club and is well aware of its importance in Germany, tonight he will drop in his latest discovery, Sheila Wilterson - Baby you're a jive cat.

Gerald has the records, I peep in his record box, in there is "Can't You See" by Freedom! It should have been played over and over again, it is an excellent seventies disco soul track that oozes sex appeal, I love it! "Do You Really Want to Rescue Me" - Elsie Mae an absolute stormer that could easily bring the house down at any nighter! Give this track some more plays pleaseeeeeeee!!!

Simon: How did you start?

Jazzman: I moved from my home town in Middlesbrough to London some years ago looking to get into obscure sixties and early seventies music. I was a little disillusioned with the main stream and spent a lot of time listening to new and rare stuff played by John Peele. When I arrived in London Kiss and Jazz FM were playing some well serious dance that had never been heard by the majority, I was inspired to start collecting. At first it was just for my own pleasure but as with most collectors you start to buy and sell in search of the more rarer and harder to find tracks.

Simon: Were did your quest for black plastic take you?

Jazzman: I used to get a load of stuff from "Soul Bowl" and also a load from mail order from the states. It was inevitable that the states had to be visited because one find usually leads to another; there is quite a lot of detective work to be done looking for rare records. Some times you will strike the mother load, other times you can return with a few discs. The money tag on the track aint important, what counts is the groove; it has to take you there. This is the only thing that is important. People on The Acid Jazz and Funk scene want to hear new, quality stuff and don't get hung up on hearing the same old same old.

Simon: Were did you get the vibe from?

Jazzman: I used to go to Dingwalls in London the DJs where Gilles Peterson & Patrick Forge who where playing what I thought sounded good, funky and danceable; I never want to be pigeon holed so I try to be as musically diverse as I can. I want the dance floor to be full but I will not play it safe! The average funkster will not be as snobby as on the northern scene and I think there is an easier acceptance of newer sounds. I will flit back and forth from musical genres playing some Acid Jazz some Funk and even some Northernsoul; this is what this scene is all about, good quality rare music.

Simon: Do you play CD's?

Jazzman: No! and I hope it never comes to that!

Simon: Have you ever played on the Mod scene and what do you want to get out of tonight?

Jazzman: I have never done anything on the Mod scene and I suppose what I want out of tonight is a full dance floor.

Simon: Thanks for talking and good luck with your spot.

I enjoyed the night, I enjoyed talking to Jazzman.

Gerald "Jazzman" short's Top Ten

1 Manteca - Afro Funky (GRT)

2 Soul Pleasers - Baby Don't Cry (Living Legend)

3 Gladys Knight No - one Can Love You More TMG

4 Nathan Davis - Cecen Tizi (TRT)

5 Poncho Sanchez - Half & Half (Picante)

6 Charlie Rodrigues - The Theme (Triunfro)

7 The Firebolts - Everybody Party (Greenback)

8 Curtis Walker - That's the Way the World Works (Bet)

9 Elaine Brooks - I'm so Blue (Vibra)

10 Ronnie Knoller - Raunchy Rita (Alba)

You can sample some of Jazzman's stuff on his website, give it a visit and expand your mind. Stay cool and funky! https://www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk Click here to visit Jazzman's web site.

Simon Cuerden

[Guest soulboy]

[ChrisOD1964]

PLEASE DON`T LAUGH, BUT THIS IS WHAT I RIDE AND I LOVE IT

PIAGGIO SUPER HEXAGON 125 GTX

this is not a picture of my actual scooter

chris

Edited February 5, 2009 by ChrisOD1964

[ImberBoy]

PLEASE DON`T LAUGH, BUT THIS IS WHAT I RIDE AND I LOVE IT

This is mine, aint she a Beauty

[ChrisOD1964]

PLEASE DON`T LAUGH, BUT THIS IS WHAT I RIDE AND I LOVE IT

This is mine, aint she a Beauty

Thats a pure belter (sorry for laughing)

chris

[Guest Mart B]

I remember seeing around 40 odd scooterists one nite going to the casino,around late 1977- 1978 at the services on the m62 "before quadraphenia".I reckon they was from scunthorpe/ grimsby/hull area not sure.

[Hermanthegerman]

Sorry, doesn't really ring any bells, are they the bunch from Bremen? Maybe I know them but not under this moniker I'm afraid

No, they were a bunch of people from Hamburg, the Northern Soul Family was "founded" in the mid- nineties,

they were some friends into both Northern Soul and scootering. Due to all members moving to different parts of Germany the family split in 1999. One member moved to your town and is member of the Munich Blues SC nowadays, you might know Sven.

Edited February 5, 2009 by hermanthegerman

[Guest spudmurphy]

i went by scooter in 80 / 81 I was in stockport crusaders sc and me spud, paul berton, gordon beattie, paula kershaw, wayne proctor, and various others went from the rockhouse pub in stockport we turned up outside wigan and got a load of abuse of some slapper waiting to get in (bitch ) couldnt understand the mither then and still cant. stockport mod squad also went by scooter in 1978 on mass 20 plus scoots coincidently you didnt leave your scooter in the car park it would of been trashed you hid them or we did

[billb]

i went by scooter in 80 / 81 I was in stockport crusaders sc and me spud, paul berton, gordon beattie, paula kershaw, wayne proctor, and various others went from the rockhouse pub in stockport we turned up outside wigan and got a load of abuse of some slapper waiting to get in (bitch ) couldnt understand the mither then and still cant. stockport mod squad also went by scooter in 1978 on mass 20 plus scoots coincidently you didnt leave your scooter in the car park it would of been trashed you hid them or we did

Went down to Stafford two weeks before Easter for the all-dayer on the scooters with a few from Stockport in 1980, Kev Gayle, Little Tim (RIP), Big (Pete) Scottie, can't remember the others, about 20 of us at a guess?

We drove down from Oldham and met at a cafe opposite The Rising Sun in Hazel Grove. Don't think it's there now?

Sat in the cafe havin' a brew when all of a sudden, a chapter of Angels growls up on their bikes surrounded by a load of Police.

Old Bill said "off you go, we'll give you a five minute start, then let them loose!"

Twenty mins down the road, Kev Gayle's exhaust drops off so we pull over to sort it out. Half the lads in front didn't notice and drove on so we were split.

Next thing we hear the rumble, oh shit, they're here, there's only half a dozen of us, there's loads of them (and they're ugly and smelly)

They all drive past, smiling, waving and givin us the V (peace) sign. Phew!!!!!

Made it to Stafford with no further problems and went to the All-Dayer.

Coming home we went through a town called Stone and got "bricked" by the locals, or do you call the town "Stoned?"

In the 90's, went down to Keel quite a few times on the Lambretta, broke down once just past The Swan Inn and had to leave it there and pick it up the next day, I think it was Phil D (who run The Griffin in Leeds) who pulled over in a Space Cruiser and give us a lift to Keel? (Thanks whovever it was)

Great times, good friends we make and lose along the way!

Keep smilin'!

ps Was great to see Scotty two weeks ago at the Middleton nighter!

Edited February 6, 2009 by billb

[viphitman]

Benji the German Scooter Scene seams to cross over from one genre to another a lot more than the UK scene, I spent many happy years in Germany both on The Northern and Scootering scenes, great Vespas, ropey Lambrettas and a real taste for Northernsoul but a little narrow.

Do you know the girls n boyz known as "The Northernsoul family"?

I hope to get out again to Germany to a weekender, the scooter thing is very small but superbly brilliant!

I miss it!!!

Fcuk me dead !

How do you know???

We did that as a bit of a joke, silly shirts (neon green ) the lot...... Gerd Baum, Melly, Ollie Hacke, Sven..myself and a few others.. All of us very heavy into Northern Soul. That was the time when Soul disapeared form the runs a bit and all that silly scooter club thing was going a bit mad. (fights, tit for tat..bla bla and feggin TECHNO) We thought hey.....bugger this...

Anyway, Great fun! I organised the first Allnighter with Gerd just after we went with our silly shirts for the first time to a run in North Germany (Red Berets).

I left Germany just after that nighter to live in England for 12 years..

They carried on for a while but everyone lives in different parts of Germany now.

Mission accomplished !!!

Hmmm.... how do you know ??

Edited February 6, 2009 by viphitman

[ImberBoy]

I spent quite some time in Germany as a British Soldier; I served in Hohne, Gutteslogh, and JHQ.

Gerd Baum, is a good friend of mine, I think he is from D¼sseldorf originally?

Sunny the dancer, Carsten Fox and Michael Wink, there where a few excellent DJ's with some tasty collections.

I did the Scooter thing and the Northernsoul thing from 1996 to 2005.

Happy times! Loved the passion and the friendliness.

My first ever nighter in Germany was The Modernes club in Bremen.

I caught Terry Callier with Martin Kraut in Hamburg, met Silka and Michael on many runs at The Filthy and Sly do's.

I was a member of The Hiede Hietzer

[Benji]

No, they were a bunch of people from Hamburg, the Northern Soul Family was "founded" in the mid- nineties,

they were some friends into both Northern Soul and scootering. Due to all members moving to different parts of Germany the family split in 1999. One member moved to your town and is member of the Munich Blues SC nowadays, you might know Sven.

Ah, thanks for that. Of course I know Sven and the Munich Blues bunch...

[Kris Holmes]

Ha ha, I just showed this thread to my partner, she was in the German scooter/soul/mod scene around that time & knows the "Northern Soul Family" & "Heide Heizer" as well as Melly, Ollie etc. She has lived down here in New Zealand for the last 10+ years & the mention of all this made her smile. She still rides scooters all the time & we have 3 Vespas in the garage.

[viphitman]

Fantastic, great memories!!!! I am not sure whether we met as I was heading of to London in 1996. Well, we may have talked for hours but hey

I wasn't very active on the scooter-scene more into Northern Soul, Skinhead, Football & Reggae.

Nice scooter by the way..the first one!!!

Great memories!!!

Cheers

Edited February 6, 2009 by viphitman

[Guest sadsam]

Hi i can recall seeing a couple of mods checking in their parka's and crash helmets in to the cloack room at Wigan, but never saw any scooters in the car park (but i did see two young girls going hammer and tongs at each other in a Hillman Imp) didn't stop and stare (well not for long) Sam

[Hermanthegerman]

I spent quite some time in Germany as a British Soldier; I served in Hohne, Gutteslogh, and JHQ.

Gerd Baum, is a good friend of mine, I think he is from D¼sseldorf originally?

Sunny the dancer, Carsten Fox and Michael Wink, there where a few excellent DJ's with some tasty collections.

I did the Scooter thing and the Northernsoul thing from 1996 to 2005.

Happy times! Loved the passion and the friendliness.

My first ever nighter in Germany was The Modernes club in Bremen.

I caught Terry Callier with Martin Kraut in Hamburg, met Silka and Michael on many runs at The Filthy and Sly do's.

I was a member of The Hiede Hietzer

Hi Si!

Hope you´re doing well

I used to live in Hamburg, when we first met, but then moved to the rhine-area...

Edited February 6, 2009 by hermanthegerman

[Guest]

I'd love to attend a proper n.s event where the criteria was smart/casual dress & arrival on scooter a necessity. Pref in a decent hotel with a big venue. I've often thought about organising one but not sure of the feedback or interest.

[ImberBoy]

Andy R that would be mega! Middelton would do nicley as you can park your scoot right out side! No strictly Scooterists but it will be great to see the scooters there.

[Guest]

Andy R that would be mega! Middelton would do nicley as you can park your scoot right out side! No strictly Scooterists but it will be great to see the scooters there.

Wouldnt it just eh. Trouble is I'm not sure of the attendance. Not bothered about making some coin on it but down south here I'd be wasting my time.

On the I.O.W about 5 years ago they had a niter at Newport f.c & I have to say it was nigh on the best n.s event I've ever attended. No scooter scruffs, no silly old duffers with the missus in tow, clad in target T shirts moaning that they weren't playing the Who, just smart casual lads having a f'kin ball. Nobodies laid one on since although it was very well attended..

[Guest]

I was in the Bolton Spartans in the mid to late seventies and did go to Wigan on my scooter a couple of times with some of the lads.

Always remember introducing one of my mates to some green and clear friends ( strangely enough the colour scheme and name of my lammy ) one night, in the morning he had to bump his vespa but forgot to jump one when it started and crashed it into the wall of the Casino.

I gave up going to nighters on a scooter fairly quickly as I had a number of very close scrapes through forgetting to turn, stop etc including driving one scooter straight into the bridgewater canal !

Great days but gave it up when some tw4t stripped my scooter down outside the boarding house in Scarborough in 1980, sold the frame for £50 and caught the train home and have never ridden one since

[Munchkin]

i went by scooter in 80 / 81 I was in stockport crusaders sc and me spud, paul berton, gordon beattie, paula kershaw, wayne proctor, and various others went from the rockhouse pub in stockport we turned up outside wigan and got a load of abuse of some slapper waiting to get in (bitch ) couldnt understand the mither then and still cant. stockport mod squad also went by scooter in 1978 on mass 20 plus scoots coincidently you didnt leave your scooter in the car park it would of been trashed you hid them or we did

Totally Agree, went on my scoot 2 or 3 times in 79(with the now wife on the back), first time parked it on casino carpark along side 200 rally (later found out it was gingers from bolton)and a bike , both scoots got kicked over, from then on parked it next to the old cop shop... How bad was it riding home, off your face and with a full lenghth leather on no gloves and open faced helmet, 40inch spencers on....BRRRRRRRRRR

Scarboro 79 complete with Spencers and parker... Bad weekend really came home with 19 Producers off the cops..

Wife went to Samanthas sheffield, Thought id left her the Duramine, i had 4 black bombers...... Opened my stash to find the duramine how gutted was i.

[Munchkin]

All the same scooter got it in 78

GP200 electronic, still got it in the garage, ready for its next coat of paint and rebuilt been rebuild about ten times including

Yellow Ocre to start then purple metal flake, then black n candy red,

then white blue and green 80s racer style, then orbit orange resto style, the saturn red and white resto style again, then back to 80s style black n candy red... fancy orange again lol

Edited February 7, 2009 by munchkin

[Guest vinylvixen]

In Germany the Northern Soul scene wouldn't have survived after it's first peak in the mid/late 80s without the scooter scene. At a typical Northern Soul allnighter in the mid 90s I estimate at least 75% of the punters had either scooters or had a scooterist background.

Ahhh...the Crazy Bumblebees - my favourite scooter club name of all and lovely people I remember getting whisked from Chorley to Wigan on the back of a Lammy c.78 and there was a small group of scooterists that turned up. I think they were from Preston but I was so numbed with cold I can't remember lol

[Guest vinylvixen]

Benji the German Scooter Scene seams to cross over from one genre to another a lot more than the UK scene, I spent many happy years in Germany both on The Northern and Scootering scenes, great Vespas, ropey Lambrettas and a real taste for Northernsoul but a little narrow.

Do you know the girls n boyz known as "The Northernsoul family"?

I hope to get out again to Germany to a weekender, the scooter thing is very small but superbly brilliant!

I miss it!!!

Brad Brough is on SS somewhere and him and the rest of the Scunthorpe Road Rats used to go EVERYWHERE on their scoots in the 7Ts/8Ts. He recounts in his excellent book about coming down to a couple of my soul do's in Kent.....most fondly remembered was the Margate Scout Hut

[Guest]

All the same scooter got it in 78

GP200 electronic, still got it in the garage, ready for its next coat of paint and rebuilt been rebuild about ten times including

Yellow Ocre to start then purple metal flake, then black n candy red,

then white blue and green 80s racer style, then orbit orange resto style, the saturn red and white resto style again, then back to 80s style black n candy red... fancy orange again lol

Here's mine....

[Hermanthegerman]

NICE ONE, ANDY!!!!

[Guest east rob]

Wouldnt it just eh. Trouble is I'm not sure of the attendance. Not bothered about making some coin on it but down south here I'd be wasting my time.

On the I.O.W about 5 years ago they had a niter at Newport f.c & I have to say it was nigh on the best n.s event I've ever attended. No scooter scruffs, no silly old duffers with the missus in tow, clad in target T shirts moaning that they weren't playing the Who, just smart casual lads having a f'kin ball. Nobodies laid one on since although it was very well attended..

locals complained about noise. remember how hot it was? with all the windows shut! trying to keep noise levels down.

hipshaker dos at ryde castle always worth a look.

atb, rob

[Spacehopper]

too young to ride a scoot in the seventies but rode to many a soul nite all over norfolk in the 80s....drinking and worse ! ....wouldnt dream of it now....too cold

did look good all the scoots lined up outside though

there was a scoot all modded up at berkley last year...not sure if it was the nighter....think it was the revival night but was foggy as f*** as he headed off home to wales at 4 in the mornin !!!

[Guest mel brat]

How popular where scooters amongst the Northernsoul fraternity?

Scooters went out of fashion C.1971 - possibly due to the new laws on wearing crash helmets. I barely heard scooters (or "mods") mentioned after that until 'Quadraphenia'. So scooters had little or NOTHING to do with the Northern Soul fraternity in the early 70s, since in 1971 the name Northern Soul was barely in use, if at all, and between C.1972 and 1979 hardly anyone (on the Northern scene) rode them.

What happened since is due to the wider interest in scooters that emerged following the so-called "mod revival" and some latter-day mods attending Wigan which linked the scooter scene to Northern Soul. As far as I can see, there is no direct thread between today's scooter/Northern scene and the days of the Twisted Wheel era other than nostalgia.

They're beautiful machines though!

Edited February 12, 2009 by mel brat

[Munchkin]

Scooters went out of fashion C.1971 - possibly due to the new laws on wearing crash helmets. I barely heard scooters (or "mods") mentioned after that until 'Quadraphenia'. So scooters had little or NOTHING to do with the Northern Soul fraternity in the early 70s, since in 1971 the name Northern Soul was barely in use, if at all, and between C.1972 and 1979 hardly anyone (on the Northern scene) rode them.

What happened since is due to the wider interest in scooters that emerged following the so-called "mod revival" and some latter-day mods attending Wigan which linked the scooter scene to Northern Soul. As far as I can see, there is no direct thread between today's scooter/Northern scene and the days of the Twisted Wheel era other than nostalgia.

They're beautiful machines though!

coming from the west mids your self, did you never see the skins of wolverhampton, walsall and west brom, riding scooters, sure that was 72/73, thats were i first fell in love with scooters, and northern soul, going to willenhal baths darlo town hall walsall town hall , burntwood baths and the likes in the west mids, always a few scooters parked up at local youth clubs were they were playing soul along with reggae

[Guest Bearsy]

this is mine

Edited February 13, 2009 by Bearsy

[Little-stevie]

In the mid 80s i would do the Warrington all niter on a the scooter a few times from Huddersfield but soon learnt the error of my ways.. That cold wind would really get inside the parker and any clothing, could not dance for the first few hours.. It was the car and train after that...

Never did see many scoots at a northern all niter from early 80s onwards.

[Munchkin]

this is mine

with that sign written on it bearsy id keep it in the shed aswell lol

[Guest mel brat]

coming from the west mids your self, did you never see the skins of wolverhampton, walsall and west brom, riding scooters, sure that was 72/73, thats were i first fell in love with scooters, and northern soul, going to willenhal baths darlo town hall walsall town hall , burntwood baths and the likes in the west mids, always a few scooters parked up at local youth clubs were they were playing soul along with reggae

Not by 1973, no. As I remember it, Skinhead/Suedehead as a movement was dead before then, as was interest in skinhead Reggae (to some extent) with the death of Leslie Kong in 1971 and the rise of 'Roots' etc. By 1972 everyone I knew had grown their hair and was wearing 'Budgie' jackets and shirts with penny round collars et.al.! However, there are always some people who cling to styles and fashions after their sell-by-date. I maintain that on the wider Northern Soul front, any former connection between skinhead, scooters and 'Northern' soul had dissipated by 1973.

[Guest east rob]

this is mine

& heres mine

[ImberBoy]

TS1 very fast!

[Tabs]

Correct Mel.

The second wave was only after the success of Quadrophenia.

I can still smell Green Onions even now

Not by 1973, no. As I remember it, Skinhead/Suedehead as a movement was dead before then, as was interest in skinhead Reggae (to some extent) with the death of Leslie Kong in 1971 and the rise of 'Roots' etc. By 1972 everyone I knew had grown their hair and was wearing 'Budgie' jackets and shirts with penny round collars et.al.! However, there are always some people who cling to styles and fashions after their sell-by-date. I maintain that on the wider Northern Soul front, any former connection between skinhead, scooters and 'Northern' soul had dissipated by 1973.