The Youth Club By Neil Trelford
As a self confessed youth culture vulture, I was looking forward to checking out this fact & fiction based kitchen sink memoir, of a teenage time when football, music, clothes & girls were the only things that mattered. Even if the genre being glorified within it's pages, happened to be ahem! the late 1970s Mod revival (relax!, I'm only kidding).
The author of "The Youth Club" Neil Trelford is the brother of an old punky pal of mine Guy Trelford, who is a published author himself, being 50% of the dynamic duo responsible for the 2003 critically acclaimed NI Punk bible "It Makes You Want To Spit". And Neil also just happens to be the uncle of Scott "The Bear" Trelford, who is currently rising through the ranks of the MMA scene.
The story Neil has time capsuled here is reminiscent in parts to some of my own youthful memories, and I'd guess the majority of any youngsters who grew up living in an NIHE housing estate during the 1970s & early 1980s. My mates and my similar recollections would be more than a few years earlier than his, and are bookended with a glitter smeared stomping glam rock soundtrack down at our local youth club disco, through to a born blonde spiky in your face punk rock n'roll crescendo a while later at the Harp Bar. As well as all the great music, fashion and adventures that accompanied the lifestyles, that I loved and enthusiastically participated in, I didn't actually dislike the Mod revival at all when it went overground and reared its french cut coiffured spotty head in 1979. Though why I had a Kill A Mod target badge (which I still have in a frame 37 years later), I don't know. Probably my silly teenage attempt at bad taste humour, aimed at all the bandwagon jumping attention seekers who permanently indian ink tattooed Glory Boys on the inside of their lower lip (how's that working out for you now boys, a whole 36 years later?). Though in all honesty, I can't ever recall wearing the said non pc pin in public.
WE ARE THE MODS, WE ARE THE MODS.
Neil and his gang were obviously not even on planet earth yet when the original mod vinyl was displayed and played. Jeez! they were even still a smidgen too young to experience the joy of buying the new breed 45s as they were released. So finding those hidden ex chart gems and rarities nestling in the bargain box at Antrim's Pop In was a rite of passage, and a true labour of love for these kids. Visiting the record shop has always been one of life's great pleasures, no matter what teenage tribe you belonged to.There was some great music released during the second wave of Mod, Purple Hearts- Millions Like Us, Secret Affair- Time For Action, The Chords- Maybe Tomorrow are excellent 45s, and those classic early Jam singles were originally vital vinyl for punks, and then for all the late comers who followed our lead.
But as with all new scenes, there's always the real possibility of making a quick buck. So there was always going to be duff pieces of opportunist crap released, the embarrassingly twee Walking Down The Kings Road by Squire, & The Merton Parkas horrific You Need Wheels unfortunately spring to mind.
I loved those old Motown, Small Faces, The Who, The Move and The Kinks 45s, that were in my parents record collection, and if there's any true music lover out there who doesn't rate Franc Roddam's Quadrophenia as one of the greatest music related youth movies ever made, they really need to get a grip. I can fully appreciate the author's enthusiasm for this movie, its a brilliant piece of cinema. The enduring influence of the film continues to fire up the imagination of future generations, and it certainly wasn't lost on young Neil & his fellow munchkins. My own son Steven actually wrote and demo'd a song called Spider Took A kicking, inspired by a scene in the film for his own teenage hardcore band VX over five years ago.
Neil's adolescent laments detailing tales of unrequited love from years gone by, are worthy of a Mills & Boon romance novel. Finding solace only in his record collection, his Fred Perry & Sta Prest mod wardrobe, and in the company of his trusty crew. The parade of names & characters scatter gunned throughout the book can be a little confusing for an old age outsider like me. Though if you were part of this particular scene then you'll be putting faces to all these mystery boys & girls of the youth club, making this story something personal, and very special for you. Allowing you moments to reminisce about those nights spent in the centre of your universe, somewhere back in time.
I read The Youth Club cover to cover in a couple of days, and I enjoyed it.
So "Get that fried egg sandwich down you boy, Rev up the imaginary Lambretta hairdryer,
D-a-a-ance Yourself D-i-i-izy", Munchkins Are Go".
Joe Donnelly
30.07.16.
The author of "The Youth Club" Neil Trelford is the brother of an old punky pal of mine Guy Trelford, who is a published author himself, being 50% of the dynamic duo responsible for the 2003 critically acclaimed NI Punk bible "It Makes You Want To Spit". And Neil also just happens to be the uncle of Scott "The Bear" Trelford, who is currently rising through the ranks of the MMA scene.
The story Neil has time capsuled here is reminiscent in parts to some of my own youthful memories, and I'd guess the majority of any youngsters who grew up living in an NIHE housing estate during the 1970s & early 1980s. My mates and my similar recollections would be more than a few years earlier than his, and are bookended with a glitter smeared stomping glam rock soundtrack down at our local youth club disco, through to a born blonde spiky in your face punk rock n'roll crescendo a while later at the Harp Bar. As well as all the great music, fashion and adventures that accompanied the lifestyles, that I loved and enthusiastically participated in, I didn't actually dislike the Mod revival at all when it went overground and reared its french cut coiffured spotty head in 1979. Though why I had a Kill A Mod target badge (which I still have in a frame 37 years later), I don't know. Probably my silly teenage attempt at bad taste humour, aimed at all the bandwagon jumping attention seekers who permanently indian ink tattooed Glory Boys on the inside of their lower lip (how's that working out for you now boys, a whole 36 years later?). Though in all honesty, I can't ever recall wearing the said non pc pin in public.
WE ARE THE MODS, WE ARE THE MODS.
Neil and his gang were obviously not even on planet earth yet when the original mod vinyl was displayed and played. Jeez! they were even still a smidgen too young to experience the joy of buying the new breed 45s as they were released. So finding those hidden ex chart gems and rarities nestling in the bargain box at Antrim's Pop In was a rite of passage, and a true labour of love for these kids. Visiting the record shop has always been one of life's great pleasures, no matter what teenage tribe you belonged to.There was some great music released during the second wave of Mod, Purple Hearts- Millions Like Us, Secret Affair- Time For Action, The Chords- Maybe Tomorrow are excellent 45s, and those classic early Jam singles were originally vital vinyl for punks, and then for all the late comers who followed our lead.
But as with all new scenes, there's always the real possibility of making a quick buck. So there was always going to be duff pieces of opportunist crap released, the embarrassingly twee Walking Down The Kings Road by Squire, & The Merton Parkas horrific You Need Wheels unfortunately spring to mind.
I loved those old Motown, Small Faces, The Who, The Move and The Kinks 45s, that were in my parents record collection, and if there's any true music lover out there who doesn't rate Franc Roddam's Quadrophenia as one of the greatest music related youth movies ever made, they really need to get a grip. I can fully appreciate the author's enthusiasm for this movie, its a brilliant piece of cinema. The enduring influence of the film continues to fire up the imagination of future generations, and it certainly wasn't lost on young Neil & his fellow munchkins. My own son Steven actually wrote and demo'd a song called Spider Took A kicking, inspired by a scene in the film for his own teenage hardcore band VX over five years ago.
Neil's adolescent laments detailing tales of unrequited love from years gone by, are worthy of a Mills & Boon romance novel. Finding solace only in his record collection, his Fred Perry & Sta Prest mod wardrobe, and in the company of his trusty crew. The parade of names & characters scatter gunned throughout the book can be a little confusing for an old age outsider like me. Though if you were part of this particular scene then you'll be putting faces to all these mystery boys & girls of the youth club, making this story something personal, and very special for you. Allowing you moments to reminisce about those nights spent in the centre of your universe, somewhere back in time.
I read The Youth Club cover to cover in a couple of days, and I enjoyed it.
So "Get that fried egg sandwich down you boy, Rev up the imaginary Lambretta hairdryer,
D-a-a-ance Yourself D-i-i-izy", Munchkins Are Go".
Joe Donnelly
30.07.16.