The Smiths & Morrissey Rarities / FB Group: Recent photo of "Have-A-Go Merchant" promo cover star

Cover star of Have-A-Go Merchant.
The image was first published in Nick Knight's 1982 book "Skinhead".
Said page:

Regards,
FWD.

 

[Stephen Hofmann]

Well, yes - but the archives are real. There's pictures, letters, articles, diaries, placards... people still around who are willing to do interviews & find more stuff.

I was just looking into Morrissey press & then found mountains of other stuff - so now it's the intersection between gay culture, popular culture, and fringe politics.

There was nothing gay/camp on the rockin scene then............there is now......I've seen events with gay rockin DJ's and events with drag queens but not then. Nigel Lewis from the Meteors has come out as a TS and I'm pretty sure Colbert Hamilton from the Nitro's who Gary Day once played with is gay.........

 

[Malarkey]

There was nothing gay/camp on the rockin scene then............there is now......I've seen events with gay rockin DJ's and events with drag queens but not then. Nigel Lewis from the Meteors has come out as a TS and I'm pretty sure Colbert Hamilton from the Nitro's who Gary Day once played with is gay.........

You might not have noticed it - but it was there.

 

[Stephen Hofmann]

You might not have noticed it - but it was there.

You would have been disowned or had your head kicked in.

 

[Malarkey]

You would have been disowned or had your head kicked in.

That's probably why you didn't notice it. A lot of people keeping it on the downlow when they were in a "normal" space.

 

[Malarkey]

Academics have been so frightened of skinheads that they haven't touched it.

But it's fascinating.

One minute they're rioting, next minute they're an extra on Sid & Nancy.

 

[Stephen Hofmann]

That's probably why you didn't notice it. A lot of people keeping it on the downlow when they were in a "normal" space.

You're projecting.

 

[Stephen Hofmann]

Academics have been so frightened of skinheads that they haven't touched it.

But it's fascinating.

One minute they're rioting, next minute they're an extra on Sid & Nancy.

They really aren't. They were twat*. They looked like shi*. Oi was shi*. The off-shoots were shi*.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

They really aren't. They were twat*. They looked like shi*. Oi was shi*. The off-shoots were shi*.

The clothes were great, you must admit?

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

There's nothing to be guilty about. It's an interesting scene.

Of course. I meant ‘guilt’ in the sense that he knew them, worked with those directors, and you drawing your connection between him and that culture.

I think he was using gay skinhead imagery.

really? Hmmm, maybe I missed some of the ones he used, I don’t remember any of them
being particularly gay.


which of the skinhead images would you label as ‘gay’ ?

& I think he was very brave to do that at a time when people were more comfortable with gay sexuality as something girly or exotic - over there - being funny or worthy in way that could not possibly lead you to wonder if you were a bit like that.

 

[Stephen Hofmann]

The clothes were great, you must admit?

To an extent. The haircuts weren't. Rockabilly's and rockers always looked better. I can't remember Moz ever shaving his head......can you? Apart from that one-off short haircut in 95,

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

I was on the rockabilly and psychobilly scene in the late 80's and there were absolutely nothing gay or camp about the people involved.

don’t you think it’s a bit camp to dress up and play pretend, no matter how serious one is about the expression of their identity?

 

[Gregor Samsa]

To an extent. The haircuts weren't. Rockabilly's and rockers always looked better. I can't remember Moz ever shaving his head......can you? Apart from that one-off short haircut in 95,

Definitely agree there. The rockabillys have always had the best hair. Morrissey looked his best around 1994-1995, the reissue of Southpaw Grammar being one prime example. But the short hair was in 1997! The Alma video, remember? I think he rocked it. But Moz with a shaved head? Something from another dimension!

 

[Stephen Hofmann]

don’t you think it’s a bit camp to dress up and play pretend, no matter how serious one is about the expression of their identity?

When you were in the mosh-pit.........that wasn't on your mind.

 

[Stephen Hofmann]

Definitely agree there. The rockabillys have always had the best hair. Morrissey looked his best around 1994-1995, the reissue of Southpaw Grammar being one prime example. But the short hair was in 1997! The Alma video, remember? I think he rocked it. But Moz with a shaved head? Something from another dimension!

I stand corrected on the year.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

When you were in the mosh-pit.........that wasn't on your mind.

they started mosh-pits at rockabilly and psychobilly shows?
Well maybe pyschobilly shows, but I thought rockabilly folk were more refined.

Anyway, all that dressing up and setting yourself apart from others, is pretty camp.

 

[Stephen Hofmann]

they started mosh-pits at rockabilly and psychobilly shows? Well maybe pyschobilly
shows, but I thought rockabilly folk were more refined.

Anyway, all that dressing up and setting yourself apart from others, is pretty camp.

Not rockabilly but psychobilly gigs were insanely violent.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Not rockabilly but psychobilly gigs were insanely violent.

I heard they were … psycho.

 

[Stephen Hofmann]

I heard they were … psycho.

The hub of psycho in London was a place called the Klub Foot.....there was a story of a black National Front guy who went there once and had the shi* kicked out of him.....I know....very odd.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

The hub of psycho in London was a place called the Klub Foot.....there was a story of a black National Front guy who went there once and had the shi* kicked out of him.....I know....very odd.

Yes it is an odd name for a club, but clever.

 

[Malarkey]

Of course. I meant ‘guilt’ in the sense that he knew them, worked with those directors, and you drawing your connection between him and that culture.


really? Hmmm, maybe I missed some of the ones he used, I don’t remember any of them
being particularly gay.


which of the skinhead images would you label as ‘gay’ ?

Imagery is what a director does.

I think the vibe he was going for - was attractive male energy & girls defying gender roles.

But he did send a postcard of an actual gay skinhead.

(Barry from Brighton, where are you now?)

Also - look at this bloody annoying bit from a 1994 article on gay pop in Time Out -

Hundreds of inflammatory articles & accusations all because they want to know about his sex life.

That is the British press in a nutshell.