Product Description

It's the 1970s. The hair is shaved, the music is funky and the football is violent - very, very violent. Every Saturday, legions of football fans take to the terraces to do battle with each other. Chris Brown was in the thick of it. The regulation haircut, clip-on braces, shrunk Levis and bovver boots - he had the look that every self-respecting bovver boy tried for, and he launched himself into the culture of the decade with a passion. This is a story of those times. It is a story of the adrenaline-packed Saturday outings, a story of Tonik suits, terraces and The Maytals, of race riots, safety pins and The Clash by way of P.Funk, platform shoes and discos. A true story of the most maligned decade in British history - the music, the fashion, the violence. Welcome to the real 1970s - it ain't no boogie wonderland.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #143974 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 356 pages

Review
'THIS IS THE BOOK THAT'S GOING TO BLOW US ALL AWAY.' DOUGIE BRIMSON, AUTHOR OF BARMY ARMY 'AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR ANYONE REMOTELY INTERESTED IN FOOTBALL, FASHION OR MUSIC. BRILLIANT!' THE SUNDAY PEOPLE 'THAT, MY MAN, IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. LOVE IT. REALLY, REALLY GOOD...' MARTIN KNIGHT, AUTHOR OF HOOLIFAN

Customer Reviews

Extraordinary everday lives in 1970s Britain
Chris Brown provides a unique account of the adrenalin rush culture of following a football club home and away in the 1970s. His story shows the attraction and excitement and also the brutal side of the violence but also the brutality of 1970s Britain. Mixed in with this social history of the time you get a real sense of the characters that inhabited these worlds - often contradictory but always honest. Brown has a perfect insight into the music and fashion of the time as Harrington jackets, pegs and tonics, fly away collar shirts, oxford bags and jelly sandals all make an appearance dancing to the skatalites, symarip, maceo parker, manu dibango, bootsy collins and fred wesley. The diversity and dynamsim of the 1970s music scene is recounted by someone who was there and honest enough to portray a reality that kids growing up in major cities and their satellite towns and suburbs knew and in some respects loved. Being a Bristol City fan I could have avoided this book, I'm glad I didn't. Go and buy a copy of this fantastic account of extraordinary everyday lives in the 1970s - and learn a bit about the people, music and culture of the time.

Extraordinary everday life and culture in 1970s Britain
Chris Brown provides a fantastic social and cultural history of Bristol and the UK in the 70s. What runs through this book is a well thought out account of not just the appeal and excitement but also the brutality of football violence and the lifestyle of following a football team, mixed with an accurate account of the brutality and social upheaval of the Britain of the time. Woven into the account of growing up as a young man attracted to football violence is a brilliant and accurate account of the fashion and music scene of the 70s. Through music Brown and his mates show how multifaceted, intelligent and contradictory as characters they are which gives the reader plenty of food for thought about their own character. His discussion of favourite tracks of the time ranging from Manu Dibango, Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, Toot and the Maytals and Symarip shows the diverse nature and openness of the music scene in the 70s. Brown also has a keen eye on the fashion and how it changed and mutated. Monkey boots, jelly sandals, harrington jackets, oxford bags, shirts with fly away collars all make an appearance. Only someone who lived through the period and is as honest as Brown is could have written as sharp an account of the period as this. Being a Bristol City fan I could have ignored this, I'm glad I didn't.
Anyone who thinks this book is cashing in on the trend for football hooligan books should think again - its honest, accurrate, thoughtful and direct and speaks volumes about the characters and time period it describes. Go and buy a copy.

More than just a bit of Bovver.
There is more to this book than the front cover would suggest. Whilst the main theme is concerned with football and the associated violence that surrounded it during the 1970's, there are other interesting insights into the culture of the country during the period.

For many soul, funk and reggae music were an important part of their life and attracted a substantial following in the 70's. There are very passionate descriptions about individual records, groups and the music scene that existed at the time. I suspect there are just as many 40 somethings galvanised into action at parties by the Four Tops et al as by Abba. A neglected topic, glad that it was included. Right on !

Also included is the development of certain fashions, that once again, is often neglected in critiques of fashion of the time.

Brief descriptions of the political and social climate provide the backdrop to what is a well written reminiscence by an individual of his experiences during the 1970's. I am sure there will be many who can relate to it.

It is a pity that the publishers focused on the hooligan aspect, as there is much more to hold ones attention than just the football, which does eventually become a little tedious.

For all those who lived through those 'halcyon' days, it will surely bring back many memories.

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