Subcultures, Pop Music and Politics: Skinheads and "Nazi Rock" in England and Germany-Elizabeth Bassett
“It is hoped that this essay will contribute to a new focus on the increasingly close connections between popular culture and politics in the post-war period.” Overall, Timothy Brown’s article Subcultures, Pop Music and Politics: Skinheads and “Nazi Rock” in England and Germany examines the effects of the evolving musical and cultural tides in relation to the skinhead movement from its 1960’s origins to the 1990’s.
The original skinhead movement began in England in the 1960’s. Originally, it was categorized by “its working-class origins and its upper-class pretensions” as it emphasized an “upwardly mobile.” Along with this, the music of the subculture was primarily that of reggae music most common to black performers. Soon, this musical genre became synonymous with the skinhead culture and earned the name “skinhead reggae.” Finally, in the early 1970’s, the skinhead way of life was on the decline.
Under the influence of punk rock, the 1970’s was a time of rebirth for the skinhead culture. Their music soon came to be known as “Street Punk” or “Oi!”. Along with this, the culture began as a force in the political realm as it moved to heavily represent right-wing politics. A style change was also experienced at this time as a greater emphasis was placed on masculinity with members styling tall boots, military surplus jackets, tattoos, and cropped hair.
1980’s became the decade of the skinhead migration from England to Germany as the group maintained its right-wing views while at the same time adopting an even more prominent Neo-Nazi standard. Drinking, shouting, casual sex, and fighting became staples in the subculture as the “image of manliness, hardiness, and togetherness” was highly emphasized in order to maintain the skinhead look and identity to further promote the Aryan race.
Looking at this article and the transformation of the skinhead culture in relation to the music and various other aspects of culture was highly reflective of the overall semester for me. While reading, images of American History X continually ran through my mind as I thought of Derek, Danny, and their Neo-Nazi gang clad in military jackets, boots, and shaved heads on a mission for white supremacy.
One of the overriding themes I gathered from Brown’s ideals was that of the masculinity of the Neo-Nazi subculture. The skinhead revolution began in the 1960’s and 1970’s, which was the approximate time of the hippie movement. Although the early skinhead years were marked by less violence, many ideals still conflicted between the hippies in America and the skinheads of England and Germany at this time. First, as one of the overriding indicators of culture, the music between the two groups differed. Compared with the deep reggae tones and later punk rock of the skinhead movement, the lyrical melodies of the hippie songs seemed simple. Next, as hippies sported long-hair and an almost feminine way of life, the skinhead culture was marked by cropped or shaved heads with masculinity as one of its core values. Contrast between the high ideals of materialism in their striving to reach the top of the pay scale and the hippie’s lack of material thinking were also highly visible in this article. Finally, as the skinhead movement emphasized violence and anti-racism, the hippie movement focused on love and peace among all individuals.