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Mods: The New Religion
Mod may have been born in the ballrooms and nightclubs around London but it soon rampaged throughout the country. Young kids soon found a passion for sharp clothes, music and dancing, but for some it was pills, thrills and violence. The original Mod generation tell it exactly how it was, in their very own words. First hand accounts of the times from the people who were actually on the scene. Top faces, scooterboys, DJs, promoters and musicians build up a vivid, exciting snapshot of what it was really like to be with the in-crowd. Packed with rare pictures, ephemera, art and graphics of the era. Featuring interviews with Eddie Floyd, Martha Reeves, Ian McLagan, Chris Farlowe and many more.
302 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2013
About the author
Paul 'Smiler' Anderson
4 books1 followerPaul 'Smiler' Anderson (born 1965) is an English author and DJ. He has written extensively on the UK 'Mod' scene; Mods: The New Religion is a best seller in the genre and considered a defining work on the subculture.
Anderson began hosting and DJing at local events in Reading in 1985, and has gone on to DJ at national and international events including Rimini, Barcelona, and Rome.He currently co-runs The Fourth Dimension nights in Reading centred around Jazz, Funk, Soul and Hip Hop, as well as the Soho ‘Jazz For Moderns' night, and 'The Modcast' boat parties and events.
He co-wrote and self-published several issues of a 'Modzine', Don't Wanna None-o-that Groove Thang, in the mid-eighties.He has since written music articles for magazines including Shindig!, and various sleevenotes for the ‘History of R&B’ label ‘Soho Jazz’ LPs,plus the ‘Rare Mod’ series of compilations and EPs on Acid Jazz records.
He co-organised the 'Reading Steady, Go!' exhibition at Reading Museum in 2011. The exhibition depicted life through the eyes of a 1960s Mod, and featured a working original jukebox from the Birdcage club in Portsmouth, along with scooters, posters, and 1960s 'Mod' paraphernalia. It ran for six months and was their most successful exhibition.
Anderson is considered an authority on modernist culture and has been interviewed extensively on the subject, including BBC local radio. His books include ‘Circles – The Strange Story of The Fleur De Lys’ ( Acid Jazz Publishing 2009), ‘Mods – The New Religion’ ( Omnibus 2014) which became a best seller, ‘The Pocket Guide To Mod’ ( Red Planet 2018) and ‘Mod Art’ (Omnibus 2019). His most recent book is Scorcha! about Skinheads and Suedeheads 1966-73 with fellow author Mark Baxter.
Anderson began hosting and DJing at local events in Reading in 1985, and has gone on to DJ at national and international events including Rimini, Barcelona, and Rome.He currently co-runs The Fourth Dimension nights in Reading centred around Jazz, Funk, Soul and Hip Hop, as well as the Soho ‘Jazz For Moderns' night, and 'The Modcast' boat parties and events.
He co-wrote and self-published several issues of a 'Modzine', Don't Wanna None-o-that Groove Thang, in the mid-eighties.He has since written music articles for magazines including Shindig!, and various sleevenotes for the ‘History of R&B’ label ‘Soho Jazz’ LPs,plus the ‘Rare Mod’ series of compilations and EPs on Acid Jazz records.
He co-organised the 'Reading Steady, Go!' exhibition at Reading Museum in 2011. The exhibition depicted life through the eyes of a 1960s Mod, and featured a working original jukebox from the Birdcage club in Portsmouth, along with scooters, posters, and 1960s 'Mod' paraphernalia. It ran for six months and was their most successful exhibition.
Anderson is considered an authority on modernist culture and has been interviewed extensively on the subject, including BBC local radio. His books include ‘Circles – The Strange Story of The Fleur De Lys’ ( Acid Jazz Publishing 2009), ‘Mods – The New Religion’ ( Omnibus 2014) which became a best seller, ‘The Pocket Guide To Mod’ ( Red Planet 2018) and ‘Mod Art’ (Omnibus 2019). His most recent book is Scorcha! about Skinheads and Suedeheads 1966-73 with fellow author Mark Baxter.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 17, 2014
There are only a handful of books on the British Mod movement, and without a doubt "Mods" The New Religion" is the best Mod book so far. In fact, I can't imagine one greater than this book. There are others, like Terry Rawlings book on Mods, and one on Mod literature, but this really captures the scene as it happened. Partly Oral History, but with narration as well, what makes this a superb book are the vintage photos (many and many) as well as clothing ads from that era. Essential book on fashion as well as music. A really really superb book.
May 23, 2014
If you are a fan of the Mods, or if you are merely curious about this slice of history, fashion and rock and roll, this book is a must read. I loved everything about it from cover to cover. Well done, Paul "Smiler" Anderson!
July 24, 2016
A definitive resource on all things mod. Definitely provided background information sorely missing in other accounts. Only thing missing would be a section called "for further reading/listening/watching"
February 18, 2015
Obviously a labour of love by the author, but I found it at times to be quite repetitive and narrow in it's scope.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews