ROCKERS

Until the post war years, motorcycling put you in a high-status position within British society and was enjoyed as a positive image being associated with capital and appeal. By the 1950s the middle class people were able to buy cheaper motorcars and this resulted in motorcycles becoming transport for the poor.

The ROCKERS subculture first seen in the United States and then later in England, came about due to factors such as: the end of post war rationing in the UK, a general rise in funding for working class youths.  The influence of American popular music and films such as ‘The Wild One’ and the development of transport cafes. These factors contributed to the peak in British motorcycle engineering.

The rocker-style youths came around in the 1950s, they were also referred to as the ton up boys. Ton up was English slang for driving at fast speeds of up to 100mph or over. The rockers took what was known as a sport and turned it into their lifestyle, dropping out of mainstream society and rebelling to the point it had a damaging effect on the public image of motorcycling in the UK.

Rockers engrossed themselves in rock and roll music and fashion styles. They were now known for their devotion to rock and roll music as well as their bikes. Many rockers enjoyed music from artist such as: Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley; who were very popular in the 1950s and early 60s. Rockers bought standard factory made bikes, and stripped them down, tuning them up and customising them to emerge like racing bikes. The faster the better.  They projected an image of intimidation and masculinity, an element exaggerated by their use of skull and cross bone symbols; racing on public roads and hanging out at transport cafes.

The rocker fashion style was born out of what was necessary and practical to them. They wore heavy decorated leather motorcycle jackets, often ornamented with metal studs, patches, pin badges and sometimes the gas man trinket for Esso. They usually wore no helmet, or wore the classic open face helmet and Aviator style goggles and a white silk scarf’s, to protect them from dust and other elements.

They also wore t shirts, leather caps; Levis jeans were very popular as well as Wrangler jeans. Leather trousers and tall leather motorcycle boots.

The rocker hairstyle was kept in place with brylcreem, which made that brand extremely popular. The hairstyle was usually tamed or exaggerated like that of Elvis Presley and was popular with a lot of Rock n Roll musicians in the 50s.

Although they were known to be quite violent, originally Rockers opposed drug use. Their habit hatred for mods and a few other sub cultures was based on the fact they didn’t like drug use and saw the users as weak and as sissies.