New photobook, Looking for Trouble – I want all you skinheads to get up on your feet, offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the London skinhead subculture of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The book, set to be released in early November by Moonboy – but available to pre-order now , showcases over 160 previously unpublished images captured by photographer John Ingledew. This limited edition release of only 800 numbered copies promises to be a treasured piece for those interested in British youth culture.
Ingledew, whose work is already part of the National Portrait Gallery’s collection and has been featured in major exhibitions, has documented various aspects of British subcultures throughout his career. In Looking for Trouble, he turns his eye on the skinhead revival, capturing a vibrant and complex scene that has often been misunderstood or misrepresented.
The book includes commentary by Ingledew and a foreword by Jon Swinstead, founder of The Museum of Youth Culture. Together with Ingledew’s photographs, they provide context and insight into a unique moment in British history when distinct youth tribes like punks, rockabillies, and skinheads were at the forefront of cultural expression. The book delves into the world of young skinheads, from their fashion – Ben Sherman shirts, Crombie coats, Levi’s jeans, and Dr. Marten’s boots – to their musical influences, with bands like The Specials and Madness providing the soundtrack to their lives.
One of the standout features of the book is its exploration of the skinhead scene’s diversity. A lifelong Chelsea fan, Ingledew’s photographs capture a wide range of individuals, from the West London football terraces to the West End of London, where some members of the skinhead community took their look to extremes, including facial tattoos rarely seen outside of sideshows or U.S. prison yards.
The skinhead presence on football terraces in the 1970s and 80s was a defining feature of the era, intertwining the subculture’s style and attitude with the passion and tribalism of football fandom. Skinheads, with their distinctive attire and fierce loyalty, became a prominent force at matches, often leading chants and clashes with rival fans. This period also saw the birth of the football casual subculture, which emerged partly as a strategic evolution from the skinhead style. As police began to target easily identifiable skinheads due to their reputation for hooliganism, some fans began adopting a more understated, designer-focused look to evade detection. These “casuals” swapped out traditional skinhead staples like Dr. Martens and Crombie coats for expensive sportswear and trainers, making it harder for law enforcement to pick them out in a crowd.
This is not Ingledew’s first foray into documenting subcultures. He has previously published two books focusing on football fans and has written several books for photography and design students. Currently, he serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of West London.
Looking for Trouble is now available for pre-order and will be officially released in early November. This book is more than just a collection of images; it’s a journey into a pivotal moment in British youth culture, offering a new perspective on the skinhead movement through the eyes of someone who was there to capture it all.
A selection of John Ingledew’s photographs from Looking for Trouble will also be available as hight quality prints, which can be purchased directly from Lower Block.
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The Shed Terrace, 1980£100.00 – £150.00 -
The Shed End, 1982£130.00 – £175.00 -
Donna, CFC Skinhead£130.00 – £175.00
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