I sent Chris a little list of question's about himself and his home scene,he was very prompt  and open in his reply,For those who don't know Chris runs a very comprehensive  UK website called skinhead way of life

check it out!

http://www.skinheadawayoflife.com

Q. When did you get into the scene?

A. Ifirst became a skinhead in 1979,Shortly before the Specials and the Two Tone movement exploded onto the scene, I was already wearing docs and sta press trousers because a little while before the skinheads came back on the scene there was a new mod revival and most teenagers had been influenced by this new exciting scene, I couldn’t really afford the new clothes because my dad was working all hours to keep 5 kids clothed fed and still have a couple in the evenings .He bought me as he said “practical clothes” that would last longer,it took me ages to get him to buy me a pair of Levi red tag jeans, He did let me have the docs though eventually. By the time the specials hit Britain with gangsters I was almost dressed the same as them anyway, my hair got shorter every visit to the barbers. When I first saw Madness on top of the pops that was it really, they dressed the same and had this great catchy tune the Prince(later I was to discover it was Ska music). Most of my mates were mods at this time but some came across and became skinheads but I never really became a mod,it was close but something was missing for me but this new skinhead scene seemed right, especially coming from a council estate like I did.

I got a job on Wednesday evenings to get myself some clothes and the latest records from these 2tone bands, I remember saving for a few months to get my first loafers, leather soles and blakies tapped into the bottoms, I looked the part with my Ben Sherman, white sta press, crombie & loafers. OI! Music was also hitting the headlines and I was having some of that, Band’s talking about things I was also experiencing in every day life. Cockney Rejects, the 4 skinsand Sham 69 to name a few. In the evenings I would hang around the localshopping centre called Cavendish Square and before long we were calling ourselves the Cavy Dossers or c.d. for short, we were a mix of punks skinheads and Herbert’s, we would play music on a little hand held recorder (punk oi! skamainly) and drink cider. We also did our best to get into the girls knickers at every possible moment.

The main thing was we were all having fun, I guess its part of growing up isn’t it, newexperiences etc. We didn’t get much trouble really, just the odd punch up but mainly it was all just a laugh. As time went on the gang either drifted apart or went to the local borstals but eventually we parted and moved on. I still see some of the gang from time to time & we still have that connection. It Was A Great Time Growing up as a skinhead in the eighties; I look back withaffection on those times that went by so fast. My advice to young skins out there is to savour those times, they are the best.

Q.I Imagine Swindon has a healthy scene 

What goes on there?

A. There is a scene here in Swindon as there is in all of the towns & citiesof England but its a much more underground one than the eighties I think, My friend Erin Bardwell from the Erin Bardwell Collection is really the main man on the scene in Swindon, he has always got a ska evening somewhere and also hashis own record company & distribution all over the country and the USA, He also plays in his group frequently, He used to be in a Specials tribute bandthat traveled all over Europe, he has played with a lot of the 2 tone acts ,From Neville Staples and more. The local nightclubs put ska evenings on and you get a lot of skinheads turning up. I must say that lately I have seen a lot more around Swindon again and feel that there’s going to be a big revival in the air (remember you heard it hear first ha-ha) hopefully when the Specials do their gigs it will bump start it all again.

Q. What are you listening to of late?

I listen to lots of variety as I think you do when you get older, I still listen to Sham69,the Rejects, the Oppressed, the Specials etc but I am discovering the original ska more really, there is so much out there, you see when I was a younger skinhead I did like the originals but preferred the more punkier versions by the Specials etc, its only now that I appreciate the others equallyas them. I also like Ian Brown and Oasis. Dean Martin is my chill out music. I also like Greek music and spend as much time there as I can, I love the country and her people.

Q. Do you get many Aussie’s over there?

We have loads of Aussies here in Swindon, theme bars and Fosters lager & Castlemaine It’s horrible, tastes like gassy farts.i have an aunt from Tooperang In Australia but I haven’t seen any Aussie skins in Swindon though.

Q. Who is your football team?

Manchester City f c. there is only one team from Manchester and it’s not those redscummers United.

Q. Tell us a little about your website

My website first evolved from my my space site, as a hobby really, I wasn’t to keen on people adding me etc as friends at the time because I’m anti social and found it strange that people I didn’t know wanted to chat to me, anyway as I got into it I decided to make it the best I can, as when I get into it I reallydo get into it. My Wife bought me the web maker for my birthday and it wentfrom there really, at first I couldn’t work out how to make the darn thing but keep trying I'm getting there slowly. I wanted to tell the truth about skinheads and cover everything without taking sides, of course I have my views  and some things on there I don’t much like or may believe in but vie also got to please the masses I'm trying to tell the truth about skinheads for once, let others make there own minds up about the cult instead of all that media rubbish about skinheads At times Its hard to not be one sided but I can’t, I’ve been criticized for articles about Neo Nazis I'm not leaving anything out about the cult, I’ve covered every issue ,s.h.a.r.p. Gayskinheads, Neo Nazis etc and hopefully I've done it without promoting anything. My political views are on the site,ive layed my cards on the table also. The site basically has the history of the cult from its evolution to present day, thousands of pictures also, band profiles, great interviews,including my mate Sharon Woodward who is making a film about her experiences growing up as a skinhead in a home for girls, its called thank you Skinhead Girl, (She’s On Your Site, She maybe up for an interview) Tom Mc Court exclusive interview from ex 4 skin  I have also got Skinhead news, gigs,events, & loads more. It’s basically a skinhead site dedicated to you all.It’s for everything skinhead ska and oi! Oh and some of the tests strange because my wife told me to write every bloody sentence with a capitol letter, I have been criticized about this one more than anything else on the site.Women...ha-ha Getting me into trouble yet again. And I have just added a forum.

Thanks for your time and sharing your views mate!

running riot '84 

Chris&Donna 1984

Chris today