Rude Roots: Poppy

Eyup, my name’s Poppy

I’m from Leeds, Yorkshire born n bred

Back in the days (if you’d count 2003 as ‘the days’) it were alright. I think it shaped my interests now, with writing and filmmaking, finding the joy out of the little things. From being able to identify a bird song while ont Dales to making the rounds at your parent’s kitchen piss up for quids.

I grew up in friendly environments, my parents chattier than french cats, so we always had people over or people waving as we drove by. Despite this, as a kid I was dead shy, a bit socially dumb. But yknow, can’t have light without dark and all that.

In secondary school I became obsessed with punk and anything counter culture. My mum told me to watch The Young Ones when she heard me listening to Crass or The Pistols because ‘there’s a punk in that!’. And well, after that it was all down hill and haircuts.

I didn’t like being a punk particularly just because of how poncey it can be. There’s a sickly number of posh teenagers in the punk (post punk, crust punk, whatever) scene who just nit pick and argue who’s the most working class, who’s the most victimised. It gets boring after the 50th comment of ‘omg he’s wearing red laces!’, like anybody gives a fuck.

When i found the Skinhead culture, it felt alot more like me. Working class, a pisshead and with no desire to prove it. I never had the hips for spikes anyway.

I keep busy by doing what I can really. Being almost on the dole, it’s mostly job seeking and walks. I just finished uni, so all of that’s dying down a lot. I’m taking strides to make as much as I can, music videos, promo videoes for artists I know, which I enjoy. I spend as much time as i can give with my fella, Tony, and so we get up to no good most the time. Anything not involving cider (which is rare) we’re usually digging in the woods somewhere or watching some 80s sitcom… probably with cider.

I’d call myself a Skinhead with Punk roots.

I think most people, bald or not, understand the stigma of the word ‘Skinhead’. So I wanted to get as politically aware as I could be with skins before going the full mile. Objectively, as far as I’m concerned, a Skinhead is someone who cuts their hair short, is working class, likes the music of jamaica and calls themself a Skinhead. Obviously there’s a myriad of uniform rules to be a Skinhead, a peanut, a Skinbyrd, whatever. But that’s what it means to me. Being a hard fucker who likes to dance like a knobhead. I think.

I think there’s a lack of political skins. Whenever I see a Skinhead who claims to be ‘apolitical’, I think, how? How could you be apolitical and wear fundamentally political clothing/live a political lifestyle. From the anti racist roots of ska and reggae, to working class promotion through fashionable work wear. It’s always been anti capitalist, anti elite and anti racist. I also think, within the groups of Skinheads who are on the right track politically, there’s alot of meaningless drama and whisper. For a community based on alcohol and music, there seems to be so many drug-fueled little arguments and fallouts between normal people for no reason, and it’s really disappointing and confusing. I’d definitely change how the scene communicates with eachother, because we’re all here for the same thing, especially us younger folk, and ego definitely rocks a sturdy boat. But that’s just me.

Bleachers, half inch braces, Levi’s jeans, short buzzed hair (with a fringe or feathers too for us lasses), big fuck off Doc Martens or Solovair boots, ladder lacing, Ben Sherman shirts, Fred Perry Polos, shameless double denim. Owt smart, owt sharp. Nuff said.

I love wearing both oi and trad skin outfits. But if im honest, my favourite would be my cargo trousers, black 14-hole docs and whatever tshirt i have clean. It might not be my sharpest but I do what I love in this outfit, routing around in the woods, filming, walking in nature, falling over in mosh pits, getting generally muddy. So that’s why it’s my favourite, because 9/10 times I’m happy in it. My fella says my arse looks great in it too, which is a plus.

Does anyone wear Fruit Of The Loom anymore?

I’d have to say Solovair. I admit, I’ve only got one pair vs my pile of Doc Martens but they’re smart and treat you well.

Being part of a subculture means that you represent what you love. You have to be the best and most righteous version of yourself to not let your peers down. To not embarrass the look. Like when you see a big fat cunt in a Man United shirt, you think ‘yeah, makes sense’.

Nowt (nothing, red.)

I think the most consistent thing in my life that has kept me happy is music. I think having an excuse to just be energetic, fight, chat to strangers and get pissed is a truly wonderful thing. The memories that are attached to music is something so innate in my brain, like a dog’s nose. My memory is fucked from years of getting black out drunk for the confidence, but i’ll remember every gig I’ve been to, every night I’ve stayed in listening to music, like I’m having a conversation with the song.

Quite alot all of the time. And Tories.

I love football. I used to be a whizz at it as a littleun, weirdly so seeing how fat i were. I don’t play anymore but i follow Leeds United, which brings me an enormous sense of identity with where I’m from and connection with my family.

Fwwooaarr: Stiff Little Fingers, The Oprressed, Sultans of Ping F.C., Toots & the Maytals
and The Beat.

There’s not loads of a local scene anymore. Someone always has to get a train to go out and do something together, or so it seems. Which is a shame because alot of us are skint

I think the scene will stay consistently low. The punk scene will always thrive due to it’s guaranteed ‘safe’ counter culture look, so it attracts alot of different demographics. The Skinhead scene, however, will stay small but I’d like it to grow.

I’d love to be a footie camera operative, or one day in an Oi band. Or a millionaire, that’d be alreyt n all.

Stay smart, stay S.H.A.R.P.