Fred Perry, 60 Years Of Rebellion.
A bite in six decades of a remarkable symbiosis between utter British style and rebellious subculture, that’s what retailers, press, and Fred Perry addicts were invited to on 29 November. An organization right up frank agterberg/bca’s alley.
The atmosphere was flavoured by a display of numerous vintage Polaroids from the Fred Perry archives on mobile fences in Fred Perry green. A suitable setting for the documentary ‘Subculture’ by legendary director Don Letts. If namedropping were a lethal weapon, the list of Don’s collabos would be the ultimate machine-gun. In the mid 1970s the cream of the musical crop gathered in his store: the likes of The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Patti Smith, Deborah Harry (Blondie) and Bob Marley all found their way to his Acme Attractions in Chelsea, and Letts became a cult hero working for a great many of the era’s influential artists, while pioneering as a deejay combining punk and reggae. The video for Musical Youth’s reggae classic ‘Pass the Dutchie’, and The Clash’s ‘The Last Testament - The Making of London Calling’ are but a few of his epic productions.
Either seated or lying, guests were to enjoy the projections of Letts latest documentary on vintage screens from the comfort of their leather easy chairs. Needless to say that Grammy winning ‘Subculture’, covering groups such as Teddy boys, Rockers, Punks, Mods, Skinheads, New Wavers and more, could easily hold the audience.
A DJ-set by Sam & Steve, who dived for some memorable classic tunes from their vinyl collection, and live performances by new rising sun and Nordic Summer topped off the event.
