Mod-A-Day: I'm One 21st Century Mods

Okay, this isn't a band. Or a song. Or even a video. It's a book. A picture book. When I first started getting into the mod scene it was because of the look more than the music. I already liked cool music. But seeing those mods with their pegged pants, dark glasses, and op-art shirts, well that was cool. Where did one figure that look out? Remember this was way before the information superhighway could deliver whatever you wanted at the click of a mouse. I had to track down a copy of Mods by Richard Barnes. A scooter buddy had a copy and boy was I jealous. I used to go to his house and pour over the pictures, drinking in all the different mod looks, accessories and even hair styles (the french line cut don't you know).

Now days it is much easier for an up and coming teen to make the scene all put together first day out. You simply google mod style and you'll have dozens, probably hundreds of sites to pour over.

So, it was with some surprise that I came home recently to find a package waiting at my door. Not just any old package, but an honest to god, hard back book. I'm One 21st Century Mods -- cram packed with photos by German photographer Horst A Friedricks. Since 1997 Friedricks has been chronicling the modern, British mod scene. The book is full of crisp color shots and sharp black and white snaps of old and young mods dancing, scootering, and doing whatever it is that mods do. It's a fantstic coffee table book that is sure to intrigue your guests whether they know about Clarks or mohair suits or not.

I'm One 21st Century Mods
Photographs: Horst A. Friedrichs
Publisher: Prestel Verlag
July 2009
ISBN: 978-3-7913-4319-8
http://www.myspace.com/photohorstfriedrichs

The Who -- I'm One (Quadrophenia Demos)