Each Samantha Kidd book requires a decent amount of research into a specific element of the style/fashion world, and STARK RAVING MOD was no different. There were plenty of rabbit holes to fall down! Here are a few, plus the story behind some of the easter eggs in the book. xo, Diane
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60's Secret Agent Movies - IMDb
The 1960s: Spies and Spying - Cold War
London's Cold War Spy Locations - robslondon.com
MOD MOVIES:
(link goes to trailer)
MODS AND ROCKERS HISTORY:
BBC ON THIS DAY | 18 | 1964: Mods and Rockers jailed after seaside riots
Brighton Mod Weekender 2022 - Modculture
Brighton History: Whitsun 1964 - Battle of Brighton
MOD FASHION/STYLE:
Mod Blazer I Men's vintage retro mod blazers jacket for men (modfashiongs.com)
Stonetail M-1951 Fishtail Parka | M51 Parka
REQUIRED READING: ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS
Lambretta Vs Vespa - ScooterNova
All Mod Icon Special Edition - Modculture
Couture Allure Vintage Fashion: Marilyn Lewis: Designer of Cardinali
The Complete Guide To Mod Fashion | FashionBeans
Paul Weller's most stylish moments | British GQ | British GQ (gq-magazine.co.uk)
EASTER EGGS:
Samantha creates a folder of fake clues for Carl Collins. In the book it says:
"Born in a town called Malice. Suffered from Quadrophenia. Collected Eton rifles and butterflies. Leads: David Watts? Irish Jack? Uncle Ernie? Skaface? Paul Weller in the library with the lead pipe?
Here's a breakdown of those clues:
"A Town Called Malice" is a song by the Jam
Quadrophenia: Movie that depicts mods vs. rockers clash
"Eton Rifles" is a song by the Jam
"Butterfly Collector" is a song by the Jam
"David Watts" is a song by the Jam
Irish Jack is the real-life person said to be the inspiration behind Quadrophenia
Uncle Ernie: bad guy in the Who's Tommy rock opera
Skaface: silly mash-up of Ska and Scarface
Paul Weller: lead singer of the Jam
...in the library with the lead pipe: my favorite room and weapon from Clue
Shortly thereafter she finds herself back at the Boyd Brighton auction. Here's a breakdown of the music equipment being auctioned off:
1961 Epiphone Wilshire solid body electric guitar: symmetrical cutaway body was only produced in the Gibson factory between 1961 and 1962 in very small quantities
1967 Sunn amplifiers: used by the Who
"a couple of home-built guitars that looked like a high school shop project": Roger Daltry said he built the Who's guitars out of plywood
a Vox AC-15 amplifier with cabinet corners: also used by members of the Who in 1962-1963.
a natural blond Model 325 Rickenbacker with a Kauffman vibrato: this is the guitar John Lennon used on all Beatles albums and concerts until 1964. (It was painted black at one point).