Shooting skinheads: Derek Ridgers captures a cult – in pictures
Derek Ridgers – who has taken pictures of everyone from James Brown to Clint Eastwood – spent five years photographing skinheads in Britain between 1979 and 1984, documenting the controversial youth cult of the early Thatcher years. Here are some of the striking images from his new book Skinheads, complete with his own captions
- Sean O’Hagan on Skinheads: a photogenic, extremist corner of British youth culture
- Skinheads is published by Omnibus Press
-
Photographed in Billys, at 69 Dean Street, Soho 1979. This was my first encounter with any skinheads since the early 70s and Wally, the guy waving a fist, was the guy that persuaded me to hang out with them and take more photos. Photograph: Derek Ridgers
-
Chelsea, March 1982. Photograph: Derek Ridgers
-
Dawn, left, and Becky, photographed in Putney Railway Station, 1980. Photograph: Derek Ridgers
-
This is John and Dave (gleaned simply from looking at their tattoos) in Chelsea in 1981. Photograph: Derek Ridgers
-
-
Leicester Square, 1981. Photograph: Derek Ridgers
-
Donna, Leicester Square, 1981. Photograph: Derek Ridgers
-
Young skinhead photographed close to Carnaby Street in 1980. Photograph: Derek Ridgers
-
Margate during a bank holiday, 1981. Photograph: Derek Ridgers
-
-
Kevin, photographed next to The Last Resort shop in Goulston Street, 1981. Photograph: Derek Ridgers
-
Kate, left, and Lesley, Shoreditch, 1979. Photograph: Derek Ridgers
-
Two skinhead girls photographed on a bank holiday in Brighton (this is the image later used by Morrissey on the Your Arsenal tour). Photograph: Derek Ridgers
-
Skinheads hanging around outside The Last Resort shop in Goulston Street, 1981. Photograph: Derek Ridgers
-
-
I entitled this photograph ‘Smiler’ since he’s got it written on his jacket. His real name was Wayne and his street name was Wally. In an email he informed me that he was 16 when I took this photograph in 1984. Photograph: Derek Ridgers
