Although there was a small mod revival in the U.S., the kids who discovered Quadrophenia as a midnight movie were just as likely to be rockers, theater kids or punk-rock skateboarders. Reagan-era suburban downtowns were deserted, as the centers of commerce shifted from local shops to malls, mirroring the desolate decay of boarded-up city centers leftover from the urban riots of the late ’60s. Street kids and weirdoes flocked to old movie theaters, hung out at makeshift all-ages show spaces and dug through the cultural trash of the ’60s and ’70s that filled thrift stores, searching for both cheap entertainment and larger meaning. In this pre-internet era, this was the only way for curious youth to map out a chronology of pop-culture history — as if connecting the dots would lead to some hidden treasure. Along with the DIY ethic of hardcore, this rummaging inspired kids to create their own youth culture, defining themselves through music and style. As one of these kids, Quadrophenia captured my imagination.
— Tobi Vail on Quadrophenia!
(Source: emusic.com)
