The lad mag vibe for misfits, politics, cult football and death metal. All via sale price tracksuit tops in North East England. Better than reading the shampoo bottle when you're on the bog.
It's interesting to me though, there has been a perception that laddish behaviour and interests have been totally talked down on, especially the working class, yet so many of our British cultural icons, music, fashion etc are born of the working class.
Made me smile sat here in the UK reading this (in my Ben Sherman short sleeve shirt, 80s vintage;)) pretty much agree with most everything about British culture but gave up on the brothers Gallagher after Definitely Maybe. Sleaford Mods just keep getting better though!
Sleaford is a good listen, but fuck of there isn’t anything more boring than watching two 50 something men pump their fist to a drum machine and wander back and forth across stage rhyming slang. Not worth the ticket. But I’m wearing the concert shirt today, so what do I know?
I grew up on Merseyside and hung out with two members of High Vis. I long ago lost touch with them but I love that I randomly stumble across articles like this and see them doing so well in the post-hardcore decades
1) Bruce becoming a billionaire has me shook 2) do you have the movie Kneecap on your radar? I think it fits in with ladcore (also is about a real rebellious rap group that performs in Irish). It's good.
An interesting read to this American who often feels more English than anything else. But I think I have to agree to a degree with Georgia's comments about ladcore. Maybe it's exhilarating and fun when you're a young man, but looking back as a 59 year old man... much of it seems childish.
Just today I watched the ManU v Liverpool match from the comfort of my home in America and noted the long, double-line of security between the on-the-road Liverpool supporters and ManU fans. I've always found the hooliganism side of English football to be absurd. It's sport for fucks sake. Not life. Love it. Enjoy it. Cheer your team. Wear the colors. But anything violent in nature only proves your a child, and not a man.
All you did was attempt to describe British working class culture that started with Teddy Boys, then proceeded to Mods and Rockers, then Skinheads and Hippes, to Bootboy Hooligans, Suedeheads, Glam, Punk, and finally to Casuals which lent their style to Manchester ravers and Britpop middle class plastic gangsters, and now twats like Van Wilder, the It’s Always Sunny gang, and the author of this post are trying to pack up their neo-Anglophilia into some new trend that’s been around forever. You’re decades late to the party and very boring.
I think you’ve framed the issue incorrectly- what you’re seeking to study no longer really exists with the advent of streaming, closure of pubs and working men’s and diversification of public housing.
What you need to drill down on is chav culture if the British underclass is your area of interest. It’s fascinating to the American eye.
This is, for me personally, an instant classic of online reads. I knew of the "lad" term previously but thought it was just the UK analouge to America's "bro." But your interpretation pretty much nails the sort of energy I aspire to in life but could never quite succinctly define.
Key passages that especially hit for me:
"At the same time, Liam will never shake the working-class, Manchester-raised child of Irish parents. He’ll always talk shit, look cool, and do whatever he wants."
Working class Steelton PA-raised child of mostly German American descent here and that last sentence was a big "hell yeah" moment.
"I noticed a long time ago that the culture from the U.K. I tend to gravitate towards from over there is people are proud of their working-class backgrounds, but their thinking is more along the lines of “Nah, fuck that, mate. I want to get rich, not go back to working the factory.” I think a big part of the reason why rap has become the biggest form of American popular music over the last few decades is because it turns its back on the corny idea of earnesty as some inborn American virtue. The problem is that we’re not a country of farmers anymore and we haven’t been for ages. Deep down, most of us want to have nice things and more time to enjoy stuff, but we don’t want to be viewed as elitist—whatever that hell that even means anymore."
So appreciative of this passage I don't even know what to say.
Lads lads lads, forever British for better or worse. As awful and cringe as they can be, I wouldn't want the bland culture that would exist without them.
Mike Skinner provided most of the background music to my life once I imigrated to the UK nearly 12 years ago. Since then, I saw a lot of Ladcore, for sure. It's cool.
I briefly dated one his ex’s in the early ‘aughts. It really annoyed her how much I dug the Streets. This was pre-Everything Is Borrowed. Still love Mike Skinner’s ear and pretty much all his output. He’s come a long way from making two-step garage beats on a basement mixer.
There used to be a very underrated ladcore band called Hardfi. Their album - Stars of CCTV is brilliant. Every song is hit material but they didn’t get promoted for some reason. You can still get it online. Give it a whirl 👍
Hooliganism? Ladcore. Violent and intimidating behaviour? Ladcore. Overt racism/sexism/homophobia? Ladcore. Gambling addictions? Ladcore.
Sadly you missed quite a few, much less rosey behaviours/themes from your list that are the reality of this sub culture.
Like getting banned from Amsterdam.
Those are all just young man sorting himself out in the world things
I had no idea about this "revival" but as luck would have it I've started my own Stack as a way to blurt out my own laddish takes on life...
Https://unculturedswine.substack.com
The lad mag vibe for misfits, politics, cult football and death metal. All via sale price tracksuit tops in North East England. Better than reading the shampoo bottle when you're on the bog.
It's interesting to me though, there has been a perception that laddish behaviour and interests have been totally talked down on, especially the working class, yet so many of our British cultural icons, music, fashion etc are born of the working class.
Made me smile sat here in the UK reading this (in my Ben Sherman short sleeve shirt, 80s vintage;)) pretty much agree with most everything about British culture but gave up on the brothers Gallagher after Definitely Maybe. Sleaford Mods just keep getting better though!
They've got a few bangers after. Not many. I also like some of their solo stuff.
Sleaford is a good listen, but fuck of there isn’t anything more boring than watching two 50 something men pump their fist to a drum machine and wander back and forth across stage rhyming slang. Not worth the ticket. But I’m wearing the concert shirt today, so what do I know?
Good to see you big-up the Sleaford Mods! And you’re absolutely right about the quality of their hits. 👍
I grew up on Merseyside and hung out with two members of High Vis. I long ago lost touch with them but I love that I randomly stumble across articles like this and see them doing so well in the post-hardcore decades
1) Bruce becoming a billionaire has me shook 2) do you have the movie Kneecap on your radar? I think it fits in with ladcore (also is about a real rebellious rap group that performs in Irish). It's good.
WOW! Kneecap is now very much on my radar thanks to you!
It’s out August 2nd
Another great new (Manchester!) band is The Lottery Winners. Absolutely ace - best new thing I’ve seen live in quite some time.
An interesting read to this American who often feels more English than anything else. But I think I have to agree to a degree with Georgia's comments about ladcore. Maybe it's exhilarating and fun when you're a young man, but looking back as a 59 year old man... much of it seems childish.
Just today I watched the ManU v Liverpool match from the comfort of my home in America and noted the long, double-line of security between the on-the-road Liverpool supporters and ManU fans. I've always found the hooliganism side of English football to be absurd. It's sport for fucks sake. Not life. Love it. Enjoy it. Cheer your team. Wear the colors. But anything violent in nature only proves your a child, and not a man.
All you did was attempt to describe British working class culture that started with Teddy Boys, then proceeded to Mods and Rockers, then Skinheads and Hippes, to Bootboy Hooligans, Suedeheads, Glam, Punk, and finally to Casuals which lent their style to Manchester ravers and Britpop middle class plastic gangsters, and now twats like Van Wilder, the It’s Always Sunny gang, and the author of this post are trying to pack up their neo-Anglophilia into some new trend that’s been around forever. You’re decades late to the party and very boring.
I think you’ve framed the issue incorrectly- what you’re seeking to study no longer really exists with the advent of streaming, closure of pubs and working men’s and diversification of public housing.
What you need to drill down on is chav culture if the British underclass is your area of interest. It’s fascinating to the American eye.
Fucking Chavs. Ruined Burberry for a generation didn’t they?
This is, for me personally, an instant classic of online reads. I knew of the "lad" term previously but thought it was just the UK analouge to America's "bro." But your interpretation pretty much nails the sort of energy I aspire to in life but could never quite succinctly define.
Key passages that especially hit for me:
"At the same time, Liam will never shake the working-class, Manchester-raised child of Irish parents. He’ll always talk shit, look cool, and do whatever he wants."
Working class Steelton PA-raised child of mostly German American descent here and that last sentence was a big "hell yeah" moment.
"I noticed a long time ago that the culture from the U.K. I tend to gravitate towards from over there is people are proud of their working-class backgrounds, but their thinking is more along the lines of “Nah, fuck that, mate. I want to get rich, not go back to working the factory.” I think a big part of the reason why rap has become the biggest form of American popular music over the last few decades is because it turns its back on the corny idea of earnesty as some inborn American virtue. The problem is that we’re not a country of farmers anymore and we haven’t been for ages. Deep down, most of us want to have nice things and more time to enjoy stuff, but we don’t want to be viewed as elitist—whatever that hell that even means anymore."
So appreciative of this passage I don't even know what to say.
Lads lads lads, forever British for better or worse. As awful and cringe as they can be, I wouldn't want the bland culture that would exist without them.
Mike Skinner provided most of the background music to my life once I imigrated to the UK nearly 12 years ago. Since then, I saw a lot of Ladcore, for sure. It's cool.
I briefly dated one his ex’s in the early ‘aughts. It really annoyed her how much I dug the Streets. This was pre-Everything Is Borrowed. Still love Mike Skinner’s ear and pretty much all his output. He’s come a long way from making two-step garage beats on a basement mixer.
There used to be a very underrated ladcore band called Hardfi. Their album - Stars of CCTV is brilliant. Every song is hit material but they didn’t get promoted for some reason. You can still get it online. Give it a whirl 👍
Much love from Glasgow. Great article.
I think it’s awesome but I couldn’t be a part of it