RUDE BOYS
As mentioned earlier these youths were the primary listeners to ska in Jamaica. They were rebellious out of work and reacted against economic tensions. They emulated Hollywood gangster fashions by wearing black suits, thin ties and pork pie hats, the type of look that is still seen today in Taritinos movies ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Pulp Fiction’. Rude Boys often lived outside of the law and were also sometimes called ‘Scofflaws’ (people who belittle the law). Ska lyrics at the time reflected the life and times of Rude Boys. Some examples include The Soul Brothers’ ‘Lawless Street’, The Heptones’ ‘Gunmen Comin to Town’, Desmond Dekkers’ ‘007 Shanty Town’, Dandy Livingstones’ ‘A Message to You Rudi’ and Prince Busters’ ‘Judge Dread’ who handed out 400 year sentences to Rude Boys.
Clement Dodd backed a young group who envisioned themselves as rudies – The Wailers Bob Marley, Bunny Livingstone (Wailer) and Peter Macintosh (later shortened toTosh). It was a picture of Peter Tosh from an early Wailing Wailers album that inspired the Jerry Dammers Two Tone artwork, more later Rudeboy
