Featured Image: The Specials reinvigorated rude-boy culture. Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives
Somerset House in London, See “The Return of the Rudeboys “
Rudeboys of yesterday return today as “Rudeboys in Art Form”, in a photography exhibition at the Somerset House in London this summer. Visitors will be able to take advantage of free guided tours of areas of the Somerset House that were off limits in the past to visitors.
If you are in London or planning your trip, make it a date and don’t be late, June 13th – August 25, 2014. Somerset House presents “Return of the Rudeboys” photography exhibition daily from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm in the Terrace Rooms, South Wing with Free Admission.
Jamaican rude boys await the arrival of Haile Selassie, emperor of Ethiopia, at Kingston airport in 1966 Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Every era, have their sets of Rudie or Rudeboys and today in the 21st Century it’s no different. In 1963, the Wailers featuring Peter Tosh, Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer message in their music to the Rudeboys was to Simmer Down and control your temper for the battle will be hotter, from their single. The remainder of the 1960’s in Jamaica produced series of message music which gave birth to “Return of the Rudeboys” from creative minds from the likes od Dean Chalkley and Harris Elliot
Dean Chalkley, photographer and filmmaker along with Harris Elliott fashion industry director will have on display portraits, installations and set pieces of 21st Century Rudeboys. The portraits that will be on display were taken in places known for its attitudes and robust behavior. As the saying goes “Art imitates Real Life” could not have been closer to the truth.
Rudeboys have and will always exist. At the end of the 1800’s in St. Louis Missouri was Lee Shelton AKA “Stagger Lee”, AKA “Stagolee.” Rudeboys may have been the extension to Freedom Fighters with the likes of Paul Bogle from Jamaica. Whatever your version and or opinions of Rudeboys, they will be on display in London.
Sam Lambert, the tailor shows off his rude boy style. Photograph: Dean Chalkley
To complement the visual experience, sounds tracks will be playing of actual Rudeboys play list. There maybe a few surprise playlist, who knows, some Rudie playlist may include Lovers Rock, Opera or Jazz. After all, Rudeboys were not born Rudeboys, Que Sara Sara.
Keeping it real, Chalkley and Elliott collaborated with true experience Producer Rashad Smith and fashion gurus Sam Lambert and Shaka Maidoh. So Lambert and Maidoh can capture the swagger and soul of the 21st Century if you are looking to get some customizes design of your own.
