I was looking through a women's mag the other day (as is my wont!) and reading a feature about the little black dress - or the LBD as they so succinctly call it - and how it's always transcended fashion to become every gal's
must-have accessory. It got me thinking about the leather jacket, which I guess is Rock's equivalent, a classic item of clothing. | "Looking mean and magnificently moody in his beat up jacket, the blurred Silver Beatles passing by, it looks like a second skin on him..." |
I only got around to owning a leather myself last year when a friend bought me one for my birthday. So now in my mind's eye, I look as rakish as the Fonze did in TV's 'Happy Days'!
But leathers go back further than that. The jacket of choice for Marlon Brando and biker gang friends in the classic 50s flick 'The Wild One', the movie also featured the immortal line (aimed at Brando)... "What ya rebelling against?" - "What ya got?", he sneers in reply. Dangerous and menacing  | | The Strokes demonstrating the enduring appeal of 'the leather' |
It was soon embraced by King Rockers like Elvis and Gene Vincent, and over the years has been worn by everyone from The Beatles in Hamburg, the Rockers during the seaside riots of the 60s, Springsteen and 70s punks like The Ramones and The Clash, via George 'Faith' Michael in the 80s, all the way down to The Strokes, The Libertines and many others de nos jours.
Not everyone though can carry it off with such aplomb - as Michael Jackson (circa the Bad album) bore witness. Pur-lease! For me, he looked about as dangerous and menacing as John Inman on a dark night and dressed up as a Hell's Angel! Timeless essence
 | | A leather-clad John Lennon, before Brian Epstein's grooming lessons kicked in |
My favourite iconic rock photograph featuring the leather (and there really are so many to choose from) would have to be Jurgen Vollmer's study of a teenage John Lennon in a Hamburg doorway, which was used to wonderful effect on his 'Rock n Roll' album. Looking mean and magnificently moody in his beat up jacket, the blurred Silver Beatles passing by, it looks like a second skin on him. As for me, it encapsulates everything about the leather jacket and its cool, timeless essence.
Talking of The Fabs, my pride and joy has to be a Paul McCartney self-portrait I own of a young, leather-wearing Macca in his Hamburg days...signed Elvis McCartney!
Ticket to ride: London's top Beatle haunts -
more here |
| 
Top tuneage on the Crowley turntables in 
Listen live
Click through amazing shots of London from high up in a helicopter!