Shine On Me

Food is always a sign of class, in every way that can be taken. One of the good things about the Harry Palmer films is how Harry Palmer shows his confidence with good food and coffee. It's a very mod outlook, us working class types should be living well. It's come as a surprise to many when I tell them that Len Deighton, author of the IPCRESS File and the other Harry Palmer books, as well as the superb…

Shine On Me takes a bite from Pelican sociology books we read in the 60s and 70s as much as the New English Library pulps. 

'Sociologists write reams about the alienation of capitalism. We know, we read it. We see ourselves described in those blue Pelican sociology books but never understood. We know all about alienation and capital, we don’t need it explained by soft handed wankers that can’t…

I was delighted that Stewart loved Moonstomp and also supported Shine On Me on his website. He wrote of my pulp horrors: "I loved Moonstomp. Wells' authentically pastiched werewolf-skinhead novel bleeds 1970's New English Library youth pulp into Pan Horror anthology gore, against the backdrop of a vividly realised nascent North London punk scene. I can't wait to find out how Joe's double life develops…

Skinhead werewolfery from my mate Joel Loya over at Boots 'n' Booze zine in Santa Cruz.

"The lad Warren Zevon remarked of the werewolf of London that ‘he’d like to meet his tailor’. Indeed, a mere hint of lycanthropy will play havoc with a chap’s stylish shmatta. My pal Tim Wells’ pulp horror, Shine On Me, is a measured, well stitched, ticket pocketed whistle in the New English Library style. Try it on for size."

One of my favourite weird places in London is the Limehouse Pyramid and it features as part of an occult ritual in Shine On Me. This is how chapter six kicks off...

'From Commercial Road the Limehouse Pyramid thrusts up like an occluded tooth in the churchyard of St. Anne’s, one of Hawksmoor’s churches that supposedly form a five pointed star. The day falling to twilight added to the air of mystery…

Throughout Shine On Me, and previously in Moonstomp, I have been detailed on clothes. This book is set in 1980, and Moonstomp in '79. The clothes can be more fun to write than the sex and aggro. Maybe that's nostalgia (for all three!) and age.

  It annoys me when subcultural writing is lazy and gets the style wrong. 'The look' was the most important thing for us. We may not have had much else but…

The book is set in 1980 and badges were an integral part of 'the look', be that punk, skinhead, reggae, metal, or whatever. The were pinned to the collars of Harringtons, the lapels of leathers, and even on braces.

There's a bit in chapter 7 of Moonstomp about how badges played their part in meeting people and sussing them out...

'As Joyce came back from the toilet and was strutting it to show…

There's a lot of music from the late 70s, and a few other tunes dropping by, in Shine On Me. Moonstomp was set in 1979, and this book moves into 1980 with punk being nudged aside by 2 Tone and the mod revival. A couple of mod pubs in Dalston feature, and there's mention of the Purple Hearts, the Spiders, Long Tall Shorty, the Jam (of course) and many more of the three buttoned jacket, terry towelling…

This is the follow up to Moonstomp.

What happens next to East Londons skinhead werewolf?

How do mod witches get involved?

Are white towelling socks and loafers in?