the rules of Modism, Mod living: clean living under difficult circumstances

"Modism, mod living, is an aphorism for clean living under difficult circumstances". (Pete Meaden, The Who manager)

It’s a concept, right. An idea. A way of life, a way you feel, a mode of behaviour. Maybe even a walk, a talk a strut. Yeah, that’s right, it’s a strut, a swagger (very Oasis :). A soul swagger. With bravado.
You getting the picture mate? See me, sitting here, watching the world go by over the top of my Cappuccino, pulling on filter tips, blowing smoke rings into the air. Checking out this late Summer afternoon as the schemers stamp their way back into the dark, satanic corporate world. Gazing at them all, differentiating.

Give you a clue, right. I can see my reflection here and what do I see? A Fred Perry. Black. With white trim. A neat barnet, cropped. A pair of shades, dark ones, heavy. And look down and there’s Levis there, sitting well and 501 and the sort of thing that’s needed for a boy about town. Oh, yeah. The dessies as well.

So if you don’t know what I am now then you never will. If you do, you’re probably one too. And proud of it. We’ll have to meet up sometime and get talking and watching. And analysing those tunes that mean so much and those books that tell us how it is and could be and those films that give us the story and the look.
Pete Meadon described it as "clean living under difficult circumstances". How do you achieve that today? I sip my Cappuccino and watch it all go by. Let me tell you what its about. Not the 60's age of innocence. We have had mass unemployment since then and 9/11. But the principle still applies. Now. There are twelve rules you can apply that will guide you through a pretty sussed life. You have to stick to them, that's the main thing. Don't move off from what I'm saying. Are you sitting comfortably. Then I will begin.

Italian cappuccino as recently after the 'Wake up the nation' album the ModFather Paul Weller with Noel Gallagher in a bar. And as Liam in a bar in Brighton for his Quadrophenia-inspired video.
Recently I saw a woman who was a mod, and she was angry as fuck against BNP, the British National Party. The people are different, otherwise the world would be all the same, and the people are not all the same as a communist would think. I don't vote for them, but girl, it's so clear that modism is a nationalist culture, even in the symbol, and in fact the director of Quadrophenia said the protagonist would have voted BNP.

Rule 1 - You will be sharp sartorially, whatever the circumstances.
Rule 2 - You will maintain standards to which you have become accustomed.
Rule 3 - You will maintain your individual view of the world.
Rule 4 - You will listen to sharp tunes - look forward with one eye on the past.
Rule 5 - You will make the most of opportunities - but watch your step.
Rule 6 -You will never compromise, except when absolutely crucial.
Rule 7 - You will play the game to obtain what you need but will not get sucked into the corporate.
Rule 8 - You will keep your bullshit detector switched on.
Rule 9 - You will live every day as if it was your first.
Rule 10 - You will keep your eye on the ball - don't get distracted.
Rule 11 - You will be cool, clean and hard.
Rule 12 - You will keep your attitude young.

Oasis song Stay young :). In a few words, it means being different from all, not all the same. And keeping, not changing. Being conservative, not Mister Change. Oasis even keep all of the Beatles and their tradition.

the Kinks, I need you