Francesco Lisi Scardavi – The Rimini Mod Scene Part 6
1980s Rimini Mod, Francesco Lisi Scardavi continues the series of chats regarding 1980s Rimini Mod scene. Like his old friends Andrea Mattioni and Italo Adriani, Francesco gives a warming and reflective account of his participation in the northern Italian Mod scene. Discussing his happy memories here in part one of his transcript. Here Francesco discusses those early Mod memories and his initial journey that led him to become part of one of the largest and most longstanding Mod scenes within Italy, which still exists today.
1. When did you become interested in the Mod Scene?
Francesco :
My interest in the Mod thing began in 1988: I was about 18 then and at that time I was attending my last year of college. It happened that a new student girl arrived in my class, at the start of the school year. She was vaguely into the 60’s & the Mod Scene (surely more that me at the time!) Therefore during the year we had the chance to chat about our common interests.
I was a big Beatles and Kinks fan at the time so we also discussed the topic of 60’s music and Mod. This was the first time I ever heard about Modernism. The next step, we exchanged some music cassettes with my new best friend at school. Around this time I was also told that “Quadrophenia” was to be broadcast on TV a couple of days later. After seeing the movie, all became more and more clear. Therefore seeking and obtaining a Parka was to become the next fundamental step.
Francesco Lisi Scardavi – Finding A Parka In Vienna
Unlike today, at the time there was no Internet. Therefore to find something, you had to go there physically. Finding a Parka in Rimini was a real nightmare, and in the end was just impossible. However in 1989 there was a 3 day school visit to Vienna. This was to bring some unexpected results. During the visit to Vienna, and in the free time hanging around the town, with 2 school mates, we spotted an old shop that was selling some “Real Parkas” in the window. Unfortunately on that day, we didn’t have enough money to buy even one. Therefore after deep thought we decided to “get lost” the day after to buy our Parkas!!!
The teacher and especially the bus driver were not really happy when we arrived back at the hotel 2 hours late. At this time my 2 friends and myself, had eventually bought our Parkas. Thankfully with no consequences, except a telling off. Also because we had involved the daughter of one teacher in our evil plan… Unconsciously ?
2. What aspects drew you to the Mod Scene?
Francesco :
I think the prime mover was the music, as I mentioned above, I liked The Beatles, The Kinks, The Animals, The Yardbirds and all the classic 60’s groups. Therefore when I found a repress of The Who – My Generation LP on Virgin, in my local record shop…. Yehhhhhh…. that was a point of no return.
I remember that apart from My Generation, I liked all the tracks on the LP and my neighbours surely listened to it as much as me at the time.
I would like to thank Francesco Lisi Scardavi for his participation in this series of articles, not forgetting to mention his kind use of his pictures of his personal photographs capturing his days being part of the Rimini Mods.
© 2024, Jayne Thomas. All rights reserved.
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