The Beat Goes On: The History and Revival of Mod Music in the U.K.
Discover the history of Mod music in the U.K. — from its 1960s roots in London’s
R& amp;B clubs to the high-energy Mod revival of the late 1970s and early 1980s,
featuring The Who, The Jam, and more.
What Is Mod Music?
The Mod movement was one of the most stylish and musically influential youth
cultures ever to emerge from Britain. Born on the streets of London in the late 1950s,
the Mods combined sharp Italian fashion, sleek scooters, and a deep love of modern
jazz, American R&B, and soul.
It wasn’t just a look — it was a lifestyle. The sound of Mod music became the
heartbeat of a new kind of cool: confident, urban, and forward-thinking.
“It’s not about where you’re from, it’s about where you’re at — and how good
you look getting there.”
— Paul Weller
The Origins: Rhythm, Style, and Soul (Late 1950s – Early 1960s)
Mod culture began among young working-class Londoners who rejected the rough
Teddy Boy aesthetic and wanted something more refined. They found their identity
through imported U.S. jazz, soul, and rhythm and blues records, often bought from
Soho record shops.
Legendary clubs like The Flamingo and The Marquee became hubs for this new
sound. British musicians began to merge these influences with their own raw energy
— giving rise to a uniquely British form of soul-infused rock.
Early Mod bands like:
The Who
The Small Faces
The Kinks
Defined the sound and look of the era. With power chords, Motown rhythms, and
working-class poetry, they set the tone for generations to come.
Music Meets Fashion
For Mods, the right sound had to come with the right look.
Tailored Italian suits, button-down shirts, desert boots, and parkas became cultural
symbols — just as iconic as the Lambretta and Vespa scooters that lined the streets.
The scene pulsed with the sounds of Tamla Motown, Stax, and Atlantic Records, as
Mods danced through the night to imported soul singles and homegrown hits. Style
was everything — from the cut of your trousers to the choice of your 45s.
The Decline and Transformation (Late 1960s)
As the decade wore on, Mod music began to fragment. Psychedelic rock, hippie
culture, and the rise of progressive rock drew some Mods in new directions.
Others clung to the gritty soul roots that would eventually shape the Skinhead scene,
focusing more on ska and reggae.
By the end of the 1960s, Mod culture had faded from mainstream view — but the
spirit of sharp fashion, soul, and rebellion never disappeared completely.
The Mod Revival (Late 1970s – Early 1980s)
Fast-forward to late 1970s Britain — punk had shaken up the establishment, and
once again, youth culture was looking for identity and style. Enter: the Mod Revival.
The Jam and the New Generation
Fronted by Paul Weller, The Jam became the modern embodiment of the Mod ethos
— fusing punk’s raw energy with the soul and sophistication of 1960s Mod music.
Songs like “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight” and “Town Called Malice” captured
everyday British life with grit, melody, and meaning.
The revival saw a wave of new Mod-inspired bands:
Secret Affair
The Chords
The Purple Hearts
These groups brought back tailored suits, scooters, and all-nighters to clubs across
the U.K. Once again, the streets echoed with the sound of Rickenbacker's and
revving Lambrettas.
The 2 Tone Connection
Running parallel to the Mod revival was the 2 Tone movement, blending ska, reggae,
punk, and soul. Bands like The Specials, The Selector, and Madness embodied the
Mod ideals of unity, energy, and dance-floor culture.
Their sharp suits and black-and-white aesthetic visually echoed Mod sensibilities —
proof that style and rhythm never go out of fashion.
Legacy: Still Smart, Still Soulful
Though the revival faded from the charts by the mid-1980s, Mod culture never truly
went away. Today, you’ll still find:
Scooter rallies across the U.K. and Europe
Soul all-nighters keeping the dance floors alive
Modern artists — from Oasis to Miles Kane — carrying the Mod flame
The spirit of Mod endures because it was never just about music or clothes — it was
about pride, precision, and passion. Whether in a club in Brighton or behind the
handlebars of a Lambretta, the Mod beat goes on.
The Jexit.
So, here we are hurtling towards 2026. And is that pride and passion safe, well and
thriving? You better believe it! The band scene may be diminished (Lack of venues
mainly) but the scene that remains is just as vibrant, albeit a bit more thinly spread.
One band in particular caught my ear, The Jexit. A tribute band keeping that raw vibe
of The Jam well and truly alive. This is what you call passion, their lead man Yoshi
actually lives in Japan and regularly flies to the U.K. for their gigs. Consider that for a
moment. Also remember that English isn’t his first language. 3 consummate
musicians recreating that authentic sound from what can only be described as one of
the seminal Mod bands of our time.
Let me tell you about The Jexit.
The Jexit is a unique Jam tribute band formed in Tokyo Japan in 2016 by Yoshi Tokio, the
Paul Weller of the band. We are a faithful high energy Jam tribute, playing all the hits &
album tracks that their fans know & love. We have built up a great following in the UK.
Right after The Jexit appeared and got noticed online, Yoshi was invited to the UK and had
his 1st solo tour in March 2017. Subsequently, the full Japanese band had their first UK tour
in July.
In 2019, the band had a couple of UK tours and Yoshi also had other tours with some UK
musicians, one of which was Rob Fellows, the current bass player.
In 2020 under the lockdown, Yoshi played all the parts of many Jam songs and shared the
videos across the world to remind the world of The Jexit. In 2021, The band finally resumed
gigging.
In 2024 the full Japanese line up played their final gig at The Cavern in Liverpool. Following
the departure of the Japanese bass player & drummer, the band continued from this point
with Yoshi, Rob Fellows on bass & Simon Wagstaff on drums going from strength to
strength. Simon & Rob are related. They are 2nd Cousins. Both have played in a variety of
bands in the Coventry area for a number of years, but this is the 1st time they have played in
the same band.
Main goals for the The Jexit now is to build our following & play bigger gigs. This version of
the band would love to play The Cavern in Liverpool & The 100 Club in London.
Paul Weller - Yoshi Tokio (Guitar Vocals)
Gear - 1995 Rickenbacker 330 & 2010 Gordon Smith GS1.5 through Marshall Amplification
with a Vox AC30 emulator
Influences The Jam, The Beatles
Bruce Foxton - Rob Fellows (Bass Vocals)
1st met Yoshi in July 2019 when the full Japanese band played Banbury. 1st gig with The
Jexit was in November 2019
Gear - 1976 Fender Precision & 1994 Rickenbacker 4003 through Ashdown Amplification
Influences The Jam, The Beatles, The Stranglers, The Smiths, New Model Army.
Rick Buckler - Simon Wagstaff (Drums)
1st met Yoshi in March 2023 when the full Japanese band played Coventry. 1st gig with The
Jexit was in May 2023
Gear - Premier Kit
Influences The Jam, The Beatles, Buddy Rich
Forthcoming Gigs 2025
November
Thursday 13th, Albany Club Coventry
Friday 14th, The Three Tuns Gateshead
Saturday 15th, The Blind Tiger Blyth
Sunday 16th, Lions Den Manchester
https://www.facebook.com/thejexit
https://www.instagram.com/the_jexit_jam_tribute
Website
http://thejexit.com
As you can see, I’ve included their social media links so you can check them out for
yourself. But the best way to do that is to catch them live.
The next edition will be covering Scoots ‘N’ Suits. I’m planning on visiting Modclothin
and Pete Whelbourne this coming weekend to enhance my suit collection. A great
opportunity to chat to the man himself and share my shopping experience with you.