Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Rocker: A Homage To A Local Character



For several years now in the decaying industrial town next to the town I work in there's been a character who floats up and down the streets all day long that my friend and former co-worker John nicknamed "The Rocker".  He's a white guy probably in his 40's-50's, a massive man who's got a shock Sammy Haggar-ish blond hair and is never without his Ray Bans and a cigarette in hand or mouth.  His attire is exclusively black.  I think I first noticed him in the summer when he had on a black suit jacket with the sleeves rolled up, a turquoise t-shirt, black jeans and black cowboy boots with silver metal tips. Sometimes he'll have on a beret or a cowboy hat or a stingy brim, but they're always black, everything he wears save his shirts are black.  We've surmised that he doesn't have a job, probably lives at home and might've had a band once (it was reputed he was once seen walking up the street blowing a harp).  But he's mostly known for just strutting the sidewalks in the 1-2 mile radius of this shitty little town on the river in his rock n' roll gear. This morning I was running very late but had to check my P.O. Box and there he was outside the Post Office pulling on a Marlboro (he had a carton under his arm) in his black leather rattlesnakeskin print, black jeans, a magenta shirt with dice printed on it and dig this, silver Beatle boots!  I pulled in next to the Post Office blasting Freddie Roach. I was wearing an off white mac, a pink/white/black plaid Ben Sherman, conservative grey flannel trousers and a pair of brogues.  He said to me as I got out of the car "McGriff or Smith?", stunned it took me a minute to comprehend and I said "Freddie Roach".  He then proceeded to comment on my attire: "You've got this great 60's Ivy League thing going man, if your hair wasn't so long I'd take you for a mod" (my hair is sort of between haircuts and as long as, say Steve Marriott in late 1966, only it won't center part because well, I'm too lazy to train it).  I was pretty well blown away, before I could speak he offered his hand and said "My name's Dan but folks around here call me The Rocker", it was with all my strength that I withheld my laughter and reciprocated and bid him good day and as I walked into the Post Office he said "Be cool baby".

This one's for you Dan........

3 comments:

Dead Flowers Productions said...

Brilliant!!!

EXPO67 said...

Good story. It reminds me of an elderly fellow who walked the streets of Sunderland (a City where I live) back in the 80s dressed as a Victorian Gentlemen.

He wore the long black coat, white shirt and top hat. Always walked with a posh lookin' cane probably made from ivory. He was known as 'The Spectre'....

Imagine seeing this sight in the 80s!!! No one dared approach or talk to him just incase he was a total nutter.

Smashingbird said...

Best story I've heard in ages.