MovieChat Forums > Small Faces (1996) Discussion > Rings True to Me

Rings True to Me

posted 15 years ago by dmclwood
5 replies | jump to latest

I was brought up in Glasgows East End in the 60/70s and lived this Lifestyle daily, It was an Adrenilin Rush every time you ventured outside your own SCHEME(area)you were Guaranteed to be chased by some gang who always had Blades or Sharpened Steel Combs, Our cry was Goucho Rule.
I saw too many young lifes lost back then (one slip on the cobbles and a Stab rather than a Slash is all it took) and we all treated it like one Big Game of Cowboys and Indians, (I saw one guy killed by a Knife over a piece of Toast at a party) THATS WHY I GOT OUT.
Glasgow was worse then than protrayed in this Film and it makes me appreciate the lifestyle and safety that my own family have today.
STILL A GREAT FILM THOUGH.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] dmclwood 15 years ago

Back in the 60s and 70s there where lower working class areas and in in these places majority of the adult population made up most of the unemployment statistics of the day.

These parents had been involved in the same sort of activities in the 50s & 60s and when their kids took up the mantle the parents wore it as a badge of honour and even supported by watching and cheering from their tennement windows (NOT ALL BUT A GOOD AMMOUNT).

The Police used to turn up now and again at the end of the fights but on the most they left the gangs to fight amongst them self.

As for my parents they knew nothing about my activities they both worked and in the evenings drank heavily and as long as I came in at a resonable time and never brought the police to my Door (I WAS A GOOD RUNNER) they were none the wiser.

In those days I never went far outside the Eastend of glasgow because we were hemmed into our area by six gangs and the highlight of the week would be a raid by one of these gangs into our area it brought the local youths together and gave us a warped sense of community.

I left to join the army in the late 70s and never went back and as such my kids never had to experience the life that I had led.
Hope this helps answer your question. Maybe I should write a book.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] dmclwood 15 years ago

I cant believe that there was 2000 gangs in Glasgow during my days; today with the introduction of drugs I know that the area I used to live the guys who teamed up to form the Goucho have split into at least 3 different groups fighting over who owns the trade and they now use shooters to fight there battles as well as knifes; if you multiply this across the whole of Glasgow then it could be possible but I dont think so.
If I write the Book I Will Let You Know. Cheers

[–] Div_Muzza 15 years ago

Anybody know was the gang in Springburn was called back then?

Just curious cos thats where im fae.

Anybody in Glasgow looking for actors contact me at [email protected]