PUMA ARGENTINA

The Jam released All Mod Con’s‚ and the terraces erupted 1978 would be known as the watershed year! Liverpool was at the forefront of this fashion revolution which wasn‚t covered in the fashion magazines and mainstream press until 1983 when London latched on to lads in training shoes and polo shirts and dubbed them casuals.

Even though most clubs in Liverpool were undoubtedly dancing to Chic‚ there were a few watering holes which played alternative music which made you feel like Liverpool was New York, sleazy,dangerous and hip. These bars and clubs were cutting edge, Checkmate, The Swinging Apple, Kirkland’s, the Harrington Bar and Michelle Claires were music heaven and have been completely overlooked by most who have written about the Liverpool music scene at the time, but believe me these were the places to go. Eric’s was a brilliant club to see groups like The Buzzcocks, The Slits and the Fall for about a £1 if you were a member like me, but as soon as the bands finished we were off to these other places leaving Eric’s to the art school personalities‚ who were too frightened to go out at night!

In June 1978 we had a memorable World Cup in Argentina which was famous for its ticker tape exhibitions and the stony faced members of the military junta who controlled the country. Mario Kempes scored in extra time of the final against Holland to send the home fans delirious. In July 1978 Eric’s hosted two memorable concerts by The Clash and Joy Division and The Deer Hunter and Midnight Express were two of the outstanding films released this year but we were also subjected to Grease and unbelievably the final episode of the Black and White Minstrel show.

Oh and by the way it was extremely difficult to buy training shoes in Liverpool as hardly anywhere sold them and you didn’t want to be wearing what everyone else was wearing did you? And then Puma Argentina arrived and they were nothing like anything anyone had seen before!

Peter Hooton

Pic :: Mario Kempes