x The Casual Fox (JBJE) x
Born to two Working Class parents in Michelle (Bradfordian/Landscape Gardener) & John (Mancunian/Head Teacher - R.I.P.), Jonathan "Jonny Boy" Eyres, had a voracious passion for research/writing, from a distinctly young age.
Having studied English Literature (BA Hons), at Salford University (living above the Salisbury Pub, Oxford Road), whilst delving into the Yorkshire/Lancashire/Scottish/Irish/Dutch Archives of his own family history in his spare time, (for instance, his Great Great Grandad once owned a manhole covering business named The Eyres 78, based in Miles Platting, Manchester), it gave him further scope to do so with Subcultures, via Music, Football (Manchester United, Dad's side - Newton Heath/Blackley)...(Ajax, Mum's side - Texel), Fashion, Literature, Film et al.
Music (From Dick Haymes, The Four Tops, Thin Lizzy, Robert Palmer, ABC, Madonna, Prefab Sprout, Sade, Suzanne Vega, to Lisa Stansfield) and Football (staunchly, the Red half of Manchester, I.E. United! & looking out for Ajax), featured prominently growing up, due to a massive influence, via parents/grandparents alike.
He achieved all his drumming grades, at Bradford's glorious institution Northern Drum Centre (sadly closed), before plying his trade as a Drummer, behind the love of his life, a Red Pearl Export Drum Kit, loaded with Vic Firth/Vater Sticks.
(Wholly indebted to Mam/Dad (R.I.P.), Teacher/Friend Tony "Rocker" Riley and Higher Blackley's finest John/Madge (Grandparents (R.I.P.) x
He went on to feature for one of The Guardian's Top 100 sites, in the form of In Bed With Maradona, as a Freelance European/World Football Writer.
This then led him to further publications with World Soccer Magazine, the longest running Football Journalism Magazine/Site, in the World.
By this point, his ardent love affair with check shirts and Adidas trainers, had bloomed into an incessant obsession.
Lacoste/Diadora trainers were also thrown into the potent mix, including a heavily polished pair of Dr. Martens, due to his first ever clothes crush, the one and only Ben Sherman; once constantly looking up to the Punks/Skins/Alternatives.
In particular, Bradford's oldest Punk Band in town, The Negatives, who he once supported, in his first ever band The Delinquents, as their lead drummer/lyricist, with Nirvana's look/sound, also heavily drawing him in, especially Nevermind/Dave Grohl's drumming.
His Uncle Paul's Brother, used to be the Drummer in Terrorvision (Ian, AKA "Shutty").
This greatly influenced Jonny to go on and play for various eclectic bands, gigging up and down the country, in plenty of notorious venues.
His Guardian Angela (one of his Mum's best mates), was a huge influence, musically, constantly going to gigs/raves and always returning with magazines/compilations; constantly having music on, either at home (T.V. videos included) or in the car.
His Cousin Danny was also a big influence, spending hours with old school Bristol Graffiti artists and having a whole variety of albums/mixtapes, to boot.
Cocteau Twins, The Smiths, The Jesus And Mary Chain, The Style Council, The Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses, The Farm, Teenage Fanclub, Primal Scream, Massive Attack, The Charlatans, Oasis, especially Be Here Now/Alan White's drumming et al, all followed.
Then Fashion/Lads magazines really came into the fore, with the aforementioned Ben Sherman/Lacoste shirts & then Stone Island, after seeing Red Army/MIB/Leeds Service Crew lads, draped in Casual Baseball Caps/Italian Gear, fighting it out in local car parks/on bridges/concourses/on the terraces!
Then the likes of One True Saxon, strongly followed, after witnessing/feeling/purchasing an entire rail of their clobber!
After cutting off price tags from each designer label, he began to collect them, putting each one in an Adidas Originals trainer box, for years, in chronological order of release, until one rainy day, a few years ago, he opened the box, giving him the ultra notion of documenting The History of Football Casuals Clothing and The Subcultures behind The Casual Scene.
From Luke 1977, Marshall Artist, Peaceful Hooligan, Weekend Offender, MA.Strum, to Hunter & Nelson, his love affair for Casual Terrace Attire was perfectly reignited and he has never looked back since; seductively drawn in again by the looks, the activities, sights and sounds of The Casual Scene, via those he admires/looks up to, whilst staying true to himself, at all times.
Monday, to Sunday, Best - (All The Georgie).
Casual Gentleman, Old School F.C., Terrace Cult, Masson & Green & Unlike Humans, are his 5 current favourites.
Enough old school/rogue pal's prison tales to last him a lifetime, instrumentally/thankfully kept him clear of an ugly path, as they kept him under their protective wing, not that he couldn't look after/handle himself, being a 6 '2, broad and built "jack the lad", game as hell.
For him though, this is mainly about the Music, Football & The Fashion, despite respecting each lad/lass and what came before him.
This is his passion.
This is his Label Of Love x
(Cult Classic Books/Films have also been a permanent fixture and when he's not Writing/Drumming, he can be found playing Pool/Snooker, for his respective teams, for The Shipley Social Club (Saltaire Bar), in the Pub (with a Bottle of Becks/Rum & Coke), dancing in a Club or eating in a Curry House. Oh; and he has a penchant for collecting beer mats).
(P.S. Jonny would like to say, that this goes out to his true family, friends, acquaintances and the true teachers, doctors, nurses, councillors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, support workers et al/the true physical/mental health charities behind them all) x
Thank you/Cheers - One Love, Honour, Old School Respect, Loyalty, Protection, forever and a day x
To All The Casuals x
And for anyone who has survived anything in life - Keep punching like a Boxer, run free like a Horse and may eternal peace be with you all, in mind, heart, body and soul x
(Credit goes to Sam Chapman for the site design/launch and to Oma & Opa Poot (Grandma/Grandad (R.I.P.), too, for the editing of Jonny's writing (and for the Snooker; the pure escapism). For this, he would like to say thank you/cheers, forever and a day) x