< < < PURPLE ALERT . . . PURPLE ALERT > > >

© Rob Mowbray

The Earl of Sandwich invented the sandwich, Samuel Morse invented the Morse Code, Plato invented the plate, and now Jen Tate Cosplay has invented, or perhaps slightly more accurately discovered, the mysterious origins of one of the most elusive pin badges this side of the Omni-Zone...

Yes, at very long last, on the 11th of March 2024, the fabled 'Silver Pin' was formally identified on Facebook as being of the brand 'La Rocka! England', having accompanied specific examples of the respected clothier's Medieval Biker range from many moons ago.

So, aside from this being TERRIBLY EXCITING NEWS, let's find out what I got right between now and three decades ago when I began searching...

Well, first off, that is certainly an eagle's head, with protruding tongue, at the badge's centre. There are also crossed battleaxes, as first astutely posited by fellow enthusiasts elsewhere to this blog, and the lower banner does indeed say "England" as I long held true to my heart. My guesstimate measurements of 1.5" x 2" (38 x 51mm) are reasonably close to the actual size of 44 x 40mm. Ironically, the badge itself isn't quite silver, but rather grey, which, sadly, makes something of a mockery of the old 5-7-9s with the automatic 15 F-stop cornea.

As these pieces seem to be on the rare side, I imagine it will likely take as much time to physically track one down, as it did hone in on vital details(!)

If that wasn't enough, on scouring the La Rocka! Facebook group, I found a couple of photos of jackets that look very similar to that seen during Series III-IX. This coincided with some further research which led me to the Music Archive Gallery; in particular, this article detailing The Ultimate Jacket (also a La Rocka!) as worn by the late George Michael during his days fronting Wham!

Forgiving the otherwise delightful denim sleeves, this outfit too bears glaring similarities to you-know-who's badass leather garment; in particular, the intentionally-random placement of various pins and badges which are undeniably reminiscent of Dave Lister's art college efforts, post-his days fronting Smeg and The Heads - including a familiar, intimidating pair of Totenkopf skulls...

Group member Rob Mowbray was also kind enough to share these recollections, and a further photo of himself wearing the pin taken around 1996...

© Rob Mowbray

"I used to buy quite a bit of Johnsons gear from either the King’s Road or Kensington Market stores in the eighties and early nineties. The badge may have been thrown in as an extra with some big purchase - leather jeans or boots. I used to wear the badge on a Johnsons leather jacket that I wore throughout that time."

Well. It's the end of an era. This blog was, in part, founded to find this pin - one of the fabled four (now just one remaining) - and less than three years-on, it has somehow found its way here. Next on the agenda is finding one for real. I cannot thank @Gwyneth84 enough for getting in touch, and the kind help of those at the La Rocka! Facebook group so far. To think, this was all just in time for my birthday, too.

Ahh. Grateful Satisfaction Mode.

/ /   I N C O M I N G   M E S S A G E   / /

UPDATE! Just five days on, my darling cohort, Willow, whose eyes are like two limpid pools of loveliness, whose hair is like a golden waterfall, and whose... etc. very kindly did some further research and somehow managed to find this alternate version of the pin available for sale in Europe which has arrived in what must be record time.

As always, I cannot thank her enough for her perpetually happiness-inducing efforts. That said, and not for the want of trying, here goes nothing... thnyu.