McCourt became a
skinhead in early 1977, in reaction to the way that punk had become commercialised, and seeking a sharper clothing style. The Black Sun Gazette credits McCourt, more than any other, with initiating and popularising the revival of the traditional skinhead subculture. In 1978, McCourt became a
roadie for the
punk rock band Menace, and had become a
suedehead, possibly the first since the originals in the early 1970s. McCourt also became involved in the
mod revival of 1978 and 1979. The mod fanzine
Maximum Speed identified him as one of the
faces of the period, as did later books on the mod revival. His photograph was featured on the album liner of
Secret Affair's
Glory Boys. McCourt wore the original skinhead and suedehead fashions of the late 1960s and early 1970s, which were quite different from the styles worn by many
Oi! skinheads and
white power skinheads of the 1980s. Despite his dapper, dandyish appearance, McCourt had a reputation as a hard character. He took an uncompromising view against both the far left and far right, and was known as a
social liberal. The
4-Skins and their colleagues,
Cockney Rejects, met and overcame violent opposition from both militant leftists and right-wing extremists. The Italian Oi! band, Asociale, wrote the song "Hoxton Tom for President" in appreciation of McCourt's street-based politics. ==References==