1964: Mods clash with Rockers in Brighton, creating a moral panic. 1973: ex-Mod band The Who release Quadrophenia, a concept album following young Mod Jimmy Cooper to the Brighton riots and beyond. 1979: Franc Roddam directs Quadrophenia, a film based on Pete Townshend's album narrative; its cult status is immediate. 2013: almost fifty years on from Brighton, this first academic study explores the lasting appeal of 'England's Rebel Without a Cause'. Investigating academic, music, press, and fan-based responses, Glynn argues that the 'Modyssey' enacted in Quadrophenia intrigues because it opens a hermetic subculture to its social-realist context; it enriches because it is a cult film that dares to explore the dangers in being part of a cult; it endures because of its 'emotional honesty', showing Jimmy as failing, with family, job, girl, and group; it excites because we all know that, at some point in our lives, 'I was there!'

Stephen Glynn is Associate Research Fellow at De Montfort University, UK. His writings on rock movies range from the particular, A Hard Day's Night (2004), to the general, The British Pop Music Film (2013).

It is easy to write a film review in a dry, critical tone, but Glynn manages to keep his own review enjoyable.

This is a fascinating and useful book by a talented writer.... Stephen Glynn has cemented his reputation as one of the best writers on British cinema and popular music.

... An insightful and multifaceted study of the four faces of one of the very best pop films.