A 1960s romance with the Mods and Rockers
Will Grimsey
Author, Lyricist and Biker Will Grimsey travelled 2900 miles in the USA on Route 66 in the wheel tracks of ‘Easy Rider’, to promote his new book “Mockers” – a 1960s romance with the Mods and Rockers. Together with two very talented musicians, Suzi James and Dan Brown, he has written and produced a Mockers record album.
Author, Lyricist & Biker
Will Grimsey
Author and motorbike enthusiast Will Grimsey grew up in the 1960s, the era of the famous rival motorbike and scooter gangs, the MODs and the ROCKERS. The MODs rode scooters like the Lambrettas or Vespa, whilst the ROCKERS rode all sorts of motorbikes, Norton, BSA, Royal Enfield, Harley Davidson or Triumphs.
Will never thought of himself as either a MOD or a ROCKER but instead, a MOCKER, a combination of both. “At the age of 12, I rode a neighbour’s Bantom 125 through local fields and woods in Radlett. The first bike I owned was an Italian Lambretta LI 150 which was favoured by the MODs, I even wore their ubiquitous Parka jacket! Years later I made the switch to Triumphs in 1995 and automatically became a ROCKER as a result.”
“My strongest memory was one of fellowship riding with my mates looking out for each other fixing broken down machines. The music of the sixties was a powerful memory of the times along with the biker cafes where teenagers would meet, listen to the Juke Box
This coupled with the recent film The Bikeriders starring Tom Hardy which featured the US Hells Angels ,is what inspired Will to write his book “Mockers – love at first bike
Composer & Producer
Suzi James
Location: London, UK.
Website: https://fearfulsymmetry.rocks
Roles: composer, producer, mixing/mastering, multi-instrumentalist.
Instruments played: Guitar, bass, keyboards, flute, e-violin, mandolin, oud.
Musical style: various including progressive, rock, blues, jazz, folk.
Influences: Classic rock/blues (Cream, Hendrix, Johnny Winters, Gary Moore), Classic prog (Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Camel, King Crimson), jazz/rock fusion (Jeff Beck, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever, Allan Holdsworth), Contemporary prog/rock/jazz (Octarine Sky, Yossi Sassi’s Oriental Rock Orchestra, Steroid Puppets, Daniel Weiss).
Suzi's Background
Suzi started playing guitar semi-professionally in the 1970s, initially in a blues band, but then switched to original progressive music, where she was the main composer, until the 1980s.
There followed a succession of covers bands from pop to rock, and around this time Suzi started working on several studio sessions, including demos for other artists.
In the latter half of the ‘90s, Suzi co-founded a Thin Lizzy tribute band, ‘Live & Dangerous’, making the top twenty list of tribute bands in Q magazine. The band eventually played venues such as the London Astoria, Shepard’s Bush Empire, and the Temple Theatre in Dublin.
Due to career advancements, bands had to be put to one side, but Suzi continued to develop her playing, and introduce new instruments, while creating her own studio environment at home.
In 2017, Suzi co-founded fearful Symmetry with her cousin, Jeremy Shotts, who composed the lyrics and some of the musical themes for their debut album, ‘Louder Than Words’, released in 2019. It featured Yael Shotts on vocals, and Sharon Petrover on drums, plus guest appearances by other musical acquaintances.
The follow-up, ‘The Difficult Second’ (2022), was a solo production by Suzi with Yael and Sharon returning and adding their vocals and drumming arrangements. The third album, ‘I’ve Started So I’ll Finish…’ was released in 2025.
These albums have had many reviews, all favourable, by established radio DJs, bloggers, and magazines, with ‘The Difficult Second’ awarded joint ‘Best Prog Rock UK Album 2022’ by ProgRock.com.
In parallel with Fearful Symmetry, Suzi played on albums for the Checking For Echo Project, Drifting Sun, and a few others.
Suzi also writes and records for an instrumental collaboration, T.A.P., while working on ideas for the next Fearful Symmetry album. Currently (2026) she is helping Will Grimsey with an album of music inspired by his book ‘Mockers’.
Bass Guitarist & Producer
Dan K. Brown
Dan K. Brown is a British bass guitarist best known as a long-standing member of the new wave band The Fixx. Joining the group in the early 1980s, he became an integral part of their distinctive sound, helping shape their international success with his melodic, driving bass lines and commanding live presence.
Before and alongside his work with The Fixx, Brown performed with the jazz-fusion outfit Isotope and collaborated with a wide range of artists across rock and alternative music. His credits include work with Matt Johnson of The The, cult singer-songwriter Kevin Coyne and others.
Respected for his versatility and musicianship, Dan K. Brown has built a career spanning new wave, art rock, jazz fusion and beyond, earning a reputation as a tasteful and expressive bassist whose playing provides both rhythmic foundation and melodic depth.
Join the Journey
Don't miss out on the adventure that is 'Mockers - Love at First Bike.' Purchase your copy today and immerse yourself in the world of Mods and Rockers. Be part of a community that celebrates the fusion of fashion, music, and literature from the Swinging Sixties.