The extraordinary life of John "Hoppy" Hopkins John “Hoppy” Hopkins was one of the most crucial figures of the Sixties. He was the heart and soul of the Underground scene that influenced the Beatles and Stones and changed the face of British culture.
Having started a promising career as a Government nuclear scientist at the height of the Cold War, Hoppy resigned after attracting intense scrutiny from the Secret Service having taken a holiday in the Soviet Union.
Hoppy radically changed careers and became a successful press photographer, working for the Times, Sunday Times, Observer and Guardian amongst others.
This move into photojournalism led to him co-founding International Times - the UK's first underground newspaper - which challenged moral and political boundaries and set the tone for modern media.
Hoppy and Joe Boyd opened UFO - the first psychedelic nightclub in Britain - carving the template for modern rave culture.
In 1966 Hoppy and London Free School cohorts Rhaune Laslett and Michael X established the Notting Hill Carnival as an annual street event.
In 1967 Hoppy hired Alexandra Palace to stage the 14 Hour Technicolor Dream - a happening that has passed into legend.
From the 1970s to 1990s Hoppy and partner Sue Hall were pioneers of independent video in the UK, co-founding production company and resource Fantasy Factory.
Focused initially on social activism and documentary, Hoppy and Sue also worked with artists as diverse as John Lennon, Frank Zappa, early punks 999 and psytrance innovators The Infinity Project.
Hoppy died on January 30 2015. The crowd at his funeral spilled out of Kensal Green Crematorium back out into the cemetery. The diverse faces who came to celebrate him spoke volumes of how this remarkable renaissance man changed British culture.
Hoppy - Underground Head Hoppy's life as a cultural polymath was hugely influential. However his refusal to stay in one place has made his history elusive and fragmented.
Malcolm Boyle and Carl Stickley have shot exclusive interviews with Hoppy and his contemporaries for our film. The interviews yielded fascinating, funny and shocking stories about the Sixties underground scene and alternative culture.
We are weaving these distinctive voices into a film which tells the story of Hoppy and the hippy underground scene which changed the world.
Hoppy - Underground Head will give a unique insight into the man whose influence is still felt today.
2024 UPDATE! British and international festival and cinema screenings are planned soon. Watch this space.
Hoppy - Underground Head! gives a unique insight into Hoppy; the benign cultural revolutionary whose influence is still felt today.
2020 UPDATE! Underground Head Films are back in action as we begin final shooting on Hoppy - Underground Head.
We secured one of our most exciting interviews yet - the legendary Nick Mason from Pink Floyd. He was charming and full of tales, and very warm about Hoppy.
And an absolute pleasure to meet and interview the legendary Peter Jenner - former manager of PInk Floyd, Syd Barrett and the Clash amongst others and the architect with Andrew King of the 60s Hyde Park free concerts.
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Hoppy was one of the most crucial British figures of the Sixties. A charismatic live wire character, much of alternative London was created or inspired by him.
In league with Joe Boyd, Hoppy founded UFO; London’s first all night psychedelic underground club, giving Pink Floyd their first London residency. Hoppy co-founded countercultural newspaper International Times, that set the tone for modern UK media. He was a prime mover in underground collective the London Free School which created the Notting Hill street Carnival which continues to this day.
Hoppy was a pioneer of independent video, co-founding the groundbreaking TVX, CATS (the Centre for Advanced Television Studies), and Fantasy Factory. He was targeted by the Establishment and imprisoned on a trumped-up drugs charge. And all this having started out as a nuclear scientist and celebrated photographer. Hoppy's life as a cultural polymath was hugely influential. However his refusal to stay in one place has made his history elusive and fragmented. Until now.
For the first time Hoppy – Underground Head! tells the full story of Hoppy and the scenes he helped create and inspire. The first feature length film to be made about Hoppy’s life; Malcolm Boyle and Carl Stickley’s documentary lets the candid voices of Hoppy and underground contemporaries give uninterrupted authentic accounts of the scene that transformed Britain. British and international festival and cinema screenings are planned soon.
When Hoppy passed away in 2015, the diverse and renowned faces who came to celebrate his life told their own story of how this remarkable renaissance man changed British culture.
Hoppy - Underground Head! gives a unique insight into Hoppy; the benign cultural revolutionary whose influence is still felt today.
Be one of the first in the world to see it! Come and rejoin UFO on 24/5/24.Hoppy - Underground Head! tells the story of 1960s underground trailblazer John "Hoppy" Hopkins.UFO presents the world premiere screening
Welcome to the world premiere screening of Hoppy - Underground Head! The long-awaited documentary on underground mover and shaker John “Hoppy” Hopkins.
Hoppy was one of the most crucial British figures of the Sixties. A charismatic live wire character, much of alternative London was created or inspired by him. In league with Joe Boyd, Hoppy founded UFO; London’s first all night psychedelic underground club, giving Pink Floyd their first London residency. Hoppy co-founded countercultural newspaper International Times, that set the tone for modern UK media. He was a prime mover in underground collective the London Free School which created the Notting Hill street Carnival which continues to this day.
Hoppy was a pioneer of independent video, co-founding the groundbreaking TVX, CATS (the Centre for Advanced Television Studies), and Fantasy Factory. He was targeted by the Establishment and imprisoned on a trumped-up drugs charge. And all this having started out as a nuclear scientist and celebrated photographer.
Hoppy's life as a cultural polymath was hugely influential. However his refusal to stay in one place has made his history elusive and fragmented. Until now.
For the first time Hoppy – Underground Head! tells the full story of Hoppy and the scenes he helped create and inspire. The first feature length film to be made about Hoppy’s life; Malcolm Boyle and Carl Stickley’s documentary lets the candid voices of Hoppy and underground contemporaries give uninterrupted authentic accounts of the scene that transformed Britain.
When Hoppy passed away in 2015, the diverse and renowned faces who came to celebrate his life told their own story of how this remarkable renaissance man changed British culture.
Hoppy - Underground Head! gives a unique insight into Hoppy; the benign cultural revolutionary whose influence is still felt today.
British and international festival and cinema screenings are planned soon.