What does the British slang word "rocker" mean?

Question

In a book I'm reading, a slightly creepy character is described by an acquaintance as looking "a lot like a rocker, which he most likely was". What in the world does this mean?

The story is set in the 1960s, so I'd say the below is what was meant. Thanks, everyone.

noun 1. a young person of the early 1960s rocker sub-culture, characterised by delinquent behaviour and American-influenced dress, such as leather jackets, greased-back hair, etc. Seen as diametrically opposite
to the mod.

Answer 1

A surname (rare: 1 in 100000 families; popularity rank
in the U.S.: #16751). Slang off (one's) rocker "crazy"
first recorded 1897.

rocking device: a device that functions
by way of a rocking movement.
an ice skate with a curved blade, or
the curved blade itself.
a rock singer or musician.
a fan of rock music or rock and roll.
off his or her 'rocker' an offensive term that
deliberately insults somebody's state of mental
balance.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861705758

1 a person who performs, dances to, or enjoys rock
music. 2 Brit. a young person, especially in the 1960s,
belonging to a subculture characterized by leather
clothing, riding motorcycles, and a liking for rock
music. 3 a rocking chair. 4 a curved bar or similar
support on which something such as a chair can rock. 5
a rocking device forming part of a mechanism.
PHRASES: off one’s rocker informal mad.
http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/rocker?view=uk

- off one's rocker : in a state of extreme confusion or
insanity and went off her rocker, and had to be put
away.
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=rocker

off your rocker (INFORMAL): If you say that someone is
off their rocker, you mean that they are behaving in a
very strange or foolish way.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=68355&dict=CALD

off (one's) rocker Slang Out of one's mind; crazy.
http://www.bartleby.com/61/62/R0276200.html

off one's rocker, Slang, insane, crazy: "You're off your
rocker if you think I'm going to climb that mountain."
http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/rocker

be off your rocker informal: to be crazy Spending that
much on a car! He must be off his rocker!

go off your rocker informal: I'd go off my rocker if I
had to stay at home all day looking after kids.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=rocker*1+0&dict=I
http://poets.notredame.ac.jp/cgi-bin/wn?cmd=wn&word=rocker

noun 1. a young person of the early 1960s rocker
sub-culture, characterised by delinquent behaviour and
American-influenced dress, such as leather jackets,
greased-back hair, etc. Seen as diametrically opposite
to the mod. 2. a. a rock'n'roll performer. b. a fan of
rock'n'roll.
http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/anonymous@FFD78151911/-/p/dict/slang-r.html?

Answer 2

In the sixties in the UK we had two main types of youth; The 'Rockers' who wore leather jackets, Jeans, and had their hair in a greasy quiff. And they rode motorbikes such as Bsa's, Triumphs etc.

The 'Mods' rode on scooters usually Lambretta's and Vespa's with a lot of mirrors and lights stuck on, they wore long coats and had their hair sort of floppy like the Beatles.

Answer 3

Watch The Who's movie 'Quadrophenia'.
The main character Jimmy and his friends are 'Mods', the greasy, blue jean and leather-wearing bikers are 'Rockers'.

Answer 4

It is someone that likes to listen to rock music.

Answer 5

Well to say that someone is crazy you say theyr'e "off their rocker". So maybe it means that they're crazy.

Answer 6

it probably means he looks like someone who listens to rock music