4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to you all for helping me understand my daughter a little better. I have come to the conclusion that youth culture jargon ceases to be youth culture jargon once it can be deciphered by older adolescents (like Catherine and I) ;-). Crusties? (thanks cb and thanks for the article) I know these people quite well (my friend in Somerset was Swampy's unofficial PR agent!), but I reckon it's too too English, too derogatory, and too anti-style and anarchy oriented. The more I look around, the more I like the "new age hippy" definition proposed by manducci (thanks). This is the basic thrust of the subculture, although lacking (I think) the drug focus of the Seventies. By the way, when I was a long-haired youth in Britain, my friends and I used the term "freak" as an "in" reference to a non-straight - definitely more a "modern" hippy than a wierdo. (thanks ArielZoe) Finally, having decided that "new age hippy/beatnik" would fit the bill fairly well, I had the bright idea of asking for an example of a British or American "sfattone" band. "Nirvana" came the reply, thrusting me back to the "grunge" suggestion originally proposed by Catherine and seconded by Louise (thanks). As ArielZoe points out, grunge has come and gone, but Italian grunge may be late flowering. I don't know whether "grungee" is used, but certainly "grunge head" is a possibility. In sum, I have concluded that basically a "sfattone" is a "sfattone" period. It's an Italian thing. We can admire, condemn and label, but understanding/translating is not an option here. BTW thanks also to Rick, "slacker" would have fitted her Dad to a tee in his salad days, but this girl wears baggy and gets top marks at school. I'm mystified. Respect indeed Derek "