James
Brown's Attack on Bzag (click here
for more)
DIY'ing in the Bedroom -
Yorkshire's Fanzines
The punk rock era saw
an explosion of home made xeroxed magazines touted by
varmints full of vim and vitriol. Sid gets ink
on his fingers.
_______________
The legacy of Punk
has given us plenty to be thankful for, and one can't
help trolling through its past. Once seen as the phlegm
on the back of society, it has now become the established
"The Best Ever - Nostalgia aint what it used to be!" CD
compilation. Although the press would have us believe
that Punk lived and died in London, Yorkshire received
its intake of fresh air too.
Most people will be aware of the main bands
that appeared at the time, but I'm not here to dwell on
that. Instead I'm going to focus on the printed word of
enthusiasm, the fanzine. These were as every bit as valid
as the bands that were created in the bedrooms. The fanzine
editors were armed with either a John Bull printing kit,
letraset or spittle - and should be regarded as the 'heir-apparents'
to Caxton.
All over Yorkshire,
erratic editors sprung up to cut and paste their words
and sometimes wisdom on all subjects printable or otherwise.
Although there were a few petty rivalries, in the main,
most were prepared to help each other, with reviews and
advice. Love, enthusiasm and career prospects were the
prime movers, as the 
'zines
were priced at only a few pence (many were still less
than ™1 well into the mid-80s). Initially they were sold
amongst friends, and then at a few record stores that
would stock them. Soon it would become a national network
via mail order. The following is in no way a complete
list just a few pebbles on the beach . . . Lest they be
forgotten.
Sheffield
(1977-80s): Sheffield was originally
home to four fanzines, but neither of them lasted longer
than a year. In February 1977 Gun Rubber's first issue,
a stapled collection of hand-written Xerox sheets, was
handed out free at the Craisy Daisy. It was followed by
Steve's Papers, Home Groan and Submission.
Gun Rubber
managed to produce 7 issues before folding at Christmas
'77. It was roughly put together by the likes of Bert
Vinyl and Co. It's content showed diversity and by number
5, it included interviews with the Ramones, Rat Scabies
and to broaden people's horizons . . . the storyline to
the film Deep Throat (gulp!). With No.6 it had The Stranglers,
The Saints and an early guide to 'Who's Who in Sheffield'
(featuring probably Sheffield's first punk band to appear
and disappear, that of '2 Point 3').
Their final issue had local hero Paul Shaft
on the cover. By the end of '77, though, Gun Rubber had
become disillusioned with the Punk scene. For them it
had become stagnant and began to lament the past. And
then Marc Bolan's death seemed to be the final straw for
them. Even though GR was on its last legs, Bert and Co.
still had enough conviction to attack the rise of the
National Front.
Steves Papers
first issue was listed as number 3. The man behind it
was Steve Media ne:Singleton, soon to be of ABC fame.
SP's print was usually hand-written and at times totally
illegible, and required the aid of a magnifying glass
to read it. 
The
content revolved around what he had been doing the previous
week, even though it was always out of date by the time
it was in the record shops. Steve kept promising to produce
a souvenir Clash booklet, but I never saw it.
His second issue (No.4) was easier to read,
and featured an interview with Deaf School along with
an article on Sheffield's first punk shop - Asylum. By
October it had evolved into The Paper, but with no marked
improvement to the quality. Also, Steve had run out of
steam just at the point where his world became dull and
repetitive.
Home Groan lasted
for seven issues (July '77 - April '78). It was well printed
on various coloured papers with sketches that ran wild
over the text. HG tried to be more than just a collection
of observations, as they attempted to help local bands.
They fully supported 'Reactor' with a souvenir concert
programme, stickers and posters - but did anyone actually
see them. A more worthwhile band, The Extras, received
the same treatment from HG. Issue No1 was already three
months out of date by the time it was available.
|
SNIFFIN'
GLUE
|
|
|
Sniffin' Glue (And
other Rock'n'Roll Habits) was the
daddy of them all. No contest. Original and
genuine. Produced by Mark P in South London
along with Danny Baker (yes, the guy from
the telly) way back in 1976. A classic Xerox
job inspired by the Ramones first album.
It bit the dust when his band, Alternative
TV began to attract attention in their own
right. Baker went on to write for the music
press proper, then became a DJ and broadcaster.
He's now the power behind the throne on TFI
Friday.
_____________________
|
|
No.5 the Christmas issue, proudly announced
the start of an off shoot, Lookout
magazine, which was to be free. However, this
died a quick death. No. 7 signalled its end, the main
writer, Kid Turd, was moving onto higher things (did he?).
The issue was full of sentimentality as it disappeared
up its own arse. What had started out as a well intentioned
informative 'zine had ended as a collection of in-jokes
and a third rate gossip column. Submission
- Unfortunately I never saw it as it had died almost prematurely.
But these four 'zines had laid the foundations
for what was to follow:-Wagging
Tongues from Kit, Jane and Michelle, Kiss
The Carpet - a likeable 'zine from Mick Buxton
and John Tunnicliffe, which offered info on their favourite
bands. NMX - a shot
across the bow of the NME, Pink
Flag brought politics out onto the streets.
Then there was Tigers on the
Moor, Skullcrusher and Grey
Matter to name just a few that continued to
pick at the bones of music.
However, if there was a fanzine which could
sum up as Sheffield, then it would have to be ProperGander.
It was very arty, very political and serious about both.
It was not possible to read PG and at the same time, declare
yourself to be uninformed. Whether it was expressing its
thoughts on the Bauhaus art movement or the latest Troops
Out of Ireland campaign. Whatever the topic, ProperGander
had an opinion on it and it was not going to be quiet.
Needless to say, it only lasted a few issues before it
too joined the ranks of the disappeared, along with its
anonymous writers. 
Barnsley:
Chicken Wardance
arrived to put Barnsley on the map. Tim Robinson, Chris
and Paul Edison wrote about the likes of King Kurt, the
Vibrators and Amazulu. Aswell as actively encouraging
the local talent; such as the Creatures of Habit and Party
Day. Their resident artist, Dean, would later surface
within the hallowed sheets of 2000AD.
Chesterfield:
Dressed to Kill from
Bense. He also favoured King Kurt, and mixed it with the
Criminal Justice Bill and vivisection. Bense presented
it as an eco-friendly 'zine. Whilst Steve Woodhouse's
Return of the Naive's was more indie orientated.
Leeds: Roar
from the hands of the immortal Len Liggins, along with
the excellent illustrations by AJ Quinn. This contained
a cornucopia of music within the classic cut and paste
style, with reduced font size that was clearly in the
region of '5'. But it was worth losing your sight over.
It contained reviews, interviews with local bands, a chart
list from a city record shop and it even had real advertising
so that Roar could be given away free. This man was seriously
having fun on a regular basis.
Attack
on Bzag. This was hand written with enthusiasm,
the editor wrote with a passion bordering on lunacy. It
contained the unforgettable 'Adventures of Zelda's Stomach',
interviews with the likes of John Peel, the Redskins and
in-depth 
coverage
of the miners strike. He preferred The Membranes and The
Three Johns to any of the current trendy 'soft southern
bands'. The editor, James Brown would later become the
editor of the NME and the man behind Loaded and Laddism.
Leeds Other Paper.
Although the LOP had the format of a weekly newspaper,
it's heart was in fanzine territory. LOP busied itself
with local issues; both political and musical. Even though
it received a grant from the local council, it was never
slow to expose Town Hall tomfoolery. Musically it filled
the gap between real magazines and their irregular cousins.
Molotov Comics.Steven
'Seething' Wells, later of the NME, was airing not only
his own brand of ranting poetry, but those too of Joolz,
Mark Miwurdz (later Mark Hurst, comedian), Benjamin Zephania
and Nick Tozcek. These were all printed on top of a cacophony
of disturbing graphics.
Whippings and Apologies.
The editors Steve Trattle, Mick Carrit and Mark Johnson
followed the developing Goth scene which was beginning
to establish itself in Leeds. It was a fairly regular
'zine with no-nonsense typeface on glossy paper. It contained
all the Goth Bands you needed to know about.
Groin, popped its head above the crowd, but
its appearance was too brief to be noticed.
Ilkley: Tongue
in Cheek from the grubby hands of Ian Cheek,
a loveable enthusiast who's erratic issues were well worth
the wait. Each issue was of excellent quality and his
editorial policy was straight forward - "TIC is not a
business nor a hobby - it is a love, a passion, a way
of life, and cliched as it may seem, when the day comes
when it is anything less, that will be the day to wind
things up". At one point, Ian could be found doing a spot
of DJ'ing on Pennine Radio. His 'Long Hair and Leather
show' was the vinyl version of his 'zine, but his reign
was far too brief.
Noise in the Valleys
was a 'zine by Ruth Johnson which had passed me by. Apparently
the contents were a mixture of bands like Black Roots,
the Sisters of Mercy and some scintillating football news.
Monk Fryston: Rouska:
'the Real Alternative' - This was an ambitious
glossy from Richard 'Seething Rouskateer' Paddison (amongst
other alias's). Richard Rouska had loads of enthusiasm
for the local scene.
Wakefield:
Positive Touch - This
was an indie 'zine covering the likes of Fiat Lux ans
Party Day. I'm not sure how long either editor Chris or
PT survived, but the quality was good. From another part
of the town, Slag
appeared as did Lens.
In Harrogate, editor Clare Wadd launched
Kvatch. ( which stood
for Kool Vikings Always Take Cheese Home!) This was bursting
at the seams with indie pop, green politics, bags of humour
and oddball articles on Herbal Tea, Imagination (the band).
And the rest: Filthy
Trash, an A4 sized punkzine screamed out "I'm
so individual'from Batley, but didn't last any
longer than a Chinese meal from the takeaway. Ludd's
Mill from Ossett, was an intelligent
'zine,the brain child of Andrew Darlington. In Hull,
Swift Nick deliberated on politics and ranting poetry
with his 'zine New Youth.
These fanzines have now moved on to that Paper Mill in
the sky.
So what of their descendants?
Do the Paper-Fiends of today prefer to publish
a commercial glossy magazine rather than a fanzine. It's
true to say that DTP has made the job much is easier to
produce a classy looking mag. And the racks in the newsagents
are certainly full of short lived magazines. Or has the
format now changed to the very thing you're reading? .
. . The Web Page!
The
punk thing seemed to grow out of nowhere as youngsters
caught the DIY bug. Jamie Reid's Sex Pistols artwork certainly
was quick to draw on this new cut and paste ethic, and
soon there were a thousand copydex cowboys scribbling
gibberish and flogging them round the punk and new wave
club both here and in the states.
Sniffin'
Glue was the first and best, but they were quickly followed
by Ripped And Torn, Out There, Buzz, Self Abuse, No Future,
Sounds of the Westway, Alternative Ulster, City Fun, Bondage,
In The City, I Wanna be your Dog, Negative Reaction, London's
Burning.
