We Talk Zines

Mike Diboll founded, produced and published the leading anarcho-punk fanzine TOXIC GRAFITY, producing six issues between 1978-82 "with various spin-offs." Never your typical band-interview-record-review zine, Toxic Grafity set about "to capture and express the ethos, attitude, aesthetics and politics of anarcho-punk using found images, collages, logos, slogans, ‘rant’, prose, prose-poetry, free verse, and essays." Issue 5 carried with it a flexidisc by Crass, featuring the especially recorded song 'Tribal Ribal Revels' which made that issue one of the best-selling zines of the entire period. After growing disenchantment with the direction of anarcho-punk, Mike withdrew from his close association with Crass and the other residents of Dial House. Following a period of addiction, near homelessness, and a surprise temporary conversion to religion (Islam), he finally embarked on Higher Education, taking a double first in Modern Languages (majoring in Arabic) and Comparative Literature, and graduating with a PhD in the comparative literatures of the British occupation of Egypt 1882-1956. This specialisation found him working and teaching in Higher Education in Bahrain in 2011, when the "Arab Spring" reached the small island nation, leading to a peaceful, carnivalesque uprising and then a brutal and bloody counter-revolution by State forces. Mike witnessed this deadly repression in person, and on this episode discusses the reality of a Bloody Revolution versus the ones we may all have fantasized about and idealised in our fanzine days. The horror also revived the memory of a life-changing incident riding a motorbike to school with friends at the age of 16. Please be warned: this episode contains graphic descriptions of death. In recent years, despite an ongoing battle against PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, Mike has revamped Toxic Grafity online, both as a depository for his zine writings and as a public space for new ones. He contributed a chapter on 'Mental Liberation' to the 2018 book Ripped, Torn and Cut: Pop, Politics and Punk Fanzines From 1976, published by Manchester University Press. Toxic Grafity can be found at<a href="https://toxicgrafity134567235.wordpress.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://toxicgrafity134567235.wordpress.com/</a>Mike Diboll can be found directly at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mikediboll" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/mikediboll</a> <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86</a> is published by Omnibus Press<a href="https://omnibuspress.com/products/the-best-of-jamming-published-on-23rd-september-2021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">OmnibusPress.com </a> Tony Fletcher can be found at <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://tonyfletcher.net/</a>Tony's latest music, writing and social media can be accessed from <a href="https://linktr.ee/TonyFletcher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/TonyFletcher</a>His One Step Beyond podcast is at <a href="https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond</a> 'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme' is by Noel Fletcher. Logo by Greg Morton

Ep. 14: Bloody Revolutions with Toxic Grafity's Mike Diboll

Tony D. – Tony Drayton to his parents - was founder, publisher and editor of the archetypal, seminal, influential punk&nbsp;fanzine, Ripped &amp; Torn, which ran from 1976-79. Tony F. – who prefers to go by his full name, Tony Fletcher – was founder, publisher and editor of Jamming, which ran from 1977-86. Remarkably, and despite both being so prominent in the London fanzine scene, the pair had never spoken before setting up this podcast interview. That will explain why this episode runs over an hour long, because there was so much to talk about. Included in the conversation, from Tony D.’s perspective:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Taking the Central Line out to Essex to interview Crass·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Playing “Mods and Rockers” in the primary school playground·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;How Tony D. was perceived as Glaswegian but has an English accent·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Growing up in a tiny fishing village·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The mid-70s Scottish music scene·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tony D’s seminal trip to London to witness the punk scene·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mark P. of Sniffin’ Glue convincing him to start his own zine·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ripped &amp; Torn graphics·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Contributors Sandy Robertson and Slip Kid·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The importance of Compendium Books and the Rough Trade record shop·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Can Rich Stars Rock?”·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A night at the Roxy, circa height of punk rock·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Ripped &amp; Torn v. Jamming! feud·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Why Adam &amp; The Ants were once the greatest thing ever, and whether we were fooled again by Adam’s ultimate sell-out·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Public Image cover: “John Lydon… you pathetic little puppet”·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The perils of printing and distribution·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And why Tony D. stopped publishing&nbsp;Tony went on to start Kill Your Pet Puppy and will be back on the Podcast in the future to talk about that zine and running away with the circus. In the meantime, the book Ripped &amp; Torn 1976-79: The Loudest Punk Fanzine in the UK is available through Omnibus Press at <a href="https://omnibuspress.com/products/ripped-torn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://omnibuspress.com/products/ripped-torn</a>And you can find Tony D. on FB if you look for him under his real name. <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86</a> is published by Omnibus Press<a href="https://omnibuspress.com/products/the-best-of-jamming-published-on-23rd-september-2021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">OmnibusPress.com </a> Tony Fletcher can be found at <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://tonyfletcher.net/</a>Tony's latest music, writing and social media can be accessed from <a href="https://linktr.ee/TonyFletcher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/TonyFletcher</a>One Step Beyond podcast is at <a href="https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond</a> 'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme' is by Noel Fletcher. Logo by Greg Morton.

Ep. 13: Ripped & Torn with Tony D.

with Alan Rider and Graham Burnett

Back in 1980, Alan Rider started a fanzine in Coventry called Adventures in Reality. Over in Southend-on-Sea, Graham Burnett started his own fanzine called New Crimes. Forty years later, independently, without knowing each other, Alan and Graham both felt compelled to document their home city's thriving scene zine - Alan, with Tales from the Ghost Town: The Coventry Punk Fanzine Revolution 1979-1985 - and Graham, with Southend-on-Zine: FIfty Years of Voices and Stories from Southend's Underground and Alternative Press. Tony Fletcher, who started his Jamming! fanzine back in 1977, brought them together for the first time on this Zoom call to talk about their adventures in self-publishing, the thriving scenes they were part of. the ups and downs of running a 'zine back in the supposed heyday, why they took on the giant task of putting these compendiums together, and how the lessons they learned back then have remained applicable to this day. Artists referenced include The Specials, Crass, Dr. Feelgood, Attrition, Speedball, God's Toys, Eyeless In Gaza, Stress, the Sinyx and many more. Fanzines referenced include Hard As Nails, Alternative Sounds, Cobalt Hate, Anti-Social, Sniffin' Glue, Kill Your Pet Puppy, Toxic Graffiti and more. Tales from the Ghost Town and Alan's compendium of his own zine Adventures In Reality: The Complete Collection are both available from <a href="https://adventuresinreality.bigcartel.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://adventuresinreality.bigcartel.com/</a> Southend-on-Zine is available from <a href="https://spiralseed.co.uk/product/southend-on-zine/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://spiralseed.co.uk/product/southend-on-zine/</a>, as is the Vegan Book of Permaculture and more. A short video about Southend-on-Zine is on YouTube <a href="https://youtu.be/4Zj9t6z1Xls " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. Tony Fletcher can be found at <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://tonyfletcher.net/</a>Tony's latest music, writing and social media can be accessed from <a href="https://linktr.ee/TonyFletcher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/TonyFletcher</a>One Step Beyond podcast is at <a href="https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond</a> <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86</a> is published by Omnibus Press<a href="https://omnibuspress.com/products/the-best-of-jamming-published-on-23rd-september-2021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">OmnibusPress.com </a> 'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme' is by Noel Fletcher. Logo by Greg Morton.

Ep. 12: Archiving a City's Zine Scene

with Gavin Hogg & Hamish Ironside

THE <s>JAMMING</s>! FANZINE PODCAST is back after a year in exile, now as a Podcast for and about all Fanzines, though still hosted by former Jamming! editor/publisher Tony Fletcher. For this first episode of a new series/season, Tony interviews the authors of the excellent new hardbook book, WE PEAKED AT PAPER: AN ORAL HISTORY OF BRITISH ZINES, namely Gavin Hogg and Hamish Ironside. Before, after and when they could, even during the pandemic, they traveled the length and breadth of the British Isles to track down editors of fanzines dating back to the science fiction era that launched the culture, through the punk, post-punk, new wave, indie and Brit-pop eras of the music fanzines, stopping off to discuss a couple of football fanzines along the way, and ending up in the thriving 2020s world of perzines, compzines, and idiosyncratic little one-off publications in a variety of sizes and some with print runs in the single digits. It's a fascinating, lovingly compiled, and highly professional book - and the interview covers a similarly wide range of subject matter. Tony, Gavin and Hamish date the first ever British 'fanzine' back to 1936 (Novae Terrae), they debate what defines a fanzine, the commonalities among the various editors they interviewed, the shift from the music press culture (including those of fanzines) as a 'men's club' to the current 'zine fairs predominantly frequented by female editors, the financial struggles experienced by most zine editors, those moments of recognition that make it all worthwhile. And David Icke. Among the editors and zines referenced in this podcast that were also featured in WE PEAKED AT PAPER:<ul><li>Rob Hansen (Epsillon)</li><li>Mark Perry (Sniffin' Glue)</li><li>Mick Middles (Ghast Up)</li><li>Mark Hodkinson (Untermensch)</li><li>Pete Paphides (Perturbed)</li><li>Karen Ablaze (Ablaze!)</li><li>Siaân Pattendon (How to Win Friends and Influence People)</li><li>Saskia Holling (Heavy FLow)</li><li>Saleena Laverne Daye (Without You, I'm Nothing)</li><li>Elias Nebula (The Hegelian)</li><li>and of course</li><li>Hamish Ironside (Soudade) and</li><li>Gavin Hogg (Bag of Tricks and Candy Sticks)</li></ul> WE PEAKED AT PAPER can be purchased from Boatwhistle books at <a href="https://www.boatwhistle.com/we-peaked-at-paper" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.boatwhistle.com/we-peaked-at-paper</a>. Gavin Hogg's podcast, The Giddy Carousel of Pop, is at <a href="https://giddypoppod.home.blog/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://giddypoppod.home.blog/</a> Tony Fletcher can be found at <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://tonyfletcher.net/</a>Tony's latest music, writing and social media can be accessed from <a href="https://linktr.ee/TonyFletcher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/TonyFletcher</a>One Step Beyond podcast is at <a href="https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond</a> <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86</a> is published by Omnibus Press<a href="https://omnibuspress.com/products/the-best-of-jamming-published-on-23rd-september-2021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">OmnibusPress.com </a> 'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme' is by Noel Fletcher. Logo by Greg Morton.

Ep. 11: A History of British Zines

Conversations around the fanzine that grew up

We close out the first Series/Season of the Jamming! Fanzine Podcast with an interview conducted by James Endeacott, for Soho Radio's Morning Glory show, with Jamming! founder Tony Fletcher. The conversation traces the full story of the fanzine that grew up, from schoolboy beginnings to corporate break up. Between them, they discuss The Clash, The Jam, the DIY Records Scene, fanzines, regionalism, Crass, reggae, Smiley Culture, the Rezillos, the Undertones, Billy Bragg, the Dead Kennedys, R.E.M., Robert Wyatt, The Smiths, The Fall, politics, poetry, synth pop, and much much more. James is a former member of Loop, a former A&amp;R Director with Rough Trade, and author of his own memoir <a href="https://roughtradebooks.com/products/the-tall-short-stories-of-james-endeacott-james-endeacott" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Tall Short Stories of James Endeacott, </a>published by Rough Trade Books. Tony Fletcher will be appearing at the following cities to discuss THE BEST OF JAMMING! SELECTIONS &amp; STORIES FROM THE FANZINE THAT GREW UP 1977-1986.Weds Feb 23rd, LONDON, CAMDEN TOWN ROCK n' 'ROLL BOOK CLUB, in conversation with Tony GleedThurs Feb 24th, BRIGHTON, RIALTO THEATRE, in conversation with Guy PrattFri FEB 25th, HASTINGS ELECTRIC PALACE CINEMA, in conversation with DJ Wendy May following a screening of the movie ROUGH CUT &amp; READY DUBBED.Tues Mar 29th, NEW YORK CITY, BOWERY ELECTRIC, in conversation with John Schaefer.For more information on all of these events, including times and ticket prices, visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theTonyFletcher/events" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theTonyFletcher/events</a> James Endeacott can be found at <a href="https://twitter.com/jamesendeacott" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/jamesendeacott</a>Tony Fletcher can be found at <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://tonyfletcher.net/</a> <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86</a> is published by Omnibus Press<a href="https://omnibuspress.com/products/the-best-of-jamming-published-on-23rd-september-2021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">OmnibusPress.com </a> 'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme' is by Noel Fletcher. Editing assistance and art by Greg Morton.<a href="https://shows.acast.com/the-jamming-fanzine-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shows.acast.com/the-jamming-fanzine-podcast</a>

Ep. 10: Series 1 Finale with James Endeacott & Tony Fletcher

In the middle of 1981, Jamming! expanded from fanzine to record label. Between that summer and the end of 1982, Jamming! Records released five singles, all of them independent chart hits: two from the band Rudi, three from Zeitgeist, and one by Apocalypse. For this episode of the Jamming! Fanzine Podcast, we have one member from each of those groups: Brian Young from Rudi, Peter “Jaffo” Jervis from Zeitgeist, and Tony Fletcher from Apocalypse (and yes, from Jamming! Records too). The conversation revolves primarily around Rudi and Zeitgeist, about how the groups dealt with being based in the far corners of the British Isles, about the attractions – or not - of moving to London, and about what their experience was like releasing records on an independent label run by a 17-18 year old kid, but financed by a major pop-rock star, that being Paul Weller. Rudi were the first group on Good Vibrations Records out of Belfast, and Brian talks about that label, fellow Northern Irish groups like The Outcasts, The Undertones and Stiff Little Fingers, and of touring with The Jam and appearing on the TV show Something Else.Zeitgeist hailed from Cornwall, and came to Jamming! after a couple of singles on Human Records. Jaffo talks about their cover version of The Temptations' Motown classic 'Ball of Confusion', of working with Dale 'Buffin' Griffin and Overend Watts from Mott the Hoople, and how their last single, 'Over Again', ended up being a collector's item. Apocalypse were from London, and released the single 'Teddy' in two versions, one producer by Paul Weller, the other by Griffin and Watts. You will hear snippets from all five Jamming! releases across the course of this show. Brian Young is at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100023024891685. His group The Sabrejets are at https://www.facebook.com/thesabrejetsPeter Jervis can be found at https://www.instagram.com/therealjaffo/ and his radio show can be heard at <a href="https://l.instagram.com/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mixcloud.com%2Fbluesandgrooves&amp;e=ATMlSNS6WzQtEzxZK3YnL6do_kApvqoFU6KEpxrMzABqua_76LAB5qvtDoL_JCxUjkYVJe9KF7d_GHouCf9pRhwIjH1fFs5pM7ymnA&amp;s=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.mixcloud.com/bluesandgrooves</a>Tony Fletcher can be found at www.tonyfletcher.net and https://www.instagram.com/leaglealien/ <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86</a> is published by Omnibus Press<a href="https://omnibuspress.com/products/the-best-of-jamming-published-on-23rd-september-2021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">OmnibusPress.com </a> For details about the book events mentioned on this episode visit<a href="https://www.facebook.com/theTonyFletcher/events" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theTonyFletcher/events</a> 'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme' is by Noel Fletcher. Editing assistance and art by Greg Morton.<a href="https://shows.acast.com/the-jamming-fanzine-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shows.acast.com/the-jamming-fanzine-podcast</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;

Ep. 9: Jamming! Records with Rudi, Zeitgeist & Apocalypse

with Bruce Dessau, Ross Fortune & Paul Davies

Tony Fletcher reunites with Bruce Dessau, Ross Fortune and Paul Davies, each of whom wrote extensively for Jamming! during its commercial heyday, 1984-85, and each of whom went on to further careers in journalism. As much as this is a talk specific to Jamming! magazine, it is very much a conversation about the music and media culture of the time - about how easy it once was to access the artists, about a time when publicists were friends with journalists, a time when alcoholic lubrication was considered par for the course, and about the blurred line between the interviewer and interviewee that resulted, to the point that Bruce Dessau recalls filling in for The Jesus &amp; Mary Chain onstage while ostensibly covering them for Jamming! Other tales from the trenches involve interviews with:<ul><li>Joe Strummer</li><li>Pauline Black</li><li>Mick Jones</li><li>Tony Parsons</li><li>Robert Smith</li><li>Mike Peters</li><li>Roddy Frame</li></ul>…Plus recollections about editorial meetings by payphone, editorial commissions by snail mail, editorial copy delivered via British Rail, and the time the postman folded a Lloyd Cole LP in half so it would fit through Ross’s letterbox. There is also the time that the Virgin Press Office brought The Pale Fountains to his hospital bed rather than pass up the opportunity of a feature in Jamming! The three also discuss their subsequent careers at Time Out, City Limits, and Q magazines, Bruce Dessau’s migration into the world of comedy journalism, and Ross Fortune’s migration to Texas, where he now runs a saloon and is hard at work on three separate books. Bruce Dessau is editor of<a href="https://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> www.beyondthejoke.co.uk </a>Ross Fortune can be found running <a href="http://www.thephoenixsaloon.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.thephoenixsaloon.com</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thephoenixsaloon/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/thephoenixsaloon</a>Paul Davies is at <a href="https://www.twitter.com/longtimelurker" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">twitter.com/longtimelurker</a>Up Yours is at <a href="https://bit.ly/3K4GOwil" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3K4GOwil</a> Mike Peters interview on One Step Beyond podcast is at:<a href="https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond/episodes/ep-27-love-hope-strength-with-mike-peters" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond/episodes/ep-27-love-hope-strength-with-mike-peters</a> For details about the book events mentioned on this episode visit<a href="https://www.facebook.com/theTonyFletcher/events" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theTonyFletcher/events</a> <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86</a> is published by Omnibus Press<a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TonyFletcher.net</a><a href="https://omnibuspress.com/products/the-best-of-jamming-published-on-23rd-september-2021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">OmnibusPress.com </a>'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme' is by Noel Fletcher. Editing assistance and art by Greg Morton.<a href="https://shows.acast.com/the-jamming-fanzine-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shows.acast.com/the-jamming-fanzine-podcast</a>

Ep. 8: Tales from the Trenches

With JG Thirlwell, Wendy May and Brian O'Neill

Tony Fletcher reunites with musician/composer Jim ‘JG’ Thirlwell, DJ Wendy May, and Dimple Records boss Brian O’Neill, all of whom he first met in the late 1970s when they bought copies of Jamming! off him while they were working behind the counter at the Virgin shops in Oxford Walk, Notting Hill Gate, and Marble Arch respectively. During that thriving post-punk period the entire Virgin chain served as a needed middle ground between the pioneering independents like Rough Trade, Probe and Revolver, and mainstream high street shops WH Smiths and Woolworths. Without the autonomy Virgin granted its record buyers, a lot of independent labels, emerging bands and street fanzines would not have enjoyed such a wide profile. In this conversation, the four discuss the role of the record shop during that period, the freedom the staff enjoyed at Virgin, and offer specific anecdotes and reminiscences about serving the likes of Elvis Costello, Boy George, Paul Simonon, David Coverdale and more. Additionally, Jim recalls how an encounter with a customer helped point him on a different creative musical path, Wendy talks of how she ultimately received the classic ultimatum - "it's your job or your band" - and Brian talks of how his love of selling records has inspired him to start a new independent label in his retirement years. JG Thirlwell is at Website <a href="http://www.foetus.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.foetus.org</a> <a href="https://jgthirlwell.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://jgthirlwell.bandcamp.com/</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jgthirlwell/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/jgthirlwell/</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100045377091477" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100045377091477</a>Wendy May can be found on <a href=" Instagram.com/wendymaydj" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a><a href=" Instagram.com/WendyMaysLocomotion" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> </a>and <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/wendy.m.billingsley" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.Brian O'Neill's label Dimple Discs is at <a href="https://dimplediscs.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://dimplediscs.bandcamp.com</a>/ His Microdisney documentary project is <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/microdisney-film?fbclid=IwAR06lUYctxStu8uG-kyXkFYoabXAuuk6FzyKQSOI3mQDUE1Qmjv5G1_LHDw#/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/microdisney-film</a> For details about the book events mentioned on this episode visit<a href="https://www.facebook.com/theTonyFletcher/events" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theTonyFletcher/events</a> <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86</a> is published by Omnibus Press<a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TonyFletcher.net</a><a href="https://omnibuspress.com/products/the-best-of-jamming-published-on-23rd-september-2021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">OmnibusPress.com </a>'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme' is by Noel Fletcher. Editing assistance and art by Greg Morton.<a href="https://shows.acast.com/the-jamming-fanzine-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shows.acast.com/the-jamming-fanzine-podcast</a>

Ep. 7: The Importance of Being Virgin

With Chris Heath & Russell Young

Chris Heath is a writer for The Atlantic, GQ and Vanity Fair, and author of several books. Russell Young is a visual artist with a background in music photography, sleeve design and video directing. Both got their professional start with Jamming! in the early 1980s. Thirty-five years after its demise, Russell and Chris joined Jamming!’s former publisher/editor Tony Fletcher in New York City, where all three have lived at one time or another, for a long-overdue reunion. The trio sat down with the new book, The Best of Jamming!, and various back issues, to discuss their favorite articles and photo sessions, exchange anecdotes, and consider what they learned in the scrappy fanzine days of Jamming! that helped them hone their craft as professionals. Topics covered include:<ul><li>Photographing the Genius That Is Morrissey</li><li>Chris on the infamous Frankie Goes To Hollywood incident</li><li>George Best the Bullfighter</li><li>Natalie Merchant's all-in personality</li><li>Bronski Beat's pioneering sexual persona</li><li>The camaraderie at Jamming!</li><li>How shooting covers for Lloyd Cole &amp; Cocteau Twins led Russell Young to George Michael &amp; the Faith album cover</li><li>Chris on the 'normality' of visiting George Michael's house for tea</li><li>Interviewing/photographing Virginia Astley, Inca Babies, Andy White, UB40, Everything But The Girl and more.</li><li>Why Russell, Tony &amp; Chris all moved to the USA.</li></ul> EVENTS Tony Fletcher will be appearing to discuss The Best of Jamming!: Selections &amp; Stories From the Fanzine that Grew Up 1977-86 at the following events:&nbsp;Saturday Dec 11th, 2pm, The Golden Notebook presents at Maria’s in Bearsville/Woodstock NYIn conversation with author and Chronogram Arts Editor, Peter Aaron.&nbsp;Tuesday January 18th, 6pm, Bowery Electric, Manhattan.In conversation with WNYC Soundcheck’s John Schaefer.&nbsp;Wednesday February 23rd, 7:30pm, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Book Club at the Dublin Castle, London.In conversation with RNR Book Club’s Tony Gleed.&nbsp;Friday February 25th, 7.30pm, the Electric Palace, Hastings.Featuring a screening of Rough Cut and Ready Dubbed and a conversation with Wendy May. For more on these events visit<a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theTonyFletcher/events" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theTonyFletcher/events</a> <a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86</a> is published by Omnibus Press<a href="https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TonyFletcher.net</a><a href="https://omnibuspress.com/products/the-best-of-jamming-published-on-23rd-september-2021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">OmnibusPress.com </a>&nbsp;'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme' is by Noel Fletcher. Editing assistance and art by Greg Morton.<a href="https://shows.acast.com/the-jamming-fanzine-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shows.acast.com/the-jamming-fanzine-podcast</a>

Ep. 6: Morrissey, Frankie, Natalie & Bronski

The [Jamming!] Fanzine podcast is back! And from Episode 11 onwards, we are expanding coverage from The Best of Jamming! compendium to the subject of fanzines in general, if indeed fanzines can possibly be generalised. Over the coming months and maybe years, we will be interviewing fanzine editors past and present, from all cultures and countries that take our interest, along with authors, curators and anyone else contributing to the prevalence and preservation of the home-spun DIY press. Hosted by the former Jamming! editor/publisher and author Tony Fletcher, The [Jamming!] Fanzine Podcast drops every fourth Thursday, unless we are late to the proverbial printers or otherwise distracted. Hit subscribe now and we’ll see you on the podcast stand. The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86 is published by Omnibus Press and comes complete with reproduced interviews, articles, photographs and cartoons, includes fresh recollections from those who were part of the Jamming! story, and has a foreword by Billy Bragg. More information and online purchasing options available at:<a href="https://omnibuspress.com/products/the-best-of-jamming-published-on-23rd-september-2021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Omnibus Press</a><a href="TonyFletcher.net" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TonyFletcher.net</a> 'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme' is by Noel Fletcher. Copyright reserved.The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast logo was designed by Greg Morton.The Best of Jamming! book cover was designed by Martin Stiff Tony Fletcher Socials:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/tony.fletcher.549" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/leaglealien/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a><a href="https://twitter.com/tonyfletcher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;

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