The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast

Tony D. – Tony Drayton to his parents - was founder, publisher and editor of the archetypal, seminal, influential punk fanzine, Ripped & 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:·      Taking the Central Line out to Essex to interview Crass·      Playing “Mods and Rockers” in the primary school playground·      How Tony D. was perceived as Glaswegian but has an English accent·      Growing up in a tiny fishing village·      The mid-70s Scottish music scene·      Tony D’s seminal trip to London to witness the punk scene·      Mark P. of Sniffin’ Glue convincing him to start his own zine·      Ripped & Torn graphics·      Contributors Sandy Robertson and Slip Kid·      The importance of Compendium Books and the Rough Trade record shop·      “Can Rich Stars Rock?”·      A night at the Roxy, circa height of punk rock·      The Ripped & Torn v. Jamming! feud·      Why Adam & The Ants were once the greatest thing ever, and whether we were fooled again by Adam’s ultimate sell-out·      The Public Image cover: “John Lydon… you pathetic little puppet”·      The perils of printing and distribution·      And why Tony D. stopped publishing 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 & Torn 1976-79: The Loudest Punk Fanzine in the UK is available through Omnibus Press at https://omnibuspress.com/products/ripped-tornAnd you can find Tony D. on FB if you look for him under his real name.The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86 is published by Omnibus PressOmnibusPress.com Tony Fletcher can be found at https://tonyfletcher.net/Tony's latest music, writing and social media can be accessed from https://linktr.ee/TonyFletcherOne Step Beyond podcast is at https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme' is by Noel Fletcher. Logo by Greg Morton.

THE JAMMING! 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:Rob Hansen (Epsillon)Mark Perry (Sniffin' Glue)Mick Middles (Ghast Up)Mark Hodkinson (Untermensch)Pete Paphides (Perturbed)Karen Ablaze (Ablaze!)Siaân Pattendon (How to Win Friends and Influence People)Saskia Holling (Heavy FLow)Saleena Laverne Daye (Without You, I'm Nothing)Elias Nebula (The Hegelian)and of courseHamish Ironside (Soudade) andGavin Hogg (Bag of Tricks and Candy Sticks)WE PEAKED AT PAPER can be purchased from Boatwhistle books at https://www.boatwhistle.com/we-peaked-at-paper.Gavin Hogg's podcast, The Giddy Carousel of Pop, is at https://giddypoppod.home.blog/Tony Fletcher can be found at https://tonyfletcher.net/Tony's latest music, writing and social media can be accessed from https://linktr.ee/TonyFletcherOne Step Beyond podcast is at https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyondThe Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86 is published by Omnibus PressOmnibusPress.com 'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme' is by Noel Fletcher. Logo by Greg Morton.

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&R Director with Rough Trade, and author of his own memoir The Tall Short Stories of James Endeacott, published by Rough Trade Books.Tony Fletcher will be appearing at the following cities to discuss THE BEST OF JAMMING! SELECTIONS & 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 & 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 https://www.facebook.com/theTonyFletcher/eventsJames Endeacott can be found at https://twitter.com/jamesendeacottTony Fletcher can be found at https://tonyfletcher.net/The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86 is published by Omnibus PressOmnibusPress.com 'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme' is by Noel Fletcher. Editing assistance and art by Greg Morton.https://shows.acast.com/the-jamming-fanzine-podcast