| PUNK SHOCKER 9/PRODUCT 8 Split *** Another oldie but I only just read a copy of this via Mich (cheers). It's a split zine and one that has been widely anticipated amongst the UK punk scene. So for anyone outside the UK it's between Scots zine Product who have been putting out issues since the early 80's, though still on Issue #8!!! You can guess by now that this is a very casual publication! And on the other side you get the brilliant Punk Shocker. One of the best punk reads from the 90's UK zine scene. So here's the beef. This is the last Punk Shocker (boo hoo!) so Speccy Twat (the editor) informs us, and it looks great in the big A4 format. It kicks off with a Stratford Mercenaries interview, but no Steve Ignorant! (bahhh). So no real chance of a confrontational point of view to entertain us, which was a downer. But Phil the drummer gives us a good insight. The reviews in this issue are fucking huge and come at ya in short and sweet bursts of gunfire, so unlike mine you get a rapid, sharp view on things. However there's also the 'read it all before' pieces on Movement Against the Monarchy (yawn!), but an interesting piece on what really happened at the Carnival Against Capitalism demo. Andy Shocker (Speccy Twats real name) is now a University graduate and seems to have been brainwashed like the rest of em by more right on politics. Which is a big shame, coz that crafty Geordie street witticism that littered the pages of past issues seems to be making a sharp exit. There is a funny Tubo Negro review done by some Jock. But the run of the mill and very bland sounding Leatherface (who are hailed as gods in the North East..could never understand that?) piece was pedestrian. A funny column by Mr Price on Darlington was followed by some heard it all before cracks about the 'Toon' . The controversial 'PC' article, would only be controversial to cunts who know no better. A bit of a anti-climax to end a career of great punk print. Product on the other hand took the gold. I'd read issues before and it always left me feeling cheated and dissapointed. I particularly hated the ghostwriter mailbag that just wasn't funny at all. But this issue although still having those mailbags came up with the goods elsewhere. The Casualties interview was a good 'un, even though they ain't my idea of punk (too much hairspray!!!). But they put their aerosol cans down for a few seconds and gave us some honest answers. The Sic Boy Federation inquisition was a hoot. But the ex-mental patient and caravan dwelling Wakey from punk super-group ... The Wernt and English Dogs infamy, took the biscuit! This confession has gotta be read coz this geezer is real!!!, one of the few in today's scene. Again another massive review section that tells it like it is, plus an interesting article on the closing of Edinboros punk pub the Tap! The funny gig review on confrontations by the bar was something I can relate to. Unlike Punk Shocker, Product seems to let their side down by the phony page fillers aiming at a laugh, which end up reading like shit. But on the whole this 40-page punk split is well worth a quid! £1.00 from Punk Shocker, PO Box I.T.A., Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE99 ITA, England. |
| JELLYBRAIN #6 **** The hilarious, pissed off edtorial sets the scene for yet another issue of Jellybrain curiosities, bizarrre facts and neat artwork topped off with a penchant for punk rock sarc!!! Paul hates the net (coz he can't suss it out) with nearly as much conviction as his long running war of words with Pigfish, who cop for regular well aimed blows along the way. Well Paul certainly won't be reading this...so shall I slag the cunt off for being a Man U. fan?...well I'm sorely tempted but you gotta give credit where credits due coz this 28 page read of text, cartoons and assorted imagery has some great moments. Moments where you catch yourself sniggering away at his often witty observations. Amongst the Pee Wee Herman Indecent exposure chargesheet (tee hee) and the potted history of the Werewolf... howwwwwwllll!!!! Those undisputed kings of low-fi punk pathetique the Rabid Grannies get the once over, plus some very funny detailed live gig reviews. The gig ambience is stripped bare by Paul's knack of making the blindingly obvious a tale of amusement. There are gallons of record reviews, well 3 pages! He also likes his pop-punk more than is good for his health, but his taste is more from the rock 'n' roll Ramonesy side of the fence, than the bubblegum pop-side mafia. There's a good article on Death followed by some great tales on snubbing people and getting a dirty look from a Buzzcock! Yeah Jellybrain is one of the few quality UK zines that are circling the pit like vipers at the moment. This mag shows enough originality and flair to keep zines from becoming a dieing breed. So fucking get a copy now!!! 50p & s.a.e. from 4 Clarence Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV11 5PT, UK. |
| SOAP & SPIKES #7 Fall 99.***** At long last I finally get round to giving this splendid Canadian zine a review. Yeah I know it's been out a while but I've been harping on about this issue since it came out and only just got it back in my possession. The punks who've borrowed it liked it so much they must've passed it around the block to read. Well enough of the bullshit and excuses onto the deal. This worldwide issue comes in a nice shade of blue card with those extortionate Brummies Jock and Colin from G.B.H. modelling early 80's underwear. As always with this zine, the superior interviews take the glory in this...possibly the best issue yet! First punk legend to kick off was the irrepressable Randy Rampage. Yeah he of the high energy, death defying bassplaying jumpin jack flash from D.O.A. He gives us the lowdown on his 20 year plus career right up till his current band of shocking....dare I say it... heavy metal exponents, Annihiliator. We then cross over the Atlantic to Europe for a pre-reformed world exclusive (snigger) interview with The Partisans axeman Andy Leyland. "World Exclusive!", are you kidding??? Now if you had the delectable Louise's side of the story, that would've been news! Especially as she's a Nanny to the stars err... Posh & Becks. But they must've put the kybosh on that one with their nanny surveillance! We then cross the Severn bridge to Bristol and get a Vice Squad retro from original drummer and now Record Collector reviewer Shane Baldwin. Did you know he used to steal bottles of milk from doorsteps with Beki in the early days, a crime in the UK tantamount to capitol punishment! We then head back to North America and the legendary Cliff Hanger, lead singer out The Freeze from Boston. Now here's a punk who with his band must count as the only scruffs to get a life ban from Canada for smelly feet!!! Then it's over to Long Beach, CA and the painted faced T.S.O.L.'s Jack Grisham. They got the name True Sounds Of Liberty from some Religeous TV showband can you believe? Well if all that subterfuge ain't enough to keep the most hyperactive punk amongst us quiet for a few hours. We get treated to a cosy bed-side chat with Jimmy Zero from the Dead boys telling us scams, bans and thankyou mams. Phhhhheeeeww!! that's some issue. The reviews, columns, Ads and mailbag are mere slight distractions amongst this historical artifact. Comes in a great format too, so get it now before it becomes a collectors item! DICK VAIN |
| BALD CACTUS #16 **** Well speak of the devil, here's Mr Cacti himself with his latest dose of healthy (???) anarchy for the masses. Yet another issue here from my favourite ex-distro (snigger). Yep punks my old mag The Suffragette parted company in late 1999 with Bald Cactus over a storm in a tea-cup. But let's not see a difference of opinion spoil a good hatchet job shall we!!! Y'see I like to tell it like it is, but could quite easily proscribe this zine to the 'too good to be true, preaching, pious anarchist squat bracket' they sometimes call PC, if I really wanted to. But nooo that ain't how I operate. I just thought I'd let you in on that behind the scenes set two! So onto the zine itself. Right from the off with those blitzkrieging bastards from South London, Throw Bricks At Coppers it captured my interest. Yeah T.B.A.C.'s very own Rob Filth spews out some hilarious tele-scopic baton charges on the British constabulary, aided and abetted by our totally unbiased editor. There's a massive Submission Hold interview, who eminate all the way from Vancouver. But along with The Tone (yawn!) and the 'Forum' piece it was all paled into insignificence by those Cop haters and Baltimores A-Political. Oh yeah and of course The Subhumans interview. The rants are up there as well, especially the shockingly dubious Vegan admission (by the hardline editor himself!), which I must say put a few home truths to rest on this eating disorder (tee hee). Other rants included 'trust' in the hardcore scene...Trust!?? I wouldn't trust half the cunts as far as I could throw em! And Christians... yeeeurrrghh do me a favour! UK Anarcho label BBP gets spotlighted and the curtains are drawn with 7-pages of staple reviews. Bald Cactus is still a chunky read, even though it's 10-year old layouts could do with a massive overhaul! 50p plus SAE from BALD CACTUS |
| ARTCORE #13 **** Another first for Punk Rocker and another well packed read. This is done by the lead singer of Cardiff's Four Letter Word punk combo. And Welly the man in question certainly knows his stuff as far as layout and design goes. Artcore is like browsing through some IPC music mag, it's that slick. The only pointers that this is a fanzine and not a mag from off the shelf of some newsagents is the black and white imagery and it's size. This is one big leap from the photocopied, badly spelt xeroxes of times gone (and also on show on this website -tee hee). But Artcore still retains that back bedroom feel which is good. I've never heard 4LW before but have come across some of Welly's graphics, and I must say they're impressive. This slick printed zine is packed to the gills with text that is easy on the eyes. Four Letter Word's mammoth 2 month US tour from 1998 takes up 60% of this journal, with some harsh realitys of road-life for the green UK punks. They do seem to cope well with only the occasional slap and band fallout. No deaths, no hospitalization!... well no battle scars at least! The other well over-shadowed bands on show are Notts geezers Panic, Manchester dopes Grover and buzzsaw Scots Turtlehead, plus local Taffy hooligans In The Shit. There's an interesting peer through the punk vaults via the Dead Kennedys and Crucifix profiles, plus 7 compact pages of reviews. For a real good looking zine, it's a pity some of the writing style is a but bland but you can't have it all can ya? ARTCORE |
| A KICK IN THE BALLS #4 *** First time I'd laid eyes on this Notts punk/football zine. I like my football as well as the next fan, but I've gone past all that reading about it, coz it bores me silly unless it involves my beloved WOLVES! So from the cover alone I was expecting a so so read, but was quietly surprised! What makes this is the attitude. I was was contemplating some dull, technical football fact orientated kinda read, that would only touch on punk when it neded to fill some column space. But this was the exact reverse... totally! Kick In The Balls comes in a strictly fierce looking 'slashy 'n' epoxy' format, with a broad spectrum of UK punk bands on show. Sheffield's Oi! boys Violent Affray get the ball rolling (pardon the pun) followed by Cumbria's heavy drinking die-hards Distortion. Next up are Wisbech's ultra gigging road experience Combat Shock plus a very short Subhumans interview (which has gotta be a first for Lord Lucas). We then get those slimey limey LA punks Bladder Bladder Bladdder. There's also an expose on the highly respected GMM record label from Atlanta plus a handy label discography. There's a few refreshing columnists including Derby's mohican ligger, Flipper, and Enfield Wolves fan (yeehaaa!) Bobby Smith. I can't understand what mid 80's grebo's Crazyhead were doing amongst all this streetpunk? But thankfully they're restricted to just a paragraph or two. This scruffy zine has a got a good honest review section that shows the editor Big Dave has got some taste, even though he supports Grimsby Town (snigger). Yeah Kick In The Balls makes a healthy change from the lecturings of the oh so serious punk fraternity. And the football that is covered is done purely from the point of view of a set of lads sitting around a pub table..ie. a real fans perspective! 50p from Big Dave, Livvo Towers, 40 Grafton Court, Canning Circus, Nottingham, NG7 3H, England. |
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