1977 - Fanzines

Fanzines

A fanzine

...is a nonprofessional publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon. Typically, publishers, editors and contributors to fanzines receive no financial compensation. Fanzines are traditionally circulated free of charge, or for a nominal cost to defray postage or production expenses. Copies are often offered in exchange for similar publications, or for contributions of art, articles, or letters of comment (LoCs), which are then published. (From Wikipedia)

The term fanzine is sometimes confused with "fan magazine", but the latter term most often refers to commercially-produced publications.

There is no way the scene could have developed so quickly without fanzines like Lobotomy, Generation X, Slash and Flipside to spread the word. (alice bag)

Flipside and Slash (fanzine) were important punk zines for the LA scene, both debuting in July 1977.

• SLASH
• FLIPSIDE
• LOBOTOMY
  

SLASH magazine was the first punk publication in Los Angeles.

Front door to Slash

2008 photo: tlc

Slash was founded by Steve Samioff and Claude Bessy on May Day of 1977. Bessy turned out to be the publication's main writer and editor. Samioff grew bored with Slash and around 1979 he partnered with Bob Biggs, a bohemian entrepreneur who saw a goldmine in Slash. In 1980 Samioff handed the project over to Biggs, who terminated the publication and built a record label upon its ashes. Mark Vallen

Staff included: Claude kickboy face Bessy, Philomena, Malanie Nissen, David Allen, Judith Bell, Bo Clifford, Pleasant Gehman, cartoonist/ artist Gary Panter, Gorilla Rose, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Anna Statman and Chris D.

Slash was large-format tabloid that originally focused on the Los Angeles punk scene. However, it did not restrict itself to local artist. Its first cover featured Dave Vanian of The Damned.

Slash - First Issue
Volume One Number One
MayDay Issue 1977
Cover: Dave Vanian of the Damned

Mark Vallen's Art For a Change

The office of Slash was at 7381 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles.

NE corner of Beverly Blvd. and Martel

2008 photo: tlc

2008 photo: tlc

Slash provided coverage of local punk concerts and extensive interviews with LA punk bands like the Weirdos, Germs, X, Fear, and Black Flag. It also gave approving coverage to English bands like the Clash, Sex Pistols and the Damned - when hardly a single US paper wold dare write about them. Slash was also the primary source of record reviews for punk and "new Wave" records. Mark Vallen

Alice Bag 1978

Mark Vallen

The Slash coming out party on July 1977 in a storefront on Pico Boulevard and La Brea. The Screamers, Zeros, Weirdos and the Germs performed. This was the Screamers first show in LA.

Slash would host benefits shows at Larchmont Hall. It put on a few shows and parties at Samioff’s loft apartment at Pico and La Brea.

Site of Former Larchmont Hall

2008 photo: tlc

Slash - Sixth Issue
Volume One Number Six
December Issue 1977
Cover: Exene of X

Mark Vallen

The fanzine also gave birth to Slash Records, an important punk record label.
Slash Magazine was short lived and folded in 1980.

Slash office was down the street from a favorite eatery - El Coyote

2008 photo:tlc

FLIPSIDE

Flipside Fanzine started by a group of mostly Whittier (California) High School graduates.
Publishers/editors of Flipside were, X-8 (Sam Diaz), Pooch (Pat DiPuccio), and Al Flipside
(Al Kowalski).

flipside

X-8 and Pooch graduated from Whittier High School in 1973. X-8 had been editor of the Whittier High School newspaper. Pooch was working on an english degree. He wrote a few concert reviews on his own. X-8 was an artist - he designed the Flipside logo. Al was studying to be a marine biologist. He was a few years older.

Flipside was originally going be called "B-Side" because we
liked the b-sides better than the a-side of the 45s we had. (from
HERMAN'S HERMITS, the SAFARIS, the ROLLING STONES to the SEX PISTOLS
and RAMONES) but thought Flipside had more 'action'."(X-8 recalls)

FlipSide is death to disco and commercial music. (Sam Diaz)

It's first issue was August 28, 1977. Flipside published until 2000.

flipside

Page from the first issue of Flipside

Flipside

Flipside extensively chronicled the early Los Angeles punk rock music scene.
Flipside was known for its highly opinionated cast of writers.

It has emerged to be the vanguard of the Los Angeles punk rock scene - brandishing record and concert reviews and interviews with local bands, separated by murky montages and lettering at odd angels.

FlipSide writers described punk rock as: A rejection of all morals, disorder, an escape, like watching TV, We tear down the walls that they put up. Punk Rock is total commitment, it's audience participation. It's not sitting in the back of a 10,000 seat arena, loaded and not caring. (Al, a punk to the core.) By Mr. Bali Hai Flipside

flipside

In the punk scene there was no rock star attitude, no boring old long hair, no managers, no salesmen. And also there were no record labels, no fanzines and no place to play. Right about this time the Masque opened up, and the whole punk scene came into focus. This new meeting place became the center for punk related activities and accelerated the development of the whole movement. (Al Flipside)

Flipside eventually evolved into a half-glossy, semi-professional publication that you could find on the shelves of big chain outlets like Tower Records.

flipside

Lobotomy - the Brainless Magazine
Publishers/Editors: Pleasant Gehman and Randy Kaye (Randy Detroit)
The office was at 7231 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood

2008 photo: tlc

Contributers also included Kid Congo Powers (Brian Tristan), art director was Brad Dunning, photographer was Theresa Kereakes.

LOBOTOMY was published spordically from 1977 to 1981...sort of a monthly publication. Pleasant admits to it being a total cut 'n' paste operation. They interviewed everyone from the Damed, Siouxisie, The Clash, Blondie, and the Jam.

The office of the fanzine was at the Lobotomy apartment on Franklin just west of La Brea.
This is wear photographer/UCLA student Theresa Kereakes lived.

Pleasant Gehman and Randy Kaye of Lobotomy

photo: JennyLens

Pleasant Gehman on the phone

photo:TherasaK


photo: TheresaK

Lobotomy hosted some spectacular benefit concerts to raise money for their operating cost and to promote the local scene.

On of these Lobotomy Night benefits at the Whisky

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