Kevin Mattson - We're Not Here To Entertain (Punk Rock, Ronald Reagan, and The Real Culture War of 1980s America)

Publisher: Oxford University Press; Year: 2020; Format: Hardcover Book

Let me tell you that between last night and this morning I spent probably two to three hours preparing for this entry as Kevin Mattson's book not only deserves that, but literally requires that in terms of the depth of his book. Mattson's book was published in the middle of the pandemic and I remember being instantly drawn to it. At the time I also listened to the New Books Network podcast interview (see link at the bottom) with the author and knew that I had to get the book immediately, which I did. I read it a while ago and last night I re-read bits and pieces of certain chapters on top of listening to above mentioned podcast again as well. I think by now you get the drift that Mattson's book is packed with information and with that I mean historical facts that are the result of probably hundreds of hours of research the author has put into for this tome. I am of the firm belief that more books such as this one need to be published in order for us fans of '80s hardcore punk, scholars and curious minded people out there to be able to gain a better understanding as to what really happened across America between 1979 and 1985 to be specific about the years Kevin covers for his book. I didn't grow up in America, so to this day after having lived here for something over a decade now, I still learn a lot about cultural history, and for that this book is just significant. It is important to point out that Kevin Mattson is a Professor of U.S. cultural and intellectual history at a University in Ohio and was an active participant of the early '80s Washington D.C. hardcore punk scene, as well as being one of the cofounders of Positive Force in 1985. When we think of punk books then most of the time oral histories come to mind and an endless amount of books have been published in such way, some more interesting than others. This book is a very different proposition in the sense that Mattson succeeds to juxtapose the punk rock world versus the 'Entertainer In Chief' Ronald Reagan highlighting in detailed chapters how the death of the 1st wave of punk rock and the record industry opened up the doors for an energized and politically minded youth across the U.S. to take matters into their own hands to counter the mainstream culture and the advent of MTV. What's outstanding about Mattson's approach and research into this matter is the inclusion of film, art, poetry, fanzines and other forms of communication that helped to spread DIY culture outside of the cultural epicenters on either Coast. Vic Bondi of Articles of Faith sums up the book as follows: "Firmly establishes American hardcore in the politics of the moment and the economics of the music industry at the time. An essential read for anyone wanting to understand the cultural history of the 1980s." I couldn't agree more with the statement and will have to revisit the book again soon to dig deeper into certain sections of it to learn more, and more. Highly recommended! 

New Books Network Podcast Link: https://newbooksnetwork.com/were-not-here-to-entertain-1

Steve Ignorant with Steve Pottinger - The Rest is Propaganda

Publisher: Dimlo Productions Norfolk (3rd Edition); Year: 2020; Format: Softcover Book

I was very excited to finally get to read this book as it's been a bit of a journey to finally get to that. First I missed out on the first two editions and was definitely not going to pay some outrageous prices for a book. Then at the very beginning of the covid-19 pandemic when we all (well, most of us) sat on our asses no matter where in the world we were I shot a brief message to Steve on FB asking whether the book will ever be available again. Steve's reply came quick and not long thereafter the third pressing became available as Steve was already in the process to have a third edition being printed. This time around I acted promptly and ordered it immediately, but due to the pound being somewhat high at the time and the postage outrageously expensive I had the book mailed to a dear friend in London. Two years after that my friend from London visited Chicago and mailed the book to me here in Buffalo and I swore to myself that when done reading I will immediately write a review as I can't stand writing these reviews having read a book years ago. So, here we go and I just finished the book last week and to tell you the truth I haven't laughed so hard in some time. You'd think reading about Steve's life and Crass in particular there wouldn't be much to laugh about, but that's entirely not true. First and foremost this book is about Stephen Williams aka Steve Ignorant, and not Crass. Sure, Crass play a role in the book and the book is divided into three parts; BC, DC and AC (before, during and after Crass). Steve was born in late 1957 in Newcastle-under-Lyme in the West-Midlands but spent most of his life in Dagenham, East London, and was partly raised by his grandparents. Dagenham plays a big part in the early parts of the book and takes the reader back to the days where the pub played an integral part of everybody's life and where life was simple and revolved around the community where one lived. From the very beginning of the book Steve has a way of telling stories with such detail and a great sense of humor that sometimes one can almost feel like being taken back in time. I myself spent some years in East London - way after Crass and all - but nevertheless with me having worked at Southern Records during the time the band was preparing for the Shepherd's Bush "Feeding of the 5000" gigs in 2007 I was able to relate to a lot Steve has to say. It is pretty clear that those years in Dagenham before Steve moved into Dial House were in many ways formative years and have shaped the person he has become in many ways. In the book's introductions Steve sets out that it is not about Crass hence don't expect a detailed history about the band. Instead what I really like about the Crass part in the book is the very beginnings of the band, the bond between Penny and Steve and the hilarious stories revolving around the first few gigs. I also love Steve's honesty about the band's own failures by creating a stifling environment eventually leading to the demise of the band in 1984. The years after Crass are without doubt no less interesting than the years leading up to Crass as Steve struggles finding his way after years of touring and a structured life within said group. What I find fascinating about Steve is his ability to reinvent himself and to take on life no matter how desperate things might seem. As Steve puts it in the introduction it's about his journey to become the lead singer in Crass and the life thereafter. And let me be clear it's a journey filled with great stories, which at times are told in a refreshingly somewhat non-PC way. I can only imagine that the Punk-PC-Police had some cringe moments reading this book but that's life. If you want to learn about true friendship, some horrible aspects of the DIY touring circus, growing up and surviving East London, Schwartzeneggar, and above all who Steve Ignorant really is then do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this book as you will not regret it for a minute. Cheers for the laughs Steve! 

Steve in front of Shepherd's Bush Empire in 2007. Source: steveignorant.com

Ross Lomas with Steve Pottinger - City Baby (Surviving in Leather, Bristles, Studs, Punk Rock, and GBH)

Publisher: Bazillion Points; Year: 2015; Format: Softcover Book

Apologies for the winter blues, but January can be a tough month for not just getting out of bed every morning but especially for doing much once home from work. Since the days are slowly but surely getting a little longer maybe I am feeling slightly more energized. With age I have become someone that thrives on routine, and one of them is to always carry a book in my backpack which I read on my bus trips to and from work. Currently I am reading Steve Ignorant's book with Steve Pottinger and so it dawned on me that some time ago I have also read Ross Lomas' book with Mr. Pottinger, hence a perfect opportunity to get another review up. I am going to sound like a broken record here but the fact remains that it's tough to review books I have read a long time ago hence I revisited certain chapters a bit here and there. The good thing about this book is that it's divided into about three dozen small chapters making it easy to read the first time or when revisiting. According to an interview with Ross with Spanish blog 'Adios Lili Marleen' the original idea was to involve the entire band for the book but apparently nobody was interested bar Ross. In the end it worked out fine me thinks as it's a great read not just about Ross' involvement with GBH but about his private life as well. Quite often with autobiographies I enjoy the first third or so of the books the most as the author usually digs deep into their upbringing and the environment they grew up in. The fact that Ross and the rest of GBH hail from Birmingham makes it for a fascinating glimpse at life in Britain's "Second City" during the '70s, and it certainly is refreshing to hear about the early punk days with a view of someone from outside of London. As you will know though GBH really took off in the early '80s, and it certainly helped that their label mates Discharge pretty much took them under their wings. Many tours and records followed and it's all there throughout various chapters. And as you will surely also know is the fact that GBH still perform to this day hence the book continues all the way up to more modern days. The last time I saw GBH was in 2007 when I lived in London and when they performed at the Purple Turtle playing with their '83 line up if I am not mistaken. It was a fun and chaotic show and sums up the feeling this book delivers from the beginning to the end. But most importantly if you haven't already done so, grab your own copy and find out how Ross never became the milk delivery boy he set out to be way back when. 

Photo Credit: Frank White (Ritz, NYC, 1987)

Alice Bag - Violence Girl (East L.A. Rage to Hollywood Stage, A Chicana Punk Story) 

Publisher: Feral House; Year: 2011; Format: Softcover Book

If you are struggling with an idea what to gift your loved one or a good friend then let me tell you a book always works, just ask my wife. In all fairness though I should be ashamed of myself for reviewing Alice Bag's book now approaching 2023 whereas it was published in 2011, right around the time I started this blog. I must be one of the world's best procrastinators but better late than never I suppose. Alice Bag (nee Alicia Armendariz) was born in the late 1950's and reached probably the perfect age by the time the punk rock explosion hit the City of Angels. Let me be clear though that while this book definitely deals a lot with the early LA punk scene seen through the lenses of Alice it is by no means a book just about that. And that is one of the main reasons why I would say it belongs in the Top 10 of the many punk rock autobiographies having been written in the last decade and some. Alice is a truly gifted writer and this book is just rich of stories from her interesting life having been brought up in East Los Angeles to Mexican-born parents who migrated to the United States. In that sense Alice was not just an outsider in the greater society when punk rock hit, but also an outsider within the caucasian dominated subculture itself. She is the survivor of domestic violence against her mother with a father whom Alice referred to as a "monster", but she is also proud of her heritage and explains in details what it was like to grow up as a Chicana in East LA. Music played a role in Alice's life before punk rock and Elton John, David Bowie and the English Disco were a big deal not just for Alice but many others that would soon find out about a music style much rawer and much more open to people with less talent. Don't worry as the book does eventually take you on a wild ride through the early days of punk rock in Los Angeles and of course The Bags play a vital role in all those stories told. I have read this book years ago and just reread the chapter when The Bags played a show with Rhino 39 in San Diego and how some of the people along with Black Randy took a trip across the border to Mexico the following day turning into a wild adventure. This book is probably one of those that at some point in the future I will read again cover to cover as it is just so well-written and packed with not just fascinating anecdotes but real inspiration from page 1. Last but not least Alice became a teacher and even spent some time in Nicaragua helping out children in that part of the world. She's also somebody that has managed to stay interesting and true to herself up to this day while still performing music and as far as I know now living in Mexico maintaining a blog about the many interesting and fascinating aspects of living there. One of my all time favorite books, period. 

Sam McPheeters - Mutations (The Many Strange Faces of Hardcore Punk)

Publisher: Rare Bird Books; Year: 2020; Format: Book

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 I along with millions of other people was stranded at home and not allowed to go to work. My situation was even more extraordinary in the sense that I moved from New York City to Buffalo at the very beginning of the pandemic only to sit out the first twelve weeks of my new job at an AirBnb. But this entry isn't about the pandemic or my move but about Mutations, a book that came out at the same time the pandemic hit and as such made my life more pleasant for about a week, as that's approximately how long it took me to read it from cover to cover. The difficulty with reviewing books I have read some time ago is that unlike records they take more effort to review, especially ones I remember having enjoyed reading, but not really sure anymore as to why. This morning I took the book off of my book shelve and familiarized myself with it again in order to find out why I liked it so much when it came out. First and foremost I was not familiar with the author, Sam McPheeters. I mean I knew that Sam sang in Born Against and other bands, that he ran a fanzine by the name of 'Dear Jesus' and that he had also ran a record label, but I never owned any of his recorded or written material hence in a way I suppose I had no prejudgment. Rereading some of the chapters in the book this morning I realized quickly why I loved reading Mutations. The book is divided into three parts: Questions, Artists and Problems. Within the 'Questions' part I for instance loved the chapter "A Conversation with Aaron Cometbus", just a fun, intelligent and witty conversation between Sam and Aaron, whom I am sure everyone knows from his Cometbus zines. Equally good but on an absolutely different level is "The Troublemaker", an absolutely intriguing look into the life of Doc Dart of the Crucifucks from Lansing, Michigan. If someone from the Fox News Network would read that chapter they'd have a field trip with it as it clearly shows that distrust and absolute disdain for the government in this country run high on both ends of the political spectrum. Fascinating chapter. The 'Artists' part is just as good and Sam delves into the depths of the many forms of hardcore punk or just 'punk' with chapters dedicated to bands as diverse as Discharge, The Gossip, Die Kreuzen or Green Day amongst others. In 'Questions' the chapter "Alberti Records, RIP"stands out as it is about a vinyl manufacturer that operated for over fifty years and had closed its doors leaving the question as to who will pick up and continue the hard work. One thing that really stands out about this book, and Tobi Vail of Bikini Kill mentions that in her foreword, is the fact that at no point in this book does the author look back at the years covered in this book with any self-indulgence or glorification, but rather with a very critical and observant view. In the end I think this book serves a great deal for all of us to reflect on our lives and to have a somewhat distanced and healthy understanding of the many strange faces of hardcore punk. Definitely one of the best hardcore punk books recently published. 

Jim Ruland - Corporate Rock Sucks (The Rise & Fall of SST Records) 

Publisher: Hachette Books; Year: 2022; Format: Book

When it comes to the vast area Los Angeles covers geographically speaking than punk rock historians as well as many old timers from Lala land love talking or writing about the early Hollywood punk scene. What is so fascinating about the greater Los Angeles area is that different scenes sprung up in different areas roughly around the same time, and I am being somewhat generous with that statement for the sake of my argument. My argument is that the punk rock history of the South Bay of Los Angeles is in many ways far more interesting than the one of the fairly short lived Hollywood scene, at least that's my take. A long while ago I already reviewed Craig Ibarra's "A Wailing of a Town" book which focuses a lot on the Minutemen and befriended bands from San Pedro. At some point in the future I shall review Keith Morris' "My Damage" as well but I recently bought and instantly read Jim Ruland's Corporate Rock Sucks and came away with a wealth of knowledge not just about SST Records, but the South Bay Area hardcore punk scene in general. First and foremost the book is divided into fourteen chapters with each one SST squaring against a different entity. Chapter one is called SST vs. Bomp! and Chapter fourteen is titled SST vs. History. Inbetween SST takes on the world so to speak, a statement which pretty much sums up the book in many ways as Greg Ginn seems to have a very combative personality and an admirable hunger for success. The author has truly done a great job at researching this book as it is filled with many important anecdotes from the humble beginnings of SST Electronics all the way up to the downfall of the once so influential indie label. The many legal battles SST fought alone would be worth another book in my opinion as it becomes clear that legally speaking SST mistreated quite a few bands by hurting them not just financially but in their overall development. I think what really saddened me to a degree is the fact that at some point the record label was run almost like a major where the personal interaction between the owners and the employees became less important and money ever so more important. To be fair though SST was not alone in the sense that they became the victims of their own success. And yes, of course Black Flag are a big part of the story in the book as well, but I wanted to focus on the label. I can't say that I own too many records from the vast catalogue of SST but I will make an attempt to dig deeper into some releases in the future. In the meantime do yourself a favor and pick up this book or visit your local library as you will not regret it. Corporate Rock Sucks indeed. 

Bob Suren - Crate Digger (An Obsession with Punk Records)

Publisher: Microcosm Publishing; Year: 2015; Format: Book

I am absolutely positive that the name Bob Suren will sound familiar to anyone that has gotten into punk either in the '80s or '90s as Bob was a very active guy on an international level with his record store/distribution/label out of Florida. Crate Digger is a fantastic little book revolving around 30 years of collecting punk records with the book divided up into chapters containing the name of a certain band's record. This way stories around records by the likes of the Misfits, Rattus, Stalin, DOA etc. take us from the humble beginnings of Bob discovering punk rock through his many years running Sound Idea and everything connected to the store all the way up to him selling his entire record collection. Each little chapter revolves not just around the band's record but a certain period in the author's life. As one would expect there are just hilarious stories where for instance the FBI gets involved in a record trade gone wrong between Bob and a fellow in Oregon, or that one time when a drug addict enters Bob's stores with several boxes of rare records selling them on the cheap only to realize after the drugs have worn off that he made a big mistake. A lot of the chapters have real personal stories enabling readers to participate on this wild punk rock journey with its ups and downs. I wish there were more books like this one as it's just a fun read with passion and dedication seeping through each page.

Interview with Bob on the Publisher's website from 2015: https://microcosmpublishing.com/blog/2015/05/an-interview-with-bob-suren/

Jerry A. Lang - Black Heart Fades Blue Volumes 1-3 Books

Volume 1

Publisher: Rare Bird Books; Year: 2022; Format: Book

Don't ask me why Jerry A's memoir was published in three parts but in the end I liked the idea as each Volume has its beginning and end while leading up to the next chapter in Jerry's life so to speak. A neat move by the publisher that worked pretty well if you ask me. Alright, so if you are asking yourself who the hell Jerry A is then think Poison Idea and Kings of Punk and you'll figure it out. For the losers reading my crappy little blog I have the feeling most of you will be familiar with the crazy Portland based outfit. Volume 1 deals mainly with Jerry's upbringing in Montana and Oregon which must have been hell judging from what I have read. Still, out of everything bad and miserable comes something good and while Jerry suffered immensely at the hands of his parents he eventually found his way in life with music always having played a big role from a very young age. 

Volume 2 

Publisher: Rare Bird Books; Year: 2022; Format: Book

As you can see from the cover of Volume 2 this middle volume takes you back in time to the Portland, Oregon of the '80s and '90s and into the drug- and alcohol fueled world of Poison Idea. I was lucky enough to see Poison Idea twice during the '90s and Jerry's account of how crazy things were just reaffirms what I always thought it must have been like in mind. What I did not know is how deep the drugs ran and dictated Jerry's life. Addiction is a nasty thing and many of us know or knew someone that has struggled through it, or maybe even died of it. While some of this volume is of great interest to people like myself who are always hungry for music history please do not expect a record by record account of Poison Idea's vast back catalogue. It is really Jerry's personal journey through time, and drugs and music played a major role, that's for sure. 

Volume 3 

Publisher: Rare Bird Books; Year: 2022; Format: Book

The last volume in this three-part memoir brings us all the way into the current time, well pre pandemic that is when Jerry finished writing this. If you follow Jerry's Facebook page you will have come to the conclusion that he had found happiness and is leading a much quieter life now, away from touring and partying. This volume focuses on Jerry's journey to said point and deals with a lot of pain while realizing that the only way going forward in life is a life with as little drugs as possible. It is in this volume where we learn about the sad details of Jerry's best friend and former Poison Idea guitarist Tom Roberts (RIP) and many more heartbreaking stories. Still, the end is a happy one, and I for one am immensely happy for Jerry to have found a way out of the world of drugs and addiction. Maybe there will be a Volume 4 at some point and we shall stay tuned.

Welly Artcore - Directions To The Outskirts Of Town

Publisher: Earth Island Books; Year: 2021; Format: Book

Look at me actually reviewing a book that has been published just very recently and which I just finished reading. To those of you having been into punk/hardcore since the ‘80s or ‘90s the name Welly Artcore should ring a bell as he is the man behind the excellent Artcore Fanzine still running to this day. “Directions To The Outskirts Of Town” basically combines Welly’s two tour diaries from the ‘90s, once as a roadie with Chaos UK in ’94 and then again with his own band Four Letter Word four years later. While the chapters with Chaos UK are funny and entertaining, they are often also short and could have used a bit more detail considering how crazy this tour was as it took them across the United States. Welly does make up for it big time when it comes to his entries for the ’98 tour with Four Letter Word. Not only did the band cover an insane amount of miles across the United States and Canada, but the tour was really in support of their album released on BYO Records. Welly himself admits that his band having been released on such a renowned label was due to the gold-digging punk rock decade the ‘90s was. This should in no way discredit Four Letter Word, a band I quite frankly am not familiar with at all though. Regardless, the tour diary of their tour is worth alone to get this book as it is full of funny and honest stories of four guys from Cardiff, Wales traveling thousands of miles across North America and quite often playing to a handful of people not knowing how to react. On said tour Four Letter Word did quite often open up to well-known acts such as Youth Brigade or 7 Seconds and it is during those shows that the hierarchies within the punk rock circuit are described with a high degree of honesty and humor by Welly. The DIY spirit of those days literally seeps through the pages of the book with bands crashing at the parent’s houses of people in attendance and surviving on shitty food and cheap beer for weeks on end. I am too old to know whether tours like the two in this book are still organized the way they used to but with Sat Navigation in the cars or on phones life as we know it is different from the ‘90s. Reading the book I often reminisced about those days where spontaneity ruled in the pre-internet days. 

Ronan Fitzsimons - I'm An Upstart - the Decca Wade Story

Publisher: Ardra Press; Year: 2013; Format: Book

Very little is known about this book, and if it wasn’t for a specific mail-order operating from the North East of England I probably would have never even heard about it. Taking into account that Mensi of the Angelic Upstarts sadly passed away this past Friday I thought it was about time to revive this blog of mine as I haven’t made an entry in literally years but always planned on keep going. It’s been a while since I even read this book, and while it’s not about the Angelic Upstarts per se, the band definitely plays a big part in it due to Decca Wade having been their original drummer. The author of this book is Ronan Fitzsimons and he draws on dozens of interviews with Decca and those who know him best. The author himself was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England and one would assume not only grew up with punk rock, but punk rock specifically from that region. The book provides readers with an excellent picture of the landscape of North East England far away from the relatively bright lights of London. In this landscape Decca was among the people who were inspired by the likes of the Clash or the Sex Pistols and who knew that they too could start a band and make something of it. The chapters on the early days of the Upstarts are a fascinating read bringing to light the many challenges the band had to endure, including a management that acted outright criminally ending in the main person actually being locked up in 1980. While Decca played an integral role in the early Upstarts days he did leave the band only to reunite with them some years down the road. The book takes us on a rather shaky road of a highly influential and gifted drummer with many a funny story shared but sadly also deals with Decca’s succumbing to alcoholism. All in all this comes highly recommended to fans of the Angelic Upstarts and/or fans of regions neglected in the history of punk rock. 

Steve Miller - Detroit Rock City: The Uncensored History of Rock'N'Roll in America's Loudest City

Publisher: Da Capo Press; Year: 2013; Format: Book

I am glad to have found this book very recently for close to nothing at a place I've never been to before in Manhattan. Rest assured though that the price tag does not reflect the quality of the contents in this book. I have heard about Steve Miller's book a while ago, and I certainly wanted to improve my knowledge of Detroit based Rock'N'Roll so having to read this one book one day was definitely inevitable. Many of you will know Steve Miller as the vocalist for much famed Lansing, MI hardcore punk band The Fix, or as the editor of the Touch and Go book that was published a few years back. Some of you might not know that he's actually a veteran when it comes to investigative journalism, and author of several books outside the music genre covering real crime. Needless to say that for a massive project such as writing on the rich history of Rock'N'Roll out of Detroit he was the right person to succeed at it. There are not many books that manage to cover as much ground as this book does, and let's be honest which other book will give you the pleasure to read about bands and artists such as MC5, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Mitch Ryder, Destroy All Monsters, Negative Approach, Laughing Hyenas, The Gories or the White Stripes, all at the same time? My guess is as good as yours, ladies and gentlemen. What I find really fascinating about this book is the fact that Steve has not only found a way to describe many anecdotes for the reader to feel like one is right there in the middle of the chaos, but at the same time he has done an outstanding job when it comes to the chronology of the debauchery that took place in Detroit and its surrounding towns. The only part I didn't really enjoy in this book was about Bob Seger, and this was when he was already a well known act on the national circuit. I yawned a lot through that part only to be awaken by more crazy stories from Wayne Kramer and other luminaries that were fed up with the status quo, and were starting to form new bands. And believe me, that was the only slow part in this book as the rest of it will take you through clubs such as Bookie's and bands associated with that scene, the early '80s hardcore punk explosion with Negative Approach on the forefront, the aftermath of hardcore and some crazy drugged stories involving John Brannon and Larissa Strickland of Laughing Hyenas, and the start, or shall we say return to garage rock from Detroit with The Gories and bands and scenes that evolved out of that time including Bantam Rooster, White Stripes or Von Bondies. Have I told you this book covers a lot of ground? Okay, there are two omissions I was disappointed with. For whatever reason the bands Death and Cinecyde get very little to no mention at all, and members from those two bands contributed little to nothing for this oral history. That sucked but still, it takes very little away from what this book gives the reader, and that is a detailed and at times mind blowing account of what was happening in Motown. This is widely available, and even your local library has probably a copy of this book, hence I really don't see an excuse for any of you out there for not reading this!

Craig Ibarra - A Wailing Of A Town - "An Oral History Of Early San Pedro Punk And More 1977 - 1985"

Publisher: END FWY Press; Year: 2015; Format: Book

First and foremost I'd like to point out that this book is almost hot off the press, and was published not all that long ago, and therefore I am excited to not already having finished reading it, but also reviewing it after having purchased it a couple of months ago on my quick visit to Southern California. When it comes to the punk history of Los Angeles then much of it has been covered extensively by having covered the Hollywood scene with the bands and scenesters associated with the more glamorous side of punk rock made in L.A. This book here concentrates on the South Bay of Los Angeles, and in particular the seaport town of San Pedro. Trust me, I too had to look up where exactly San Pedro is located in the Los Angeles area. When I first heard about this book, I already liked it, and I tell you why. I too was once a young kid discovering punk rock and hardcore, and I was also living in a suburb albeit thousands of miles away from San Pedro. Still, I can truly associate with the scene, and its people as the stories to be found in this book resemble in so many ways my personal story. This book does not talk about people sporting punk fashion, frequenting famous punk clubs or taking in an immense amount of drugs. Instead this book concentrates on real DIY ethos, and how a few people were able to create an open minded community that helped each other with putting on gigs, doing flyers, recording and distributing records, and so on. I have to admit that I don't own a single record by the Minutemen - whom hailed from San Pedro - but after having read this book I will need to change that. Sure, many pages in this book do deal with the history of the Minutemen and in particular the sadly deceased D. Boon but they also cover the very beginnings of punk rock in San Pedro with the Reactionaries, as well as later acts such as Saccharine Trust, Hari-Kari, Mood of Defiance and others. This book also covers crazy stories involving a certain Jimmy Smack, a talented local dancer who was tremendously helpful with putting on punk gigs, many accounts involving Black Flag and SST Records and their help getting the San Pedro scene off the ground, venues that opened their doors to punk rock, and the eventual arrival of big bands such as the Dead Kennedys making it to San Pedro and putting the town on the punk rock map. Craig has done a fabulous job by covering every little detail of this town's rich history of punk rock and beyond, and can only be congratulated for his efforts. One can only hope that more books of this kind will start to spring up, and people in different parts of this country and far beyond will start writing about their own punk rock adventures beyond the lights of hip inner cities. This is a true must read!

Cheetah Chrome - A Dead Boy's Tale: From the Front Lines of Punk Rock

Publisher: Voyageur Press; Year: 2010; Format: Book

Every fan of first generation punk rock will be familiar with Cleveland's Dead Boys and their guitarist Cheetah Chrome, no doubt. Even though throughout the years I have read many stories linked to the history of this notorious band, I was over the moon when I heard this book announced a few years back. As a matter of fact I had my then girlfriend turned wife go to one of his book readings here in New York City, and have her buy and sign the book for me while I was still lifting ales in good ole' London. But that's beside the point here, and I have just recently finally gotten around to read this tomb. And yes I do have a habit of buying a fair amount of books without reading them immediately, in case you wonder. Eventually I'll get through them all, or so I hope at least. Cheetah's book certainly didn't disappoint, and as one can only imagine it is filled with crazy, drunken and drugged up stories on life on road with the Dead Boys, as well as the numerous bands and projects Cheetah has been involved with over the years - before (Rocket From The Tombs) - and also after the demise of the Dead Boys. As with many rock autobiographies though I must say that I probably enjoyed the pages about Cheetah's childhood and his becoming an adult the most. Cheetah spent his early years in rough parts of the industrial wastelands of Cleveland where he wasn't able to find many friends until he discovered the magic of rock'n'roll. The fact that Cheetah's mother has always been generously supportive of her son shines throughout the entire book, and for that he adored and loved his mother up until she passed away which was towards the end of the book. One other person that Cheetah had unlimited love for was his good buddy and partner in crime Stiv Bators. Even though their friendship took many hits and had at times a very bumpy road ahead of them, Cheetah and Stiv had a mutual admiration for each other, and as we all know unfortunately Stiv has departed this world way too early. As for the author's alcoholism and drug abuse, you will find him openly talk about his problems, and how he eventually became a clean and sober man. I find it a great pity that Cheetah - like many other talented musicians - paid a high price by being an addict, and could quite likely have had a more fulfilling career had he not chosen that path. Still, he will always be remembered as one of the greats of punk rock, and so will the Dead Boys. The only minus of this book is the fact that the editor must have been either dead tired or dead drunk when editing this book as there is a fair amount of absolutely unnecessary grammatical mistakes. Never mind though as it won't take away from the quality and the honesty with which Cheetah has written this book, and I applaud him for that. Great read!

Donna Gaines - A Misfit's Manifesto; The Spiritual Journey of a Rock & Roll Heart

Publisher: Villard Books; Year: 2003; Format: Book

I don't even know where to start with a review for this book as it is 380 pages long, and it has taken me a good while to get through it. Many books occupying my book shelves were bought a long time ago, but I am only getting to them in recent days and months, one by one. I wouldn't even remember where I got this memoir by Donna Gaines, but that's not the point here. In my honest opinion, this book could have easily been just 250 pages long, and it would have packed everything of interest in, which would have helped with the flow of this memoir. Instead I must say that in parts this is a difficult book to get through, but in the end it's definitely worth to read from cover to cover. Dr. Gaines is a well known sociologist and cultural examiner, and her memoir really covers her entire life with its many ups and downs up until publication of this book. The early part of the book covering her childhood and jewish upbringing in Rockaway Beach is for the most part interesting and educational, especially if one wants to gain knowledge how that particular part of Queens was developing back in the '50s and '60s, really fascinating. Donna was from her childhood onward a music fanatic, and early on she developed a real love for doo wop, later to be replaced by the likes of Frank Zappa. It should come as no surprise that one of the most interesting parts of the book, at least for me, is the part when Donna moved out to Long Island and started dating a member of legendary punk'n'roll act The Slugs. That's where I really got into this book, and enjoyed every single bit of it. Other bands that get quite a bit of mentioning due to also being from Long Island include Corpse Grinders, Nihilistics, Sea Monster and a few others. Her stories from Slugland, as she referred to the band members and extended family members and fans, are often hilarious, funny and definitely rock'n'roll. One musician Donna really admired was Johnny Thunders, and good ole' Johnny is being celebrated in many pages throughout the book. The Ramones get mentioned a lot too, but it isn't until very late in the book that Donna actually gets to meet Joey, Johnny and the rest of the gang. 'Life in the Post-Ramones empire of NYC' is another great chapter covering Donna's friendship with Joey Ramone, up until his tragic death. Really touching, sweet and an absolute highlight of this book. In between all these musical anecdotes there is a lot of ground covered that pertains to personal issues Donna was getting through, such as fighting alcoholism, drug overdoses in her circle of friends, and above all also many issues related to her blood family. Many of these parts are not always interesting, often too detailed and messy to get through, but as I said, in the end it's all worth it. All in all this should appeal to New Yorkers, as they would be the ones understanding the finesses the best. As someone that has moved to this city not that long ago, I didn't experience difficulties understanding the geographical aspects of the stories, but would have probably appreciated it even more had I been brought up here. In conclusion I must say that if you decide to pick up this book, be patient, but rest assured that you can learn a good lesson about life and human beings, amongst some entertaining rock'n'roll stories.

Terri Hooley & Richard Sullivan:  Music - Mayhem - Good Vibrations

Publisher: Blackstaff Press; Year: 2010; Format: Book

I would assume that anybody reading this review with an interest in DIY labels and the history behind them will be familiar with Good Vibrations, and the man behind the label and the various stores associated with it, Terri Hooley. Richard Sullivan, who has been an avid follower of Terri's fortunes since he was a teenager visiting Good Vibrations store in Belfast is the co-author of this book, and with having said this, it seemed like the right choice was made in regard to Terri's co-laborator for this book, which is a fantastic account of Terri's life with all its highs and lows, and there has been many of them. Of course I personally loved Terri's memories of discovering the Undertones, Rudi and countless other great punk rock/powerpop acts of the Northern Ireland scene, but I especially enjoyed the beginning of the book and the stories of Terri as a young kid and teenager, growing up in Belfast, being a hippy, and standing up for what he believed in, something he has done throughout his entire life. Needless to say that he hasn't just made friends, and this book also talks about arson, the paramilitaries and their actions against Terri, the many different locations his shop was forced to take as a result of that, and so on. This is a great read, from cover to cover!

Sam Sutherland: Perfect Youth - The Birth of Canadian Punk

Publisher: ECW Press; Year: 2012; Format: Book

There was a time not even all that long ago, where I was asking myself why nobody has ever written a book on punk rock from Canada. It was a time when the first serious books about punk rock started to be published, and maybe it was just too early for this great land. But patience pays off, and in 2014 there is more than one book to be had about punk rock from those crazy Canucks. This particular one here though is special, in the sense that it covers the history of punk rock from coast to coast of this vast country. Sam Sutherland has done a fine job at doing so, and I understand that it must have been one hell of an undertaking to not only track down all the bands and its former members, but to actually organize the book so that it becomes clear to people not that knowledgable with Canadian geography where in the heck these guys came from. There are nineteen chapters in this book, and each one of them concentrates on a specific scene/city/band(s). While many of us seasoned punk rock enthusiasts are familiar with the historic backgrounds of bands such as the Viletones, Subhumans, the Diodes or D.O.A, I personally enjoyed most the chapters about the scenes I had very little knowledge about, such as Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan or Ottawa, to name a few. Winters in those places are harsh, brutal, and long, yet even in those remote areas scenes developed and flourished. It is those chapters that make this book a really great read, and I would have bought a book about those remote scenes themselves, but that's just nerdy me. Of course you'll also get to read about the scenes in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal and anywhere else in Canada. Great stuff, and I hope there is more to come in form of books and records that delve into the rich history of Canadian punk rock.

Seb Hunter: Hell Bent For Leather - Confessions of a Heavy Metal Addict

Publisher: Fourth Estate/Harper Collins; Year: 2004; Format: Book

While I am most certainly not a big fan of heavy metal per se, I am certainly always open to a good read and a few years back I remember reading a review in regard to this novel which must have caught my attention. In the end I found the book on sale at Foyles in London, and that's how it ended up in my collection. It took literally years for me to open it and read it, but just like the author himself, I must make a confession on my own in saying that I had a hard time putting it down at nights. Let it be very clear, you don't have to be into heavy metal to appreciate Seb Hunter's life story and his addiction to said music genre. Yes, there are parts in the book which drag on where for instance the author goes on to define genres such as glam metal, thrash metal and the likes, but overall the novel is about Seb and his witty stories on growing up in Winchester in the south of England, joining his first band, gigging locally, local punks throwing beer cans at them and his eventual move to the big smoke aka London. In my opinion London also marks the best parts of this book as there are so many hilarious stories being told by Seb, including living in squats, the pursuit of a career in heavy metal music at all cost, groupies, and crazy band members that would kill you over a girl. All in all I can only say that I've really enjoyed reading this book and couldn't help laughing out loud on many occasions.

Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

Publisher: PM Press; Author: Alex Ogg; Year: 2014; Format: Book

Finally a legit book on the early days/years of the Dead Kennedys, maybe the most important punk rock band the United States has ever produced (sorry Ramones!). UK based author and connoisseur of everything regarding the early days of punk/hardcore, Alex Ogg, has once again done a damn fine job at gathering and compiling information from as many people as possible, and from every possible angle as well. Now, anybody that is just slightly in the know what has been happening in terms of the relationship between the band members will be well aware that Mr. Ogg must have gone well beyond our imagination in regard to his patience as all versions and opinions from all members needed to be heard and taken into account. I suppose that is why this book concentrates on the days predating the DK's first album, and on the recording and touring after the classic album was released. Of course there is far more to tell when it comes to DK's rich history, but as Alex Ogg puts it in the book, that should be for someone else to tackle. In my opinion no one else could do a better job as Mr. Ogg himself again. This is a great read when it comes to discovering the life stories of each member, how they ended up as a tight unit writing some of the most iconic punk rock songs ever, and what has influenced them before the term "punk" was even coined. At the same time the book provides the reader a glimpse of the early San Francisco scene and the bands and people that made things happening. While this is a relatively short read, you will walk away with a far better understanding and knowledge of how the DK's became a world wide phenomenon.

John King: Human Punk

Publisher: Jonathan Cape/Random House; Year: 2000; Format: Book

If you like punk rock, and would like nothing more than see it through the eyes of someone who was there in 1977 but wasn't a fashion victim but in it for the music and the laugh, then do yourself a favor and try tracking down a copy of this novel published in 2000. This book will make you laugh and cry at the same time, but above all it will lead you to appreciate John King's street language, telling it how it is, or in this case, was. It is the story of Joe, a fifteen year old kid in Slough, a satellite town outside of London. Together with his mates he develops a love for punk rock, stale lager, girls in PVC skirts and chinese takeaway. One day though Joe and his best mate Smiles fall victim to a group of local lads who see them as easy pray, and nothing is ever the same as it was. In the next two parts of the novel Joe talks about all the years since that crucial night in 1977, and goes through life and growing up in a satellite town, the rise of Thatcher, the demise of jobs, his own traveling to Hong Kong and the eventual return to Slough and an England that has changed since the heydays of punk rock. There is always a good portion of music thrown in there, and the book should appeal to people into punk rock as well as readers interested in how British society and attitudes have changed from the '70s onwards. Highly recommended!