the Fanzine
In the 1980s, Leicester gave birth to one of the UK's richest live indie music scenes.
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There was big hair and big sounds, cool girls and crazy guys and it was all recorded and documented at the time by a horde of individuals who loved it and lived it.
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See what they saw and read what they said in the magazine that cornered the market in music news during what could be described as pretty much a cultural revolution, for me at least, as a former teenage punk from a small town, in one of the UK's most creative cities.
(Some of)
What happened in the years between Showaddywaddy and Kasabian...
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There were six Fanzines covering the indie scene plus one later publication covering all genres. Use the menu at the top of the page under 'Fanzine Intro' to view each magazine in its entirety or click on the links above/below.
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Heartfelt thanks to all who contributed including:
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*Neil E
*Sue at The Fan Club
*The Haymarket Theatre
*Janice at BBC Radio Leicester Prime Time
*Greg, Dave and all at Leicester Community Printing Press
Somewhere inside -
news views reviews on:
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(links to interviews underlined)
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The Fanzine was created by myself but it could not have been produced nor made particularly interesting without massive assistance. There were many talented writers and artists who contributed and there were also several people who helped to put it all together. They have been credited in each magazine and I thank them again for making the production even more fun and for their part in getting the news out there to the independent clothes shops, record shops, to the cafes, bars and clubs and to the people who were ready, willing and able to soak up the new spirit now emerging from the heart of the city.
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Thanks due also to Leicester Community Printing Press, funded by the City Council. The whole production process took place there, totalling seven magazines. I hope they contributed to the lifeblood of the city by shining a light on its creative soul, seen in the performances of countless talented musicians within it and by highlighting the amazing venues that provided the stages in fascinating surroundings and amongst such interesting people.
Well, I did do it my way but quite often my way was shxte. I was rightly told to xxxx xxx by one singer after writing some unnecessary nonsense about them. I also regret falling out with Neil E, who helped produce several issues. We might have grown into bigger and better things had I not gotten possessive about it all! Sorry Neil.
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However, I thank everyone for what they did as I look back at what was achieved, a fitting tribute to the talents and creativity of the city's musicians, who had given excitement and pleasure to a whole generation and inspiration and joy to a small-town boy who made many friends in the big city and loved every minute.
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Eddy
The Fanzine, Poker, Good Things
January 2021
> The Bomb Party
> Hunters Club
> Sister Crow
> Just Like Jane
> Gaye Bykers On Acid
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> Wellphead
The Marmite Sisters
> The Soviets
> Diesel Park West
> Yeah Yeah Noh
> Blab Happy
> Company For Henry
> Cucumber Three Pack
Listen to some of the musical high spots:
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Crazyhead
"What Gives You The Idea That You're So Amazing Baby?"
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Self- described as an "urban bastard blues band"
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Gaye Bykers On Acid
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"Played gigs dressed as women under the name 'Lesbian Dopeheads on Mopeds', supporting themselves, and thus getting paid twice."
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Hunters Club
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"Grebo rock at its finest"
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The Bomb Party
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"The godfathers of grebo"
and "a Molotov cocktail of hardcore grebo gothability lying somewhere between The Cramps and Bauhaus"
> good things
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> bbc primetime
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> charts
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Sponsors:
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- The Fan Club
- Underpass Records & Comics
- Haymarket Theatre
- Helsinki Bar
- Pactronics
- The Princess Charlotte
- Zig Zag
- Ainleys Records
- Fun Fish Clothing
- Basement Bar
- Zap Comics
- Oddity Records
- The T-Shirt Bar
- Raddle Books
- Femme Fatale Clothing
- Mantini Hair Salon
- Into Magazine
- Hoskins Beers
Published in 1989, "Good Things" was the seventh and final magazine in this collection. As well as spotlighting the indie scene, it also looked at blues, reggae, soul and rock in the city and was written by some very well-informed musicians who were also accomplished artistes in their fields.
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Throughout all the magazines, you will find some excellent artwork in the form of the advertising submitted by our sponsors, in particular, The Fan Club, Haymarket Theatre and the Helsinki Bar. Some of these gems are showcased below and more can be found by clicking on the link.
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Also on display on this page is a collection of the interviews of national and international artists given to, and gratefully received by, The Fanzine by BBC Radio Leicester's Primetime show, including Doctor & The Medics, Hugh Cornwall of The Stranglers and Phil Oakey of the Human League. There is also an interview with Curiosity Killed The Cat courtesy of Leicester Mercury's Marc Astley. Click on the links.
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Finally in this section is a collection of the music charts given to us by, amongst others, The Fan Club, Ainleys Records and the HMV store, which place the stories and the news of Leicester's bands within the context of one many of the nation's rich, exciting and varied musical eras. Scroll down the page or click on the links to view them.
creative advertising
> go to adverts feature
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bbc radio leicester's
primetime interviews
> Dr & The Medics
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> it's immaterial
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> age of chance
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> Human League
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> hugh cornwall
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> ghost dance
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we looked good on the dancefloor, didn't we..?!! the charts:
and finally,
in the beginning...
How did I get into this? This story's not about me, it is a snapshot of the fascinating culture I experienced but to finish off I would like to explain how I came to make The Fanzine. It began with a Manchester band who had the an extraordinary name, Russians Eat Bambi, who I saw perform in Camden Town on a night out with two friends from Leicester Poly.
The band were great and I asked them if they would play in Leicester if I booked a venue. They were interested. So we arranged a date and I booked a night at the Princess Charlotte, only for them to pull out a week before. Determined to still put on a show, I visited all the alternative record and clothes shops I could find to find a band.
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It was a long-shot but it paid off. Eventually in one shop, the manager opened his address book, picked up the phone, then announced he had found a band who could make the date; A Boy Called Christian. I carried on selling tickets and got quite a decent turnout for a stunning performance from the three-piece outfit.
At the end of the night, I had to borrow twenty pounds from my sister in order to pay both the venue and the band but as I hadn't even thought of making a profit it was worth every penny. Add the fact that I got to play a selection of my favourite records to the assembling audience before the band came on, it is no surprise I felt I was in some kind of musical nirvana.
After that incredible night and to keep the spirit alive, I immersed myself in the world of Leicester's alternative music scene. I couldn't believe how much talent and creativity was out there. I was amazed and decided to record and share it all in a fanzine, having lost interest in the engineering course I was doing.
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Before I finish, I'd like to mention one night that on its own would have made all of this worthwhile. I went to see The Selector's Pauline Black in her new band, the Supernatrals, at the Princess Charlotte. After asking for a few words for The Fanzine, we went to a nearby dance club, The Cooler. We had a great time and I must say she is one of the coolest people I have met.
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After making the final fanzine, I took a job as production co-ordinator at a city centre firm of publishers. I had a great time there producing leisure guides for local authorities for a few years.
In the late 90s I discovered that even though I was all fingers and thumbs when it came to playing instruments, I could create music electronically on a computer and could dream one day of getting as much enjoyment from music as the performers I had seen on stages all over this amazing city (see ebeats).
So, again, I thank them all.