Well, just back from a wee spot on Radio Scotland talking about fanzines (or, more precisely, plugging is this music?) I'll probably sound all self-important, but as the other zine writer on the show was a fella from the Faslane Peace Camp who's been doing the Faslane Focus for 21 years, it does kind of put things into perspective. And makes it impossible to dismiss (all) fanzines as scabbly self-promoting rags.
Anyway, at the other end of the spectrum (well, at the station) I bought a copy of the NME, my first in god knows how many years. "Why?", I hear you holler. Well, because I was taken in by the cynical marketing ploy of the free CD consisting of some of Kurt Cobain's favourites including Iggy, Butthole Surfers, the Slits, Vaselines etc. Er, I find that I have most of the tracks already. "Why?", I shout at my purchase.
Well, it's interesting to keep up with the opposition as itm? continues its march into sales territories the country over (available in Borders across the UK, next issue).
One of the things discussed at BBC central was the difference between zines and bona-fide mags. Apart from getting paid for writing, the print quality, and distribution, often they're indistinguishable. I picked upa few freebies in Fopp, which included one called FACT, which is 7" single-sized, and though it appears to be dedicated to dance at first glance, it covers the whole spectrum that, well, itm? covers. (so why am I telling you this?)
It's well-written too, some good lines in there. Dogs Die in Hot Cars are described as being the kind of thing that would only exist if Mansun had won the Britpop wars (they can take that as a compliment if they like as I note on the Jockrock board there are a few Mansun devotees arguing their way with a love song).
There's also a feature on early proto-riot-grrrl act the AuPairs, which is quite interesting. They don't have much success trying to even track down the band (as opposed to 'Bands Reunited' on MTV who managed to find all of Kajagoogoo... but I digress). Anyway, they point out than in 1982, on the cover of the NME, were the AuPairs. That'd be the equivalent of, I dunno, the Hector Collectors or someone these days.
Back to the NME - Rites of Spring are playing on the CD as I type and they're not bad at all. Plus, the paper's new shiny cover (since last time I bought it) keeps the Edinburgh drizzle off your head better than newsprint.  ¶ 10:56 AM