Touch and Go Issue 22
I’m not much of a reader. I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit this as I think those that are might think me stupid or lazy. But I have read the three books often regarded as the bibles of punk, those being “American Hardcore”, “Our Band Could Be Your Life” and “Get In The Van” (the book on CD counts right?). My point is that anyone marginally into punk has probably read one or all of these books, or at least heard of em. Well add “Touch and Go – The Complete Hardcore Punk Zine” to the list cause it’s every bit as important, and in a lot of ways more entertaining and interesting than the others I just mentioned.
The reason “Touch and Go” is so great is that it was written while all this shit was actually happening. We all have preconceived notions of bands from years of exposure. These guys were discovering punk rock in the moment. I mean it’s amazing to read something like a review of the Bad Brains Pay To Cum 7″ done by someone who’s not only hearing them for the first time but also by someone that has no prior notion of the band whatsoever. Opinions on bands like The Cramps, The Misfits, Sham 69, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Minutemen, The Specials, and about a million other punk and indie bands lost to the past fill the 500+ pages of this amazing amazing book.
Authors Tesco Vee and Dave Stimson
Writers TV and DS (Tesco Vee of later Meatmen fame and Dave Stimson) are hilarious. Two punks stuck in Lansing Michigan while NY, LA, DC, and jolly old England are exploding around them with new music. There’s a scene in Lansing sure and they chronicle it. But mostly they get all their culture from record shop imports and zines like Slash. And in the end they themselves end up creating something amazing out of their sheer love of music. The reviews herein range from informative to insulting to hilarious. They make vendettas against local DJs, radio stations, bands, labels, and clubs. They have a regular guest writer that sends them articles from jail dubbed the “Rock and Roll Bank Robber”. They have lists upon lists of things they love and things they hate (it always cracks me up that so many punks back then hated The Clash). They’re not narrow-minded by a long shot either (Joy Division and The Cure get frequent praise). And all of it is done in the most D.I.Y. way possible. This is well well before home computers.
John Brannon of Negative Approach on the Cover
“Touch and Go – The Complete Hardcore Punk Zine” collects every issue. Every review. Every joke. Every insult. Every dick joke. Every rant. It’s a dense book that will take some time to read. If you consider yourself punk you need this. If you consider yourself a fan of music you need this. If you want to start a zine of your own here’s your guide. It also includes new essays by Tesco and Dave themselves, Ian MacKaye, Hank Rollins, Keith Morris, and more. Stop reading this review and just buy the damn thing already.
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