Visual evidence of a life in music and magazines by James Brown
At first glance, the white cover of this book doesn’t give much away. Something about the Beastie Boys. Actually, the subtitle tells us exactly what it is: visual evidence of a life in music and magazines. But you have to open the cover first.
James Brown is the writer behind Attack of the Bzag fanzine, then went onto to work on NME, Loaded, GQ and Jack. Zine Age Kicks gives little snippets of insight into his life on each publication. He has already written a memoir, Animal House, and refers to Zine Age Kicks as the visual accompaniment. And I love the title.
Each page drips with nostalgia. There’s a cut and paste fanzine style to the whole book. There are some words, just enough to tell the story, but it’s the imagery that really illuminates the narrative and brings it to life.
By the time Blue Roses was born in the late 90s, fanzines had been around for a while. James Brown’s Attack of the Bzag was started over a decade earlier, but has similarities in style and content.
Zone Age Kicks contains photos, cassette tapes, ticket stubs, and front covers galore. Pages dedicated to The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and Beastie Boys, amongst others. There are letters from NME “to whom it may concern” for customs purposes and contracts of employment, with actual (though likely long defunct) contact details – addresses, direct telephone numbers, telex and telegram (no, not the app!). Curious as to what came through on that line!
Come to think of it, I may have actually written to the NME at Kings Reach Tower for work experience. I can only imagine what I’d be doing now if I had got that gig.
Zone Age Kicks is a wonderful trip down memory lane, and an enjoyable read and peruse.
Blue Roses Fanzine 2.0 