Today, fanzines are something of a 'dying breed'. In pre-internet days however, every hip scene had one (at least one). Some time ago, I found in second-hand music shop a few issues of the fanzine called Freakbeat. It was a fanzine of London 60's Garage/Psych revival scene from late 80's/early 90's. The issues I got - number 4,5, 6,7 and 8 are from years 1988-1993. As it often happens with fanzines, Freakbeat was not published in any regular intervals of time. The editor-in-chief was a man called Lophophora Williamsii (not a real name, I assume). Most of the articles were written under pseudonyms. In the layout there was a generous use of Op-Art and psychedelic patterns, which is great, but it can also be annoying , as it makes reading quite difficult.
Although Freakbeat was writing primarly about original 1960's Freakbeat (Mod meets LSD, for those who don't know) bands, the fanzine was devoting a lot of space to contemporary 60's Garage/Psych revival bands such as The Bevis Frond, The Chemistry Set, The Magic Mushroom Band, Plasticland and Oziric Tentacles.
Cover of Issue 4
Above and below: Feature about The Dukes of Stratosphear (click on the photo to enlarge)
Not many people know, that The Dukes of Stratosphear was actually a semi-secret side project of post-punk/new wave hitmakers XTC. Their 1985 EP, 25 O' Clock was 60's garage revival's finest hour. It is hard to believe that the brilliant title song was not recorded in 1960's, it sounds so authentic!
Feature about The Smoke - British pop-psych band famous for their 1967 hit 'My Friend Jack' (click on the photo to enlarge)
Review of the parts 9 and 10 of Pepples Compilations (click on the photo to enlarge).
Cover of Issue 6
Article about John 'Twink' Adler - one-time member of Tomorrow, The Pretty Things and Pink Fairies.
Article about The Chemistry Set (click on the photo to enlarge).
Ad for Pepples Compilations
Cover of Issue 7
Issue 7, page 1 (click on the photo to enlarge).
The new dawn of ???
Back cover of issue 7.
Ad for poster-printing company.
Interview with Krautrock legends Amon Duul II (click on the photo to enlarge).
Feature about Greek Psych revivalists Purple Overdose (click on the photo to enlarge).
Article about early incarnation of The Flaming Lips - who will become an indie senseation of late 90's/early 2000's (click on the photo to enlarge).
