DARK
STAR
DARK STAR
was founded
in England 1975 and kept going well into the 1980s. The early issues are
clearly in a fanzine mode with no interviews and very little unique material,
based instead on the extensive knowledge and record collections of the guys
involved. Interviews and feature articles gradually became more prominent
alongside a more ambitious layout, making it similar to any rock magazine
(except for the superior content) on the shelves from around issue #10 and
onwards. The name "Dark Star" has probably lead many to think this a
Dead-Head zine, but fact is that the Dead are among the groups least featured
in the magazine; considerably more space is given to acts like the
Airplane/Starship, Spirit and, well, Clover. The coverage is almost
exclusively westcoast rock and countryrock, mixing new and old with a focus on
the late 60s/early 70s timeframe. The quality of the writing varies but the
knowledge and taste is impressive still today. Not quite as outstanding as
Comstock Lode (whose founder John Platt wrote for DS before starting CL) but
still essential to any westcoast fan. The main guys were publisher Mike
Bushill and writers Steve Burgess, David Prockter and Nick Ralph.
In addition to the feature articles and interviews, all issues contain dozens of
reviews of obscure westcoast (mostly) LPs old & new.
v 1.1 scans of various articles now
added, 2007-December
1. Dec-1975
Grateful Dead & Jefferson Airplane/Starship news,
Roger McGuinn article, Youngbloods article (see scan), Neil Young article
2. March-1976
Eagles retrospective, Grateful Dead/Carousel '68
article & tape review (see scan), Great Society article (see scan), brief Country Joe interview,
Redwing article/review
3. 1976
Hot Tuna
retrospective, Gene Clark article, Jerry Garcia interview (from '66), Youngbloods
article
4. 1976
Jackson Browne
retrospective, Kingfish article, Rick Griffin interview, Brewer & Shipley
article, Firefall article, Blue Oyster Cult article/review
5. 1976
Stills-Young
article, Don
Harrison Band/Creedence interview, Beau Brummels retrospective (see scan), Andrew Gold
article, Hall & Oates article, Michael Nesmith article
6. 1976
Jorma Kaukonen/Hot
Tuna interview,
Sneaky Pete/Flying Burritos interview, Robert Hunter prose, The Association
retrospective, Clover interview, American Flyer article, April Wine article, Dillard & Clark
article
7. 1977
Poco interview, Mike
Wilhelm interview, Texas 1960s Rock retrospective, Rick Roberts, Grateful Dead
8. April 1977
Interviews with: David Lindley/Kaleidoscope (see scans), Craig Chaquico, Flamin' Groovies (Cyril
Jordan), Andrew Gold
Articles on: Texas 1970s rock, Jim Morrison
9. 1977
Boz Scaggs,
Gene Clark interview (see scans), Billy Talbot, Beach Boys, Grateful Dead
10. August 1977
Interviews with:
Chris Hillman, Meal Ticket, Tom Petty, Billy Talbot/Rockets/Crazy Horse (see
scans),
Tom Jans
Articles on: Spirit, Crosby Stills & Nash
11. October 1977
Interviews with:
Big Star, Kingfish (see scan of 1st page)
Articles on: Bob Dylan unreleased tapes, Beach Boys, Bay Area 60s-70s
hornrock, Commander Cody band
12. 1977
Jefferson
Airplane, Doobie Brothers, Grateful Dead, Country Joe, Eddie & the Hot
Rods, Barefoot Jerry
13. February 1978
Interviews with:
David Bromberg, Greg Kihn, Joan Baez
Articles on: Byrds rarities, John Martyn, Jefferson Airplane retrospective pt
2, Joy Of Cooking
14. April 1978
Interviews
with: Emmylou Harris, Spirit (Jay Ferguson), Flamin' Groovies, Dennis Linde,
Dickey Betts, Clover (Johnny Ciambotti) pt 1
Articles on: Alligators, Jefferson Airplane retrospective pt 3
15. June 1978
Interviews with Randy California,
Michael Stanley Band, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Clover (Johnny Ciambotti) pt 2,
Jay Ferguson, Muddy Waters,
Articles on: Sandy Denny, Grunt records, Byrds rarities pt 2, JJ Foote
+ flexi disc with 2 rare Spirit tracks included
16. August 1978
Interviews with: Tubes, Big Star
(Jody Stephens), Tom Petty, Clover (Johnny Ciambotti) pt 3, Good Rats, David
Freiberg/Quicksilver (see scans), Rubinoos, Ian Matthews
Articles on: Bob Dylan, Joanne Mackell, Spot The Dog, Dire Straits, Jefferson
Starship
KICKS
Championed as "the greatest
rock'n'roll magazine in the world" and "the best fanzine of all
time", KICKS magazine isn't exactly in great need of staunch supporters.
Nevertheless I must pay at least a brief tribute to this terrific, irreverent,
fact-laden and often rip-roaringly funny zine. Founded by New York City couple
Billy Miller & Miriam Linna in the middle of the late 1970s punk fallout,
KICKS carved out a gigantic niche in musicology and did this in such an
irresistable manner that you find yourself reading long articles about obscure
rockabilly artists you wouldn't have looked up in any other context. Billy
Miller is one of the few truly great pop culture writers, taking elements only
hinted at in Lester Bangs and Nick Tosches and bringing them to their logical
conclusion, in a style that is a rare representation of rock'n'roll as
literature -- and doing so with a priceless New York sense of humor that flips
a gigantic bird in the face of pompous "rock critics". Of course
there's more to KICKS than this, including sharp editing, marvellous layout,
brilliant guest writers and a lifelong love for the music of the 1950s and
pre-hippie 1960s. Issues #1-2 show some traces of the punk era DIY approach,
while from #3 onwards the KICKS world is fully developed. Issue #5 is my
personal favorite, and at least to me the single best fanzine ever made. Issue
#7 was the last, after which Billy & Miriam focused entirely on their
wellknown Norton record label.
In addition to the contents below,
each issue is full of reviews of obscure 45s, compilation LPs and
retrospectives, plus assorted brainstorms within the realm of American Pop
Culture.
#1 (1979-Apr)
Everly Bros article + discography, Dave Edmunds article, article on 60s
bands in TV cameos, Dictators article, Foul Dogs vs Ha'Pennys review, Pacific
NW 60s article, Paul Revere & the Raiders article, Keith Allison article
+discography, rare 45 reviews, Vince Taylor article, Rokes (Italy) interview,
Velvet Underground article, Shaggs (girl band) article, book & zine
reviews, North Carolina rock retrospective, Flamin' Groovies article,
London/Parrot label discography
#2 (1979-Dec)
Chuck Berry article, Gene Vincent article, French 1960s EP:s, Del-Vetts
article + discography, Canada punk article, Wailers article, Etiquette
discography, Centurys (PA) article, Foul Dogs article, Ugly Ducklings article
+ discography, Chicago radio article, Heathens article, San Bernardino
article+discography (part 1), Jerry LL article, Elvis article, Waikiki Surf LP
article, Flamin Groovies article+interview.
#3 (1984)
Esquerita interview + discography, Little Richard article, Motions (OH)
interview + discography, Beach Boys article, Collins Kids article, Link Wray
article, Del-Fi surf LP, The Phantom article, Benny Joy interview, Tommy Lam
interview, Ronnie Dawson article, Hasil Adkins interview, Steve Carl
interview, Jess Hooper interview, Herbie Duncan article, White Castle article,
JD-literature/Hal Ellson, Groupies article, Frog Death discography, Trashmen
article, Bobby Fuller article, Banshees interview, The Heard interview,
Savages LP, Shaggs "Wink", Golliwogs/John Fogerty article, Hustlers
LP, Dave Kennedy & Ambassadors LP, San Bernardino pt 2
#4 (1985)
Wanda Jackson article, Ft Worth 1960s Teen Scene, Ronnie Self article +
interview + discography, Surf top 10, Midwest surf, Electras article +
discography, Tempests (NY) interview, Honeymooners interview, "Car 54"
article, Ralph Nielsen interview, Ken Davis article, Barbara Pittman article,
Hillary Brooke article, Hasil Adkins article, Jackie Gotroe article, Tyrone
Schmidling article, Billy Poore, Jerome Green article, "Garden State
Gold" LP, Link Wray article, Ledge Stardust Cowboy interview, Buddy Holly
article, "Top Teen Bands" LP, Fred Blassie interview, baseball
season predictions
#5 (1987)
Hasil Adkins interview + discography, Rivieras interview + discography,
Joe Clay interview, Mamie Van Doren, Pyramids interview + discography, Dale
Hawkins interview + discography, "alternative music", Fantastic Dee
Jays/Swamp Rats interview + discography, Marauders (MI) article, Jerry LL
article, Herbie Duncan article + interview, Sterling Hayden article, Bob
Vidone article + discography, Ed Roth interview, Moon Records discography,
Blue Moon Records discography, Phantom Raiders LP, Kid Thomas article +
discography, Revels article + discography, Andy Anderson interview, Danny Dell
interview + discography, Twiliters (NY) interview + discography, Carl Cherry
article
#6 (1988)
Bobby Fuller article + discography, Sonny Burgess interview, Chicago
60s punk scene, Arch Hall Jr article + discography, Sparkle Moore interview,
Ronnie Dawson article + discography, Vince Murphy & Catalinas interview,
Elroy Dietzel article, Felco Records discography, Gene Rambo/Plaids/Flames
article, Rockin R's article + discography, Andre Williams article +
discography, Gene Maltais article + discography, misc TV, Surf Barfin Dozen,
Young Tyrants interview, Tempos interview, Mickey Hawks interview, Excels (TX)
interview, Big Sambo article, Rumblers Interview + discography, Teddy &
Rough Riders interview + discography, Renegades interview, Swags article,
Slough Boys article, Crazy Teens article, Stingrays (IL) article, Jack Starr
interview, Aquinos article, Billy Poore, Green Fuz interview
#7 (1992)
Trashmen interview + discography, Mike Waggoner interview, Ron Haydock
article + discography, Rock-A-Teens interview + discography, "Battle Of
The Beat" LP, Dennis Hunt article, Esquerita article, Crossfires
interview + discography, Iguanas (MI) interview, Andy Starr interview +
discography, White Rock label discography, Part-Aires (NJ) interview +
discography, Surf budget LPs, Rudy Grayzell interview + discography, Doug Sahm
early 45s interview, Lenny & Thundertones interview + discography, Mexican
60's article, Las Vegas 60's article, Teenbeats article + discography
MOJO
NAVIGATOR
Here's an
idiosynchratic index to all issues of the legendary and very good Mojo
Navigator rock fanzine from San Francisco 1966-67; generally regarded as the
very first of its kind. Editor Greg Shaw was only 18 years old when he
founded this zine, which is invaluable for S F historians and a rather
mindboggling read today. Scans of all issues are
available here.
I wrote this as part of my 13th Floor Elevators book
research,
which is the reason for the constant Elevators references below.
Half or more pieces in
Mojo Navigator are by editor David Harris, other half by Greg Shaw and
assorted guest writers, including Mystery Trend manager Mike Daly who wrote
several collector-oriented articles.
Spring 2007 Update:
unfortunately, it appears that the scan archive linked to above no longer
exists, so the Mojo Navigators are once again elusive. Greg Shaw passed away
recently, after a long and outstanding career in the service of little-known
and local music. R.I.P.
Winter 2008 update:
added scans of the missing issue 1967-1 below. Also, the brand new BOMP book
("Saving The World One Record At A Time") contains many pages and
covers of Mojo Navigator in glossy, high quality print. Don't miss.
1. 1966-08-08
1st Airplane & CJ & Fish EP mentioned as coming releases, also news of
Dylan's famous accident...Wolfman Jack introduced....bunch of cool
namedropping from people who were obviously right in the middle of the 1966
music scene. Note that the page order is messed up in the scan.
2. 1966-08-16
Jim Gurley has neighbor problems, the Great Society guys' Indian music studies
initiated, soon it would lead to them going to India for 3 years and missing
the entire (commercial) SF explosion... SF radio stations reviewed, with Sly
Stone being applauded for his good music knowledge ("he's also an
excellent musician")... Syndicate Of Sound dismissed as a "really
depressing band" - that was a new one.
3. 1966-08-23
Upcoming first issue of the SF Oracle mentioned, first ELEVATORS reference
"...The Thirteenth Floor Elevator [sic] is a local band, apparently
having no connection with a group out of New York having the same name, which
group has reportedly broken up..." - uh, hope Shaw got better sources
later on, also listing of ELEVATOR[S] gig at Fillmore, and the first Avalon
gig the week after... clueless dismissals of Sam The Sham, the Wailers &
the Raiders in the same paragraph - all 3 bands were much better than Big
Brother ever were... Greg Shaw reveals the secret of the alternate
"Freewheelin Bob Dylan" LP (today one of the most valuable records
in the world) and offers to tape the 4 missing songs for readers... first Airplane LP reviewed favorably but with
reservations... Sons Of Adam 45, and New Tweedy Bros non-LP/pre-LP 45 (it
sucks BTW) are both mentioned as new singles out... also this unbelievable
little ad: "The Grateful Dead are looking for a place to live where they
can practice without bugging anyone; some secluded spot, preferably in
Marin"... 35 years ago, what a strange long trip it's been.
4. 1966-08-30
Long Grateful Dead interview, cool and funny, upcoming studio sessions &
acid tests discussed, a must-read for any Dead-head... Garcia informs us that
the Vancouver Trips Festival consisted of the Dead, Daily Flash and the
Painted Ship, unreal.... legendary mystery act New Tweedy Bros discussed by
him too... ELEVATOR[s] reference: "...the 13th Floor Elevator failed to
show at the Fillmore last Saturday night due to contractual obligations with
the Avalon - Quicksilver Messenger Service filled in..." [not true, see
issue #5] - so the audience wasn't stuck with just Sopwith Camel then, good to
hear... NO mention of any Elevators gigs for the coming week... awesome CJ
& Fish "Bass Strings" EP is reviewed as "sensational"... Greg Shaw
putting down Paul Revere & the Raiders again, give it a rest man...
5. 1966-09-07
Second part of Dead interview, Golliwogs discussed... ELEVATOR[S] reference in
Dead interview:
GARCIA: [on groups from other cities] ... it sounds like it could be San
Francisco groups, the 13th Story Elevator...
MOJO: Floor.
GARCIA: ... the Thirteenth Floor Elevator, they're supposed to be up at the
Avalon this weekend, their sound is like a San Francisco sound sort of, a
little like Big Brother... [end of 13FE talk]
Mystery Trend recording session rumors... Greg Shaw triumphantly declaring
that Bill Graham now has stopped booking Paul Revere & the Raiders,
fortunately Greg later saw the light on the Raiders... Mojo editor trashes the SF Oracle's music coverage as
uninformed and shallow, that's what I always thought too, overrated mag...
ELEVATOR[S] reference: "... when the Thirtheenth Floor Elevator cancelled
out at the Fillmore, they were replaced by Country Joe & the Fish, not the
Messenger Service..." [see #4]... again NO mention of any upcoming
Elevators shows in SF.
6. 1966-09-18
ID Magazine's annual "San Francisco Band Book" out, anyone got a
copy?... dig this: "the Velvet Underground has released a lousy single on
Verve Records - Andy Warhol produced it, Nico sings (hah-hah) on it. It's the
musical equivalent of a painted Brillo box which sells for $400" - seems
VU:s arty heroin NYC chic didn't go over too well in SF... interesting news on
Great Society, Count Five, Daily Flash and more... cool tech scoop on first
Airplane LP... New York area radio stations discussed in detail, prob of great
interest to music historians... bunch of now famous LPs reviewed including
Butterfield's immensely influential "East-West" which gets thumbs
up... the Both/And benefit reviewed... NO Elevators references whatsoever.
7. 1966-09-27
Interview with SF DJ Tommy Saunders... sales figures for CJ & Fish EP
reported... rumor of Grace Slick joining the Airplane... big, crude cartoon ad
for CJ & Fish gig, ditto for Freedom Highway/Flying Circus - not SF
poster art at it's finest... Charlatans Codine 45 being pulled off the
market... Remains upcoming LP mentioned, "they are one of the most
interesting East Coast groups" - fucking aye... Belfast Gypises first 45
mentioned, surprisingly... ELEVATORS gig at Avalon listed, no other references in
this issue.
8. 1966-10-05
Long Big Brother interview, they explain how they hate Chicago where they just
had a poorly received tour, though the Little Boy Blues liked them (!)... The
Doors signing with Elektra mentioned by Mojo LA correspondent, "former
Whiskey house band, a good local group"... more crude ad
artwork... SF street rally against the prohibition of LSD being planned, as
everyone knows this was enforced October 6, 66, i e the number of the Beast...
ELEVATORS reference (I think): "local group [in L.A] called the 13th
Floor, mad because of S.F group with the same name..." - curiouser and
curiouser... new Harbinger Complex 45 mentioned... yep, Darby Slick &
Peter whatshisname now off to Calcutta... 2nd Seeds LP reviewed
favorably...the Dead sign with Warner Bros... Cream being formed in England...
no reference to any Elevators gigs. Page order messed up in scan again.
9. 1966-10-17
Jim Kweskin interview... Dead fan-club started, Pigpen sweatshirt for sale,
join now... ELEVATORS reference, the band played at the Avalon after an SF
street-event, Artists Liberation Front's Free Fair: "...After the Fair
the Family Dog held its first anniversary dance at Avalon, with Big Brother
& the Holding Company, sounding great, the Sir Douglas Quintet, sounding
terrible, the Oxford Circle, the 13th Floor Elevators, and a couple of
jam-groups..." - the "s" now in place for the Elevators...
later on more ELEVATORS talk, re the same night, and now we get the full
low-down:
"... The most interesting group musically was the 13th Floor Elevators.
They are a really freaky group. They look strange, they sound strange, and
they are all good musicians, doing all original material. The lead singer,
whose voice is truly odd, also plays lead guitar pretty well. The drummer is
excellent. They have one guy who does nothing but boop-boop-boop with a jug.
The songs they do are new and different, though they tend to have a sameness
because of the unchanging quality of the jug sound and the singer's voice.
They will have a new single out soon and an album."
- anyone still doubt the impact of the Elevators in SF?... piece on 1950s
Dootone records out of LA, funny to read a collector-oriented
"retro" article from 1966. Page order completely screwed up in scan.
No references to coming Elevators gigs.
10. 1966-11-08
Long Mystery Trend interview, the one early SF band that never got anywhere -
Ron Nagle should've worn a Beatle wig... Mojo Navigator reporters banned from
the Fillmore by Bill Graham who "screamed for several minutes in a rather
incoherent fashion" - sound familiar? - Greg Shaw writes a fiery 1st
Amendment editorial on this... later Shaw has a "complete physical
collapse" and is hospitalized (no joke, he says so), remember that he was
only a teenager at the time... big concert & record ads show an
improvement in artwork, one is by Mouse studios... some photos creeping into
the Mojo as well at this point... retro/collector article and discography on
Little Richard, label shots apparently too expensive so someone has drawn a
crude likeness of a Specialty 45, funny... these collector-oriented articles
are not by Greg Shaw BTW, but by Mike Daly, who talks and thinks exactly
like collectors still do today... Gene Clark leaves the Byrds, Blues Magoos
first LP out... CJ&Fish recording a "new EP", must've been early
sessions for the 1st LP... ELEVATORS listed for upcoming Avalon gig, this is
the "pink eye/pyramid" poster one, opening act Moby Grape hyped by
Mojo... also a full-page reproduction of this very poster/handbill, looks bad
in the scan though. No other Elevators references.
11. 1966-11-22
Mystery Trend interview pt 2, badmouthing Bill Graham... CJ & Fish
interview +photo, more talk of "new EP" sessions and the Fish's
calendars and stuff, Berkeley vibe different from SF bands... full page
reproduction of Family Dog handbill, poor quality in scan again... reader comments on
recent Sunset Strip riots in LA... open letter from Bill Graham to Chet Helms
inviting him to sort out their differences, puzzling reply by Chet (full name
Chester L Helms)... legendary Oxford Circle 45 out... Remains & Blues
Magoos LPs reviewed... great pic of Bob Weir... California Hall handbill
reproduced in decent quality. No Elevators references whatsoever.
12. 1966-12-22
British r'n'b/blues boom retrospective... Mystery Trend interview pt 3 still
sorta dull, you can figure why these guys never progressed... CJ & Fish
interview pt 2, praises the Dead... full-page Dead handbill reproduced OK...
bunch of now famous LPs reviewed, plus Charlatans 45... reader informs on the
San Diego scene, which seems rather lame actually... new Beatles film
"being prepared", I have no idea what they're talking about... Fish
signs with Vanguard... Beach Boys "Good vibrations" praised despite
the un-hipness of the band, cool... "Surrealistic pillow" early
rumors... first Cream 45... kinda dull issue.
13.
1967-04
Blues Magoos interview, Phil Spector article,
the Lovin' Spoonful snitch scandal,lots of reviews including the debut LPs
from the Doors, 13th Floor Elevators, Grateful Dead and more.
14. 1967-08
Hendrix photo on cover... page order a mess in scan, plus a bunch of pages
missing... Greg Shaw calls himself "Gregory" now... First Dead, CJ
& Fish, Moby Grape LPs reviewed, all favorably with reservations... 1st
Left Banke, 2nd Blues Magoos, 1st Kaleidoscope (US), 1st Hendrix also
reviewed... Doors interview, Robbie Krieger does most of the talking, Ray
Manzarek presents his theory on "The Negro" (unbelievable), Robbie
says that sales of their LP is doing well considering they don't have a real
hit - patience, man, Jim M only gets interested when talk moves on to a new
LSD derivative which is discussed in detail, I've never seen this interview
anywhere else... long Chuck Berry retrospective all in caps... Monterey
festival reviewed by Mike Daly who puts down almost every band and seems to
hate the whole "love-fest", pretty funny... a piece on Clapton...
already at this early point the once formidable SF street fanzine Mojo
Navigator is a dull, pedestrian rock magazine.
