Chris Heath is a writer for The Atlantic, GQ and Vanity Fair, and author of several books. Russell Young is a visual artist with a background in music photography, sleeve design and video directing. Both got their professional start with Jamming! in the early 1980s.
Thirty-five years after its demise, Russell and Chris joined Jamming!’s former publisher/editor Tony Fletcher in New York City, where all three have lived at one time or another, for a long-overdue reunion. The trio sat down with the new book, The Best of Jamming!, and various back issues, to discuss their favorite articles and photo sessions, exchange anecdotes, and consider what they learned in the scrappy fanzine days of Jamming! that helped them hone their craft as professionals.
Topics covered include:
- Photographing the Genius That Is Morrissey
- Chris on the infamous Frankie Goes To Hollywood incident
- George Best the Bullfighter
- Natalie Merchant's all-in personality
- Bronski Beat's pioneering sexual persona
- The camaraderie at Jamming!
- How shooting covers for Lloyd Cole & Cocteau Twins led Russell Young to George Michael & the Faith album cover
- Chris on the 'normality' of visiting George Michael's house for tea
- Interviewing/photographing Virginia Astley, Inca Babies, Andy White, UB40, Everything But The Girl and more.
- Why Russell, Tony & Chris all moved to the USA.
EVENTS
Tony Fletcher will be appearing to discuss The Best of Jamming!: Selections & Stories From the Fanzine that Grew Up 1977-86 at the following events:
Saturday Dec 11th, 2pm, The Golden Notebook presents at Maria’s in Bearsville/Woodstock NY
In conversation with author and Chronogram Arts Editor, Peter Aaron.
Tuesday January 18th, 6pm, Bowery Electric, Manhattan.
In conversation with WNYC Soundcheck’s John Schaefer.
Wednesday February 23rd, 7:30pm, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Book Club at the Dublin Castle, London.
In conversation with RNR Book Club’s Tony Gleed.
Friday February 25th, 7.30pm, the Electric Palace, Hastings.
Featuring a screening of Rough Cut and Ready Dubbed and a conversation with Wendy May.
For more on these events visit
https://tonyfletcher.net/book/the-best-of-jamming/
https://www.facebook.com/theTonyFletcher/events
The Best of Jamming!: Selections and Stories from the Fanzine That Grew Up 1977-86is published by Omnibus Press
TonyFletcher.net
OmnibusPress.com
'The Jamming! Fanzine Podcast Theme'is by Noel Fletcher.
Editing assistance and art by Greg Morton.
https://shows.acast.com/the-jamming-fanzine-podcast
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