Carlos and I were having this discussion yesterday about the death (or impending death) of print media and how there are so few publications around now that we enjoy reading from cover to cover. Then we went to a news stand in the South Bay and I picked up a copy of Drop Dead.

Although I am familiar with Drop Dead's death rock festivals (Jenn from the Rockit did a really nice write up of the L.A. event a few issues back), I have never read the magazine. I picked up issue 3 (technically the fourth installment of the magazine), which is the most recent edition. It seems to publish sporadically (two issues from 2006 and one from 2005), but the content is well worth the wait.

The cover story on Fad Gadget is what attracted me to the magazine, since I had really wanted to write a history of Frank Tovey (guess I won't be doing that now). Drop Dead's feature includes numerous interviews, including ones with Daniel Miller and Tovey's daughter Morgan. It is an enlightening read and a splendid tribute to the artist.

Inside, I was pleasantly surprised to find a lengthy and well-executed piece on the artwork of Alien Sex Fiend (based primarily on interviews with Mr. and Mrs. Fiend). The layout of this piece was superb and well-reprsented Alien Sex Fiend's artwork.

Also, there is an extensive piece on early L.A. synth punk, which highlights Nervous Gender, Catholic Discipline and, naturally, the Screamers. It is an extremely interesting read, something that should be seen by every "authority" who blatantly overlooks L.A.'s post-punk scene (or only discusses hardcore). I was particularly impressed considering that the magazine hails from New York. It's nice to see that people in another city understand the importance of L.A. bands.

But that's not all. There is an interview with Attrition that I really want to read, but have not yet on account of the fact that the byline reads "Atrocious Lyre" and so I can't help but bust up laughing whenever I turn to the page. If that's not the best nom de plume ever, I don't know what is.

Looking through the website, I noticed that previous issues feature a piece Prague cemeteries, an interview with Andi Sex Gang conducted by Cinema Strange/Deadfly Ensemble's Lucas Lanthier, a history of horror surf, an article on early 4AD bands and pieces on Nina Hagen and Virgin Prunes. How awesome is that?

Like nearly every goth-leaning publication, Drop Dead features a wonderful layout. The style is legible and professional while retaining a homemade zine feel with slightly off-kilter text boxes and fonts that look to be handwritten.

Everyone who reads this blog needs to go out and pick up a copy of Drop Dead. Support people who are actually doing something against the grain.

Labels: Drop Dead Magazine, Good Reads