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WelcomE

Earth Island Books is an independent book publisher. 

 

We work with a punk rock ethic which has resulted in a varied catalogue of wonderful titles on alternative subjects.


We publish genre defining books and for us,
quality is more important than quantity.


We are incredibly proud of our publications 
and of the authors with whom we work. 


Working alongside Engineer Records, an independent, alternative record label with over 300 rocking releases,


Earth Island Books has produced some compelling reads ranging from fiction to music to history. There's some really exciting new titles lined up. Take a look, get in touch!

NEFARIOUS ARTISTS: THE EVOLUTION AND ART OF THE PUNK ROCK, POST-PUNK, NEW WAVE, HARDCORE PUNK AND ALTERNATIVE ROCK COMPILATION RECORD 1976 - 1989

By Welly Artcore
In our store now!
Nefarious Artists. Book Cover.jpg
Featured Author
Welly Artcore.jpg
FEATURED AUTHoR
 
WELLY ARTCORE

Originally from Cardiff in Wales, Welly’s lifelong obsession with punk rock began in the late ‘70s, where he soon found himself designing his own home made record covers. As a result, after high school he studied graphic design at print school and art college for four years and has been a graphic designer for punk bands and labels for over 30 years since, with over 170 published releases to date. 

While still in high school, after finding out what a fanzine was from the pages of Maximum Rock’n’Roll he began creating his own, Artcore, in late 1985, printing a few dozen copies of the first issue on the high school photocopier in January 1986. He continues to publish Artcore to this day with 40 issues and 16 vinyl fanzines released to date. 

After writing lyrics from an early age he co-founded FOUR LETTER WORD in 1991 taking up the role of vocalist, and after one 7” EP in 1995 they signed to YOUTH BRIGADE’s Los Angeles based B.Y.O. Records in 1997 for the story you just read. They released a total of four albums and eight EPs and singles before calling it a day 20 years after forming.

After FOUR LETTER WORD Welly formed the short lived STATE FUNERAL on vocals before being asked to join VIOLENT ARREST for their last two releases, followed by the one-off studio project, SIGNAL CRIMES, with three members of HERESY. With 30 years of bands and 20 releases under his belt, he now thinks it’s time for the kids to have their say.

He also ran two D.I.Y. punk rock record shops/stalls, Damaged Records (2004-2008) and the aptly named Ghost Town Records (2012-2014) in Cardiff, Wales, and was involved in promoting and making flyers for gigs and all-day charity benefits in Cardiff and Newport from the 1980s onwards.

After the tours he visited the U.S. numerous times with his family before relocating to Arizona in 2018.

'Directions to the Outskirts of Town: Punk Rock Tour Diaries from Nineties North America' was Welly's first book. His candid and humorous account of life on the road with a touring punk band was published by Earth Island Books in 2021.

 

'Nefarious Artists: The Evolution and Art of the Punk Rock, Post-Punk, New Wave, Hardcore Punk and Alternative Rock Compilation Record 1976 – 1989' is Welly's new book, a huge study of over 500 punk rock compilation albums, and this will be published by Earth Island Books late in the autumn '23.

Our Books
OUR Books

Three and a half minutes of fame

by Alex Boucher

Ten Poets (Volume One)

by Various Authors

This is My Everything

by Chris Späth

Nefarious Artists

by Welly Artcore

The Resurrection of The Crazed by Paul Wainwright

Mix Tapes and Photo Albums

by Andrea Janov

Old West

A Fable of the

Gluttony of Understanding

By E D Evans

The Humanity Trigger

by Mark Humanity

The Dark Chronicles

by James Christie

My Punk Rock Life - The Photography of Marla Watson

Time For My Generation To DIE

by E.D. Evans

The Grief of Godless Games: Book One of The Godless Saga

by J.T. Audsley

Short Skirts and Whiskey Shots by Andrea Janov

Wisdom of the Punk Buddha

by Sam Marsh

Anarchist Atheist Punk Rock Teacher (A Memoir of Struggle, Grief, Philosophy and Hope)

by DaN McKee

The Revolution Will Be Televised

by Ray Stuart

Domesticated Vol. 2

by James Domestic

Domesticated

by James Domestic

Punks in the Willows

by Alex CF

Silence Is No Reaction:

Forty Years of Subhumans

by Ian Glasper

A Hardcore Heart: Adventures in a D.I.Y Scene

by David Gamage

Nimrod

by Ryan Roberts

Goudvishal

by Henk Wentink & Marcel Stol

Combat Ready

by Tim Satchwell

Worst Eurovision Ever

by Roy D. Hacksaw

We Can Be The New Wind

by Alexandros Anesiadis

Mass Movement Volume 2

by Tim Cundle

Terrorized: The Collected Interviews. Volume Two

by Ian Glasper

Directions To The

Outskirts Of Town

by Welly Artcore

Mass Movement Volume 1

by Tim Cundle

Terrorized: The Collected Interviews. Volume One

by Ian Glasper

Bugger Banksy

by Roy D Hacksaw

The Scene That Would Not Die

by Ian Glasper

What Would Garry Gygax Do?

by Tim Cundle

Theta House

by Jim X Dodge

Punk Faction

BHP '91 to '95

by David Gamage

The Bite

by Jim X Dodge

Compression

by Tim Cundle

The Lost Sons Of Penycae

by Barry Jones

IN THE PRESS

 Punk Faction, BHP '91 to '95

by David Gamage

"I love the DIY attitude and philosophy. I learned some new things about the world and most importantly, I was made to think"

VOODOO LYNN,

Horror Addicts

Press
Next Event
EventS
Manchester & Salford Anarchist Bookfair
Manchester & Salford Anarchist Bookfair
When
04 Nov 2023, 10:00 – 16:00
Where
Manchester,
Left Bank, Manchester M3 3ER, UK
Contact
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