It's Welly Artcore's birthday today so we want to tell you about his brand new book, 'Nefarious Artists', with an intentionally long-winded subtitle, that's all about punk rock compilation records.
It took Welly over a year to complete and is now finally ready for print. Well over 500 compilations are featured with around 100 full colour pages of sleeve reproductions and much more. Hopefully you'll want to read it and you can pre-order it now from Earth Island or it'll be available from all good book / record outlets on release.
‘Nefarious Artists’ is available for pre-order from Earth Island Books now.
Long before online streaming and even TV music videos, that were beyond the reach of many new bands outside of a lucky spin on the radio, the compilation became the most effective way to access, and be accessed by, the eager new ears and inquisitive minds of the then new punk generation. ‘Nefarious Artists’ is a field study of over 500 punk rock, post-punk, new wave, hardcore punk, and alternative rock compilations from their beginnings in 1976 as major label samplers and live showcases of the ‘new wave’ through their rapid evolution into a documentary art form of D.I.Y. punk rock creativity and expression.
‘Nefarious Artists’ by Welly of Artcore Fanzine (est. 1986) charts the genesis, evolution and art of the punk rock, post-punk, new wave, hardcore punk, and alternative rock compilation vinyl record from 1976 to 1989. Each compilation is discussed and reviewed with accompanying high resolution full colour scans of all the cover art and much more to provide both context and as a journey through the international punk rock music and developing scene of the late 1970s and ‘80s. The compilation record played a pivotal role in the spread of the idea and conversation of the independent punk underground and now remain as audio and visual time capsules that capture the zeitgeist of the music, scene and era.
Featuring background information on the compilations, as well in depth descriptions of the style of the musical content of each one, read as the early major label sampler and live showcase of punk rock and new wave slowly evolved into a burgeoning independent post-punk scene that gradually changed the compilation into an underground labour of love for a developing international underground hardcore punk network. Compilation records for specific cities, countries and causes from labels that went onto global notoriety or merely managed one obscure release are discussed over its 400 plus pages.
Also, the latest issue of Welly's Artcore Fanzine, #42 Autumn '23 is out now.
This forty page litho printed zine is packed with interviews and reviews, and includes a Polish punk scene report. This issue also comes with an eighties Polish punk 7" EP entitled 'The Iron Curtain isn't soundproof' which featuring tracks by Abaddon, Siekiera, Tzn-Xenna, Moskwa, Dezerter and Deuter, on concrete grey vinyl with a fold out poster insert, released in conjunction with Warsaw Pact Records.
You can pick up a copy from most punk record distros and stores in Europe and worldwide, but here are some easy links to order a copy before they run out:
U.S. Orders: https://artcorefanzine.bigcartel.com/
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