Zine - Still Thinking #3

The last issue of Still Thinking to come out although there was a fourth issue that they were hoping to publish. Looks like this came out after the "Progress?!" compilation written about elsewhere on the blog. Still Thinking interviewed C.O.C. in their first issue and the familiarity with them helps the interviewer cut straight to the chase with getting to label mismanagement from the outset. They talk about political action and peace and boxer shorts...... It is a pretty good interview. At least better than the first one.

A mail interview with CONCRETE SOX follows this up. This was the first mail interview I read in Still Thinking. Usually they interview bands that have come through town. This interview is with the bass player, Les. This is one of the best interviews I have read in this zine. The interview starts out with he various line up changes that bring them to the line up at the time. They talk about the lyric absences with the HERESY split, specifically the lack of animal rights songs. There is a discussion about anarchism and how to bring it about, similar to Marx evolution from capitalism to communism. There is a discussion about their scene in Nottingham and their loss of their club. They talk about the metal influence on hardcore and they bring up the VARUKERS offshoot band ARBITRAITOR. The song "Speak Siberian or Die" comes up with CONCRETE SOX critique of the racist sentiments behind "Speak English or Die" by S.O.D. They talk about their views on Religion with a few songs. 

A phone interview with Alec Mackaye is done about IGNITION. This was the period just after the first two singles. IGNITION were working on their first full length. There is talk of reviews, talk about DAG NASTY and talk about touring up in Toronto, which never happened. 

The next interview is with Mike Watt of FIREHOSE and they start out by talking about how MINUTEMEN formed which was fascinating. Then they dig back further with talk about the REACTIONARIES. They talk about how MINUTEMEN formed out of that, what the scene was like and what role Raymond Pettibon played in the band. But this talks into how important Raymond Pettibon's artwork is and how protecting Jello was actually protecting Raymond. And eventually they get into how FIREHOSE came to be with Ed from Ohio coming down to audition. There is a number of songs explained through the interview which you don't see in a lot of interviews. 

And this must be one of the first FUGAZI interviews as well. This is with Ian Mackaye and like most interviews I have read with Ian you come out feeling inspired. The interview covers the lineage of the band, how the PAILHEAD project came together, how Revolution Summer came together, some MINOR THREAT gossip, Positive Force DC, some compilations about to come out, and the need to be active. "Always outraged and never discouraged". 

There is an incredible scene report on the Polish scene which talks about some of the difficulties of being a punk in Soviet Poland. Particularly getting jailed or sent to do mandatory military service. And bands having problems getting past censors or being able to afford equipment or riding a place to practise. There is a great list of bands that were active past and present. Just a unique time capsule of punk behind the iron curtain. And they were also starting to make contact with bands from East Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Russia. Good to see these scenes networking. 

And then there is a DC holy trinity interview with Brian Baker about DAG NASTY. Brian starts out talking about the early days of MINOR THREAT. There is some great insight into the band dynamics specifically with Lyle Preslar. There is a part two of this interview that is supposed to be for the next issue, but the next issue didn't come out as far as I know.