Resistant Harmony Fanzine

Hi. This page within the FMR site contains information pertaining to the seven issues of my punk fanzine Resistant Harmony outta Melbourne Australia from 1987 to 1995. It's basic information on each issue with reproduced high or lowlights from each one forthcoming. Being amongst a family of printers, the debut issue was printed on a classic Geha machine (the size of 2 big copiers) purchased in 1986 for the purpose of self publication. Pages were put to rubber moulds and rolled around to ink out page after page which were then collated and stapled by hand. For me now, this seems like it was another world and not something that i actually did do,but it's a cool memory all the same and a great DIY learning curve. Subsequent issues were printed by a back yard gent in the eastern suburb of Croydon and collated in metre high piles which were then glued as one on the spine and sliced at each back cover until a stack of finished issues were in your hands. All photos were taken to a specialist printers to be bromided before becoming part of a master page so as to enhance their reproduction and not have a black blob were a neat photo once lay.My choice of tools were of course a sharp pair of scissors and a handy glue stick, and ye olde Letraset sheets before fonts & personal computing became the norm. The last printed fanzine i was involved with (in 2011) was Stained Sheets, and that was just as much a buzz to witness a finished mag as doing these issues were. It's a wonderful way to get your thoughts and fandom out there and holding a clump of pages and sitting in for a squizz is still one of life's little joys and it holds my attention 100% just as a good read of a new Ugly Things issue does ! You either love this shit or you don't, and the fact that you are reading this right now means that the kick you get is in your blood and that is a solid and very cool thing indeed. Here's hoping that some of the stuff here keeps you entertained for a short while & thanks for checking it out, Scotti - November 2019

Issue # 1 - August /September 1987

The debut issue featuring both local and overseas content. Includes NO FRAUD from Florida, D.O.G. from Canada (Thrash/Speedcore), CONDEMNED ATTITUDE from San Francisco, CIVILISED SOCIETY (West Yorkshire UK), THE GUILT PARADE from Canada, FANG (Conneticutt), VICIOUS CIRCLE (Melbourne), MASS APPEAL (Sydney), and the first Australian interview (June 1987) with MR BUNGLE (when all still teenagers).

7" reviews of : NO FRAUD, CHEETAH CHROME MOTHERFUCKERS, DEPRESSION, G.A.S.H., THE HEADSTONES, SCREAM, JESUS & MARY CHAIN, & ARM THE INSANE.
12"/LP reviews of : CONDEMNED, RITES OF SPRING, M.D.C., VICIOUS CIRCLE, AGNOSTIC FRONT, WORLD WAR XXIV,
MASS APPEAL, DEAD KENNEDYS, WEDDINGS, PARTIES, ANYTHING, I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVY, SPY V SPY, GRAY MATTER, SCREAM, HARD CORPUSCLES, THE EXTREMES, MURDER MURDER SUICIDE, MOVING TARGETS, THE FRONT and JUSTICE LEAGUE.

This issue also included a camping story (where a tree fell on one of our cars), Cartoons, H/C Crossword & Punk Brain Teaser, Opinion pieces, Full page artworks, The Hard-Ons in Geelong, and more. Contributors were : Vinnie (S.T.P.), Mat and Tracey (Civil Dissident). My top ten back in the day was : Embrace,Descendents, The Freeze, Arm the Insane, The Spermbirds, Moving Targets, Skeezicks,Replacements,Descendents #2 and Scream.

A4 - 44 pages, Yellow Cover, print run = 300 copies Released September 6th 1987

May 2020 update : to view the full fanzine as a cool flipbook, click on this link
www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/63410273/resistant-harmony-fanzine-issue-1-1987

and also check out a mega archive of Australian Punk and so much more at

www.punkjourney.com

Issue # 2 - September 1987 -January 1988

This issue featured THE VULTEES (Sydney), SAMMICH RECORDS (Washington DC), JUSTICE LEAGUE (CA USA), THE DORKS (Melbourne), ALIENATION (New Jersey), DEAD SILENCE (Colorado), THE EXTREMES (Melbourne),& MISSION OF CHRIST (Canada).

As well as a 7" review on ASYLUM, & 12" reviews on CANCEROUS GROWTH, DAG NASTY, DEAD SILENCE + opinion pieces, full page artwork, a chat with Tubby (ex: MASS APPEAL), A Sydney scene report (with photos of the SPUNKBUBBLES and the HARD-ONS at the Seaview Ballroom & Prince of Wales Hotels, and a demented chat with Darwinites TOE, BAZ & SID (Toe features on the great 'Waste Sausage' Compilation LP.

A4, 38 pages - Print Run = 300 copies Released January 14th 1988

Issue # 3 - January -October 1988

this issue was a fave with cover art by American artist ROT FLESH and the first Australian Interview with FUGAZI (Washington DC) when still a three piece. It also had two other DC bands GOVERNMENT ISSUE and SHUDDER TO THINK, along with amazing local party punks S.I.C., a chat with Lee from UK legends NAPALM DEATH,another chat with MR BUNGLE,+ two Sydney combos...FESTER FANATICS and the HELLMENN, and locals BASTARD SQUAD, THE SLUSHPUPPIES and WEDDINGS, PARTIES, ANYTHING.

This issue featured a 7" review on RATCAT, plus 12"/LP reviews on METALLICA, VICIOUS CIRCLE, FESTER FANATICS, V/A: Not So Lucky Country' 2LP, ARTICLES OF FAITH, ROLLINS BAND, ALL, HARD-ONS, LUDICHRIST, DAG NASTY, BUTTHOLE SURFERS, & DEPRESSION. It also had Cassette reviews on MR BUNGLE, HIERONYMUS BOSCH, & VICIOUS CIRCLE + Fanzine wraps on Never Go Back, Falling through a Loophole, Noise Noise Noise, B-Side (#22), Fire at the Firehouse,Divided we Fall, Photodrome, & Civilised Man.

It also featured a half page Au-Go-Go ad (moving shop from Little Collins to Little Bourke Street)along with great artwork, excellent band photos and graphics, a crossword & more. The most 'clean' and sharp looking issue to date.

A4 -44 pages -Print Run =300 copies Released October 10th 1988

Issue #4 -October 1988 -July 1989

This issue mixed up a swag of Overseas bands like ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT (CA USA), BRAIN DEAD (Kentucky), STIKKY (USA), HENRY ROLLINS (LA),& PYHAKOULU (Finland), along with Melbournites INSYTE (Pre-MUTINY), ARM THE INSANE & young eastern subs trio PUBLIC DISGRACE feat: Steve & Dennis Crooks (14,16yrs) & Dan Dempster (14yrs old) & Pre: THE SAILORS, BITS OF SHIT etc...

It had 7" reviews on MUDHONEY, NEUROSIS, JESTERS OF CHAOS, THE MISFITS, A.P.P.L.E.,RIPCORD, SS-20, VERTIGO, ANTiSEEN, SNUFF + the 'Odd Man Out' & 'Worlds in Shreds #3' comps.

LP wise there were wraps for JANES ADDICTION, ALL, LOMPOC COUNTY SPLATTERHEADS, BUCK PETS, BOB MOULD, OPERATION IVY, NO MEANS NO, LAUGHING HYENAS, JUNKYARD & Sydney's Thud masters EXAMPLEHEAD.

And not forgetting the humble cassette as HIERONYMUS BOSCH, BASTARD SQUAD, & JOHNNY VOMIT get a guernsey.
It also had a big crossword, some excellent artwork (esp: by Ted Freeman from ATI, & Daddy Chan from SHITFEAST fanzine), a 4 page Adelaide scene report by Dave Manning (quite extensive),& some crazy pics of GG Allin, Henry Rollins & more!

A4 -44 pages -Print Run = 500 copies (all hand #'d with bonus RH sticker) Released July 17th 1989

Issue # 5 - August 1992

When producing a fanzine i believe that each ish should naturally be a step up,& so it was with this as the antes were upped, the page quota heightened, the print run extended & the additions fresh. How it all came to be that the gap between #4/5 was an insane 3 years & 1 month, i cannot recall,but it got there in the end & was lots of loyal readers fave issue due to the BORED! Euro Tour Diary penned by our ol' pal Tim Hemensley. ( the full diary is on this site on the Tim Hemensley page)

Content wise then it went like this : (Overseas) NIRVANA, FIDELITY JONES, SIM CAIN (ROLLINS BAND drummer), ANTiSEEN, DIRT CLOD FIGHT,SEVERIN,& for their third look in....MR BUNGLE. Locally we had the magnificent HOSS, YOU AM I, THE MEANIES, BEANFEAST ,GREEN BEAVER, THE HARD-ONS,& BASTARD SQUAD /WARP SPASM (91'Tour Diary).

The Review section also went ape with too many to mention here,and also a 3 pg guest spot of Doom/Grind reviews by Brett Shadowmaker.It also had a solid Adelaide scene report, a Crossword,a Sydney scene report, a piece on the BACKFLIP CO-OP (Our shortlived but fun All Ages Collective),lots of great photos (Splatterheads, Iron Shieks,Tutti Parze, Mass Appeal, Subliminal Pressure,Tofu Terror, The Meanies, AntiSeen, Warp Spasm,Bastard Squad,Velvet Hammer, Nunbait, Bonecrusher, Spiderbait, Aquanuggets,Nursery Crimes, Fridge, and more. The 40 day, 9 page BORED EUROPEAN TOUR DIARY was the highlight for me, and it will be reproduced here within the next few months to exist in the digital realm.
There was also LIVE REVIEWS on THE SPLATTERHEADS,GUTTERSNIPES, VERTICAL SMILE,KILLING TIME,as well as a ripper line up in Collingwood on May 19th 1990 feat: BORED!, HOSS,THE DIRTY LOVERS & THE MEANIES.

Issue #5 A4 -72 pgs w: bonus Picture Sleeve 7" single (see above and below) Print run =1,000 Released August 17th 1992

This issue also had a Hand Screened Cover wrap around by Stu Thompson (who also did the front cover art for the 7" & appears in screen print heaven on Issue #6) with a killer photo of DAVE THOMAS from BORED! with bare feet & long hair on the front and a full page DOGMEAT RECORDS ad on the flip. The package itself came wrapped in a plastic bag with stamped sticker and included : Water Balloons, a Black Plastic Spider, Random toys, footy cards and stickers + a broken piece of vinyl. These were assembled thanks to a house party with friends over food and drink and passing the mags around for their next 'addition'. The 7" 'Not So Free' featured PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS from NURSERY CRIMES, STONE CIRCUS, & KILLING TIME. The first 400 copies were on Purple Vinyl, with the sleeve stamped#'d out of 1,000.

Issue # 6 -November 1993

Well a 14 month gap between issues & a slight fall back to earth on the page numbers (4 less) and the print run (half) due to dollar constraints (ain't it always ?) but out nonetheless. This one had 3 Different Covers with it's main bite being a 20 page Dischord Records Special (printed on pink paper no less) which had everything from a day to day office wrap to an extensive Discography overview and family tree (half from FLIPSIDE#47 & then extended by myself) to a massive FUGAZI interview. This also coincided with their late Aussie/NZ tour (Nov 10 to Dec 11), with some of those shows (like 1991) absolutely EXPLOSIVE!

This issue also pushed the limits on 'acceptable font standards' by reducing down so much (fanzine /rec reviews) to be almost unreadable and messy for the eyeballs so late apologies for that ol' sport. The Aussie quota was : ASTEROID B-612, MAGIC DIRT,CHRISTBAIT, PATTERSON'S CURSE, POPPIN' MOMMAS, MERGATROID, MINDLESS, SCOURGE, & WEDDINGS PARTIES ANYTHING (Canadian Tour Wrap), with Overseas influence pushing through from NO MEANS NO & trippy artist & shitstirrer ROBT WILLIAMS.

It also had a Japanese scene report with local friend Jan, masses of Fanzine and Record Reviews and quite a stack of reading on the Rockin' chair. The 'standard' cover is what you see to your left with the 'Parental Advisory' collage and Red blotch, the Limited cover removes the Red block and replaces it with three huge red swear words as a none too subtle statement on the overuse of these PA labels on music product of the day. This was then housed (200 Hand Numbered Copies) in a 'Censor Bag', Screen Printed (Stu Thompson custom screens) brown paper bag with the cussing housed inside.

Issue # 6 - A4 -68 pages -Print Run = 500 copies- New Logo masthead by Andrew McLeod Released November 29 1993

Issue # 7 -November 1995

So the last issue published (Is it really 23 years ago ?), but maybe not the last issue ever (that horse may well of bolted you say,but my fandom of music has never ever lulled & the discoveries over the past 15 years of mad KBD styled Punk /New Wave obscurities still require further documentation in my book, plus there's the photozine idea and the........) and this one was a heavy mongrel breaking into the elusive triple figures on it's back page Dogmeat Records Ad. It was also a special as we welcomed a BONUS FANZINE in the guts (Printed Yellow) from my long standing pals Dave & Andrew Lang with their biting, informative, bold & funny YEAR ZERO (Issue # 5). Dave's writing and Andrew's graphic wit will forever have me repeat flicking on anything they've published and it was a pleasure to have all this reading out there in one hefty mag (and it remains the only issue still available for sale !)

The RH portion featured (Australian) QUEER, WRONG BODY, THE MARK OF CAIN, PERSECUTION, THE MU-MESONS (that's them front cover lower hangin' from the rafters at the GB Hotel in Richmond) & COME THE RUBBER PIG (feat: early RH contributor Vinnie, his buddie James & Big Al (Post VENOM P. STINGER),whilst the Overseas coverage had THE FIREWORKS, HELMET, JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION, ROBT WILLIAMS (transcript of Sydney lecture we attended in May '93), NEIL HAMBURGER,GIRL TROUBLE (thanks to my old mailorder pal Brendan L)&, BLACKTOP & BOSS HOG.

We got the font size spot on this time, making it the most crisp to view and #7 was super jam packed with fanzine and record reviews (again with custom mastheads supplied by the magic hand of Andrew McLeod of Chapel Tattoos), along with a huge array of photos of Aust /O/s bands, a informative AUSTRALIAN FANZINE HISTORY (1976-1995), a great 2 page cartoon story 'Ten Cent Heroes' by local comic artist BRUCE MUTARD (Street Smell), a swag of previously unseen Late 70's Oz Punk Pics
& more....hell even the AD's were cool !

Issue #7 - A4 -100 Pages -Print Run = 1,000 (the first 500 came with a RH masthead sticker)

Released October 19th 1995

Year Zero # 5 (24 Page supplement within RH #7 1995)

A mega amount of writing and addictive reading to be found here, with great graphics and random cartoonage throughout. Excellent chats with AZALIA SNAIL, CUL DE SAC, SUPREME DICKS along with informative fandom on the MEAT PUPPETS, THE ELECTRIC EELS, MX-80 SOUND, THE SCENE IS NOW, DIE KREUZEN, FAUST, CAPTAIN BEEFHEART, CHROME, THE SEX PISTOLS & more. It's a hoot and still available to peruse for a minor PayPal button press ( See Second Hand Stuff pages)

below : The Back Covers of YEAR ZERO and the RH Issues in order...plus the 7" which came with Issue # 5 (Most were on Black Vinyl, a handful were on Purple)

Below : Street Press Ad for #7 - Centre : Letter from CUBA Right : NO FRAUD Letter Oct 13 1987.... In a Pre-Internet world, getting a band letter with hand written Interview answers was like Christmas Day ! Excitement plus busting open a letter or package and finding handbills, stickers, tapes, records etc....