PUBLIC COLLECTORS

Psychotronic Video, issue 2, Spring 1989, published by Michael J. Weldon.

Psychotronic, issue 7, Fall 1990, published by Michael J. Weldon.

Psychotronic, issue 10, Summer 1991, published by Michael J. Weldon.

With the arrival of a fresh shipment of archival storage boxes, I’m trying to deal with filing old ‘zines and subcultural printed stuff again. Here’s Psychotronic Video, issue 4, Winter 1990, published by Michael J. Weldon.

An ad for Sound Connection Inc. offering to explain it all. From the August 1984 issue of Hit Parader.

The grand prize winner of the Total Band Sweepstakes #1! Lucky David Lara got the Randy Rhoads guitar. Man does he look excited. From the August 1984 issue of Hit Parader.

An anti-New Wave t-shirt offered by the entrepreneurs at Barbaric Enterprises. From the August 1984 issue of Hit Parader.

An ad for Barbaric™ barbed wire jewelry from the August 1984 issue of Hit Parader. I can pretty safely say that throughout the metal 1980s I never saw someone wearing this stuff.

Metal Rage gloves, as advertized in the August 1984 issue of Hit Parader. Not shown but featured alongside this ad were the lyrics to “The Longest Time” by Billy Joel.

When mediocre reviews happen to classic records: Morbid Tales by Celtic Frost, reviewed by Andy Secher in the October 1985 issue of Hit Parader.

A collection of practice heads in the window of a salon on Western Avenue in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood.

Photocopy art by an unknown artist, used as stationary in a letter I received from Paul Wright back in February 1990 when he was incarcerated in Washington state. Paul founded Prison Legal News around the same time that we were corresponding. The journal continues to this day.

Photocopy art by an unknown artist, used as stationary in a letter I received from Paul Wright back in February 1990 when he was incarcerated in Washington state. Paul founded Prison Legal News around the same time that we were corresponding. The journal continues to this day.

Tricky early morning flea market puzzle: Which one of these four white objects is not like the others?

Another post to mark the birthday of a late friend, Matt Hanner.

Shortly after his completely unexpected death, I borrowed two boxes of Hanner’s ephemera and mailed art from Anthony Elms - a longtime friend of mine and a close friend of Matt’s. This drawing from 2004, mailed to Anthony, is one of many that was created by modifying a Wolfgang Laib postcard.

Matt Hanner had a Tumblr blog:  http://matthanner.tumblr.com/. He updated it until one month before his death and it gives an expanded sense of the way he was in the world. More Matt Hanner material on Public Collectors here.