Fast Forward

July 3, 2019 7:17 PM

Bruce Milne and Andrew Maine's Fast Forward cassette magazine documented the post-punk scene of the early 80s. The tapes interspersed interviews with music and were packaged with printed artwork in a soft case and distributed through record shops. In that pre-internet era Fast Forward helped spread sounds and ideas among music communities. Archived it offers a valuable resource for people interested in post-punk.

Some bits (mostly mp3 links) and pieces:

Vol 1 Raff Edwards on touring with the Clash (like basically a band being festooned with spit)
Vol 2 Interview with Nick Cave and Rowland Howard, with "Yard"
Vol 3 Interview with Gang of Four
Vol 4 Artificial Organs - Fast Forward Theme
Vol 4 Interview with John Cooper Clarke (Leaving Jack with the one thing money can't buy - poverty!)
Vol 4 Interview with Pere Ubu
Vol 4 Johnny Topper - 'The Case Of Missing Leave It To Beaver' serial pt 1
(Vol 4 includes the first of their Crossword Puzzles! jpeg file)
Vol 5 Johnny Topper - 'The Case Of The Missing Leave It To Beaver (Part 2)'
More Johnny Topper - Did You Know sprinkled throughout :) the case of the Beaver also continues on...
Vol 6 Hunters & Collectors - World Of Stone (Demo)
Vol 7 Interview with John Lydon of Public Image Limited

The 8th and 9th volumes of Fast Forward were released as a double-tape "birthday issue" in late 1981. The editors said (see artwork) that the reason for the additional tape was the large influx of musical submissions received which were worthy of inclusion but would take months to fit into the regular format. So a second tape containing music only was included. Due to size considerations the tapes are presented here on two separate web pages.
Vol 8 The Cure - interview with Robert Smith
Vol 9 is a pure playlist and I'm linking Alan Underhill - 'Silicon Sundae part two' because this is what elevator music ought to be.
Vol 10 With a Lie - 'What Poison!' (Sydney band Upside-Down House)

Gosh, my battery is dying and I can't do Vol 11-13, but gosh! Every cassette is loaded with gems! Enjoy!

posted by shoesfullofdust (8 comments total)

I bought all of these and played and read them to death. Thanks for the memories.
posted by unliteral at 7:48 PM on July 3, 2019 [1 favorite]

I remember stumbling across these in the Virgin Megastore by Centre Point and being enthralled.
posted by fallingbadgers at 10:18 PM on July 3, 2019

This is great, thanks for posting it!
posted by holborne at 10:28 PM on July 3, 2019

I've still got a bunch of the NME's cassette compilations from the same era. They were beautifully packaged and full of music I'd never have heard otherwise.
posted by Paul Slade at 11:28 PM on July 3, 2019 [2 favorites]

Outstanding - thanks for posting.
posted by ryanshepard at 5:25 AM on July 4, 2019

Oh damn, now I've got a project.
posted by evilDoug at 6:56 AM on July 4, 2019 [1 favorite]

Colin Newman and LPD in one issue, what a great surprise!
posted by locidot at 2:25 PM on July 4, 2019

I've still got a bunch of the NME's cassette compilations from the same era.
That 'compilations' link is an absolute gem. Thank you so much.
posted by unliteral at 3:34 PM on July 4, 2019