Take A Walk On the Flipside
I was digging around in the basement the other day, and found my copy of the first issue of Flipside Magazine, dating back to 1977 and the heady days of the birth of L.A. punk.
I have a personal history with Flipside and it's founders, so I decided to scan it and write out the saga of it's earliest days for the edification of my readers. I've tried to retell the tale with as much accuracy as I could muster, but anything that I couldn't remember or verify with X-8, I just made up. Deal.
So return with me now to those thrilling days of yesteryear when the Weirdos, the Germs, and the Runaways played the Whisky A Go-Go, and 5 corndogs from Whittier, California launched a fanzine for the ages.
Comments
Wow! Cool story. Must have been a fun time.
Thanks for sharing this important evidence of highly refined pop culture with us!
Posted by: Sebastian | January 28, 2005 3:01 PM
If it was highly refined, it wouldn't be punk!
Posted by: MrBaliHai | January 28, 2005 3:13 PM
Absolutly!!
Posted by: Sebastian | January 28, 2005 3:52 PM
Wow! I won't be getting any work done today.
I can't decide whether this makes me feel young, or whether it makes me feel really, really old.
But thank you! It's a real treat.
Posted by: kitty62 | January 28, 2005 4:23 PM
Oooh, noice one. Thanks much, and you are linked. The punk preservation movement rolls on.
Posted by: M.Ace | January 28, 2005 4:28 PM
You're all very welcome. Glad everyone's enjoying it.
Posted by: MrBaliHai | January 28, 2005 4:38 PM
I grew up in Fullerton, just a short hop from Whittier, and started picking up Flipside around 1981, when I was 14. This brings back some great memories; thanks!
Posted by: Micketymick | January 30, 2005 12:20 PM
Very cool. Have you been over to Alice Bag's page? I'll bet she'd love to see this, too.
http://www.alicebag.com
Posted by: Michelle | January 31, 2005 6:10 PM
Hi Michelle. I blogged Alice's page a while back. In fact, finding it is partly what inspired me to start digging around for that old Flipside.
Posted by: MrBaliHai | January 31, 2005 6:49 PM
Did you ever think we'd end up punk rock historians? Great story and pictures. I remember Larry Lash running around in a loud pair of "Winston" pants.
I'm glad my digging around got you digging around. Keep it up! I'll raise a Mr. Bali Hai mug in your honor the next time I'm down in Shelter Island.
XO, 'hic'...
Alice
Posted by: Alice The Evil One | February 1, 2005 12:16 AM
Thanks, Alice. I'd hoist one in your honor as well, if I could find a tiki bar in this godforsaken, hippy college town.
Posted by: MrBaliHai | February 1, 2005 12:49 AM