Kindred Spirit - The Story of a 1980's Hull Fanzine

The first four poems featured in issue three of Kindred Spirit and I’ve added one of my own poems at the foot of the post also. I hope you will enjoy reading them. Evaporate  By Janis Immiscible chemicals you and I, volatile like, unstable vapour, impending explosion into possession. Dangerous to think don’t add alcohol – you won’t like the result. Sick, sick for you. Guide it, nurture it and it will grow for you. Disregard it, spurn, it could just evaporate. I will just evaporate. Ice  By Catherine Grimshaw Icicle fingers are cold and stiff, they point very hard and the tops stare at you as if you are an icicle too. Stalagmite, stalactite are all of the same, they are too cold and join in this game, except when they melt. Icy cold stares are frozen like hell. Ice is a word, ice is a smell? Ice is not nice, just like lice or like mice, but it’s cheap at the price, is the icicle ice. Ic...

As Killing Joke’s 40 th anniversary tour comes to a close, now seems the ideal time to share the interview we did with singer Jaz Coleman, which was featured in issue 3 of Kindred Spirit. I couldn’t believe my luck when through the daughter of a friend of my mum’s (believe it or not) we managed to secure a back stage pass to interview Killing Joke. The interview followed a mesmerizing performance at Tiffany’s, Leeds in December 1983, several months after the release of the brilliant Fire Dances album. Glitzy Tiffany’s seemed a somehow unfitting venue, but once KJ took to the stage the surroundings suddenly became irrelevant. They had us all in the palm of their hands from start to finish as they stomped their way through an awesome set. With his painted face and menacing expressions, Jaz dominated the scene; whilst guitarists Geordie and Raven swayed effortlessly from side to side in time to drummer Paul’s pounding tribal beats.    Wow! It’s all coming back to me… Th...

Here is another helping of poetry as featured in Kindred Spirit. The first is my own offering and is a poem I felt inspired to write after walking home one Guy Fawkes night circa 1984, whilst bonfire and firework parties were going on all around me. The second poem was featured in issue 3 of Kindred Spirit and the third in issue 2.  I hope you enjoy reading them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visions of November Waves of murky brown smoke gently ripple over my tousled head, and that rich, intoxicating aroma plays havoc with my senses, conjuring up a thousand vivid memories of chestnuts, brandy snap, childhood aspirations and hot steamy breath evaporating in the night. Unthinkingly I turn to stare at the stark silhouettes of cold bare trees on parade for the night, then a rainbow coloured shower suddenly bursts into view, glittering like tinsel in the chilled November air, until fading, twinkling, dying it flutters down to kiss the g...

Quel Dommage were a Hull based post punk band who built up a  strong local following throughout the years they were active. They played their first gig at Dingwalls in Hull in May 1983 and their last at Hull ’s legendary Adelphi Club in 1986. Their line up was as follows: Mike Farnill (bass/vocals) Andy “Tommo” Thompson (guitar) Dave Lofts (drums) Ian Muir (keyboards)   Their sound was reminiscent of Joy Division and their live act highly atmospheric. Throughout the years they were together Quel Dommage were an integral part of the local music scene, with guitarist Andy being the creator of the Xcentric Noise record label (1980-1986). Quel Dommage released one single on Xcentric Noise in 1984 entitled “ Bright Lights ” which was given airplay by John Peel as well as on local radio back in the day. On the B side was Music For Serious And Solemn Occasions (A Song Of Thankfulness And Praise)   and  Amendment    To celebrate Q...