Books Exhibition General NSFW Publication Studio

American Hardcore 1978-1990 Book :: Printed by Ditto Press (NSFW)

posted by Marcroy April 10, 2013

Ditto Press are at the top of the hierarchy when it comes to risograph printing in London. They have a supreme range of clients and always make sure their prints are quality. This new book by The Vinyl Factory is limited to 300 copies and is a perfect example of the work that they do.

American Hardcore, 1978-1990 publication will be shown at The Vinyl Factory in conjunction with The Mott Collection, bringing together 50 American Hardcore records spanning the apex of the genre from the late 70’s up to the 90’s. The collection represents the subtle shifts and changes, and finally the overall unification of what began as a disparate musical style that developed into a rigid set of fixed codes, sounds, and political beliefs.

From the raw stripped down sounds of Black Flag to the spasmodic reggae influenced Bad Brains, Hardcore emerged as a puritanical suburban rely to the decadence of big city Punk Rock outfits such as the Ramones or the New York Dolls. Popping up in small West Coast communities like Hermosa Beach, Oxnard and San Pedro and simultaneously in East Coast cities such as Washington DC and Boston the Hardcore movement was obsessively local, yet at the same time extremely far reaching due to the punishing tour schedules bands would put themselves through sometimes touring non-stop for years. This had the effect of birthing small Hardcore scenes nationwide each with their own distinct flavours.

The collection of 50 7” singles will be for sale as a framed artwork from the gallery. In addition, The Vinyl Factory has created a commemorative publication. This catalogue documents 50 US Hardcore Punk singles from this period and features an extended Q&A with author and UK Punk collector Toby Mott and US Punk collector and curator Bryan Ray Turcotte. Also included are a 7” vinyl pressing of a Black Flag interview from 1981 and an oversized foldout print.