Forced Exposure
Encyclopedia
Forced Exposure was an independent music magazine (zine
) published sporadically out of Massachusetts from the early-'80s to 1993, edited by Jimmy Johnson and Byron Coley
. It was printed on cheap newsprint with plain design and filled with corrosive yet humorous writing. The first issue featured Boston Hardcore band SSDecontrol
on the cover.
While there were articles and reviews of various counter-culture figures in literature (Charles Bukowski
, William S. Burroughs
, Philip K. Dick
) and film (Richard Kern
, Nick Zedd
), the primary focus was independent, punk, and obscure music. The tone was often sarcastic, confrontational and highly opinionated. Coley in particular wrote in a vernacular that was influential on subsequent rock journalism.
The list of contributors and interviewees reads like a who's who of underground music from the time: Steve Albini
, Mission of Burma
, Sonic Youth
, Lydia Lunch
, Chris D.
, Tesco Vee, et cetera. The last issue of the magazine, #18, was released in 1993. Forced Exposure now exists as a distributor of CDs and vinyl records.
One reviewer said of the magazine, "What separates Forced Exposure from other alternative music and art magazines is the intelligence and intensity of its editorial style."
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
) published sporadically out of Massachusetts from the early-'80s to 1993, edited by Jimmy Johnson and Byron Coley
Byron Coley
Byron Coley is an American music critic who wrote prominently for Forced Exposure magazine in the 1980s, starting with their fifth issue until the magazine ceased publication in 1993. Prior to Forced Exposure, he wrote for NY Rocker, Boston Rock, and Take It! magazine. Coley is one of the first...
. It was printed on cheap newsprint with plain design and filled with corrosive yet humorous writing. The first issue featured Boston Hardcore band SSDecontrol
SSD (band)
SSD were a straight edge hardcore band from Boston. They released two records as SS Decontrol and then formally changed their name to SSD. As SSD they released two more records, these with a very heavy metal influenced sound...
on the cover.
While there were articles and reviews of various counter-culture figures in literature (Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski
Henry Charles Bukowski was an American poet, novelist and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural and economic ambience of his home city of Los Angeles...
, William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II was an American novelist, poet, essayist and spoken word performer. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th...
, Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick
Philip Kindred Dick was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist whose published work is almost entirely in the science fiction genre. Dick explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes in novels dominated by monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments and altered...
) and film (Richard Kern
Richard Kern
Richard Kern is a New York underground filmmaker, writer and photographer. He first came to underground prominence as part of the underground cultural explosion in the East Village of New York City in the 1980s, with erotic and experimental films featuring underground personalities of the time...
, Nick Zedd
Nick Zedd
Nick Zedd is an American filmmaker and author based in New York City. He coined the term Cinema of Transgression in 1985 to describe a loose-knit group of like-minded filmmakers and artists using shock value and black humor in their work...
), the primary focus was independent, punk, and obscure music. The tone was often sarcastic, confrontational and highly opinionated. Coley in particular wrote in a vernacular that was influential on subsequent rock journalism.
The list of contributors and interviewees reads like a who's who of underground music from the time: Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
, Mission of Burma
Mission of Burma
Mission of Burma is an American post-punk band formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1979. The band was formed by Roger Miller , Clint Conley , Peter Prescott and Martin Swope...
, Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
, Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch is an American singer, poet, writer, and actress whose career was spawned by the New York No Wave scene...
, Chris D.
Chris D.
Chris D., real name Chris Desjardins, is a punk poet, rock critic, singer, writer, actor and filmmaker. Chris D. is best known as the lead singer and founder of the early Los Angeles punk/deathrock band The Flesh Eaters. Desjardins was a feature writer at Slash magazine in 1977, when he formed a...
, Tesco Vee, et cetera. The last issue of the magazine, #18, was released in 1993. Forced Exposure now exists as a distributor of CDs and vinyl records.
One reviewer said of the magazine, "What separates Forced Exposure from other alternative music and art magazines is the intelligence and intensity of its editorial style."