Pictured above is my membership card to the Cramps fan club from back in the early 1980s. Twenty six years ago I thought the Cramps were quite possibly the greatest rock'n'roll band in the world and that Garbageman was the coolest pop promo video of all time. Sitting here now after being prompted to watch it again on youtube after hearing of the sad death of Lux Interior I realise that, for once, my 16 year old self was 100% correct.
the first journalism Lake ever had published was a history of Johnny Thunders for Record Collector magazine, since then he has written for publications including the Guardian, Dazed and Confused, the Idler and more recently, outsideleft.com as you have just seen.
more stories you really could read...
Alan Devey, Alex V. Cook, Alwyn S, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, David Hackney, Debra Ifill, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, Duncan Jones, Emerson O'Sullivan III aka FancyLad, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Eswin21, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, Jason Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jeremy Gluck, Joe Ambrose, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Lake, Lee Paul, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Meave Haughey, Michelle Williams, mindy strouse, Paul Hawkins, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Rene Williams, Rick Casson, Ronan Crinion, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Speedie John, Founders: Alarcon & Lamontpaul.
If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]
Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]