Available in three unique covers, the latest edition of RRPL Magazine, No.3, will take readers on a star-studded voyage across space with its title a direct line from the superb 1946 Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger film A Matter of Life and Death, focusing on science fiction and the cosmology of 20th century culture as its theme.
As we previously reported, British musician, songwriter and producer Mick Jones launched The Rock & Roll Public Library Magazine aka RRPL Magazine, last year at an experiential exhibition at London’s Farsight Gallery.
The Rock & Roll Public Library (RRPL) itself is a large, material archive of 20th century pop culture, collected over a lifetime by Mick Jones (The Clash, Big Audio Dynamite). It includes thousands of items, including books, comics, magazines, musical equipment, literature, art, clothing, ephemera as well as music and film in every format, revealing a wide network of influences that span the entire 20th century.
The Rock & Roll Public Library Magazine has been created to share elements of the archive and serves as a curated selective journey through the collection. A portable exhibition in itself, it invites the reader to find their own connections and inspirations from the Library’s wide-ranging artefacts.
The latest issue of the in-house magazine, available in three unique covers, includes exclusive articles on the nascent days of The Clash by artist Caroline Coon and writer Chris Salewicz; a piece by SKuM zine creator Mark Jay; and an interview with The Pogues’ Jem Finer about his creation, Longplayer, a song set to play for 1000 years without ever repeating.
Other articles include: the course of the golden record featuring Chuck Berry that was blasted into space on an infinite trip; an article that examines the life and times of Powell and Pressburger and their film career as The Archers; an exploration of our changing relationship with how we receive information in the algorithmic age, in contrast with the RRPL archive; as well as behind-the-scenes photos of rockabilly band The Black Kat Boppers during their sessions with Mick in his studio last year.
Plus, there’s a look at the ‘London Electric’ run of the acclaimed experiential exhibition of The Rock & Roll Public Library at the Art Pavilion in September last year, which featured the explosive UK debut of Nova Scotia garage rockers The Boojums at the opening night; and plenty more.
“The magazine to me is like a record, with each article a separate track and it tells a story – my story,” enthuses Mick Jones. “And by extension through our shared culture, all of our stories. I hope that anyone who reads it will enjoy it.”
• Register your interest for online sales and other retail outlets at rocknrollpl.com/magazine
• The Rock & Roll Public Library is online at rocknrollpl.com
• Mick Jones Rock & Roll Public Library Exhibitions Group
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: downthetubes News, Exhibitions, Film, Magazines, Music, Other Worlds, Science Fiction
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