I’ve just come across Various Artists, a great web site packed with music inspired comics, the brainchild of artist Tim Bird, whose  books include Grey Area, Reads and the forthcoming The Great North Wood from Avery Hill Publishing.

Rock & Pop started as a webcomic in 2015, taking songs that were significant to artist as he was growing up. The songs soundtracked particular memories or experiences, and Tim drew a short comic about each one. The collection is now available as a book.

Tim’s keen that other people to share comics show how music relates to specific moments in their lives, or how they’ve developed an emotional attachment to a song and is collecting responses here, on the Various Artists website.

The creators who’ve contributed strips so far include creators such as Brick (aka John Stuart Clark with is strip “Let’s All Sing With The Chipmunks”), Katriona Chapman (Led Zeppelin – “Whole Lotta Love”), Dave Crane (“The Cocteau Twins”), Matthew Dooley (Belle & Sebastian – “The Boy With The Arab Strap”), Wallis Eates (Genesis – “Mama”), Alfie Gallagher (Johnny Cash – “The Beast In Me”), Stanley Miller (The Fall – “Bremen Nacht”) Danny Noble (Cliff Richard – “Living Doll”), Owen D. Pomeroy (“The Stiff Little Fingers – Suspect Device”), Elizabeth Querstret (Shelley Jane – “Bear vs Girl”) and Olivia Sullivan (“Hole – “Pretty On The Inside”).

It’s an inspired idea and I hope Tim gets plenty more contributors!

• Various Artists – Comics about the music that inspires us – is at: various-artists.co.uk

• See the Submit section of the Various Artist website for information on how to get involved

• Check out Tim’s work on www.timothybird.co.uk | Buy his books from Avery Hill Publishing

All artwork © the artists involved 2017

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “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 Comics News, downthetubes News, Links

Tags: Alfie Gallagher, Brick, Danny Noble, Dave Crane, downthetubes News, Elizabeth Querstreet, Matthew Dooley, Music, Olivia Sullivan, Owen D. Pomeroy, Stanley Miller, Tim Bird, Various Artists, Wallis Eates, WebFinds