The long-awaited 22-issue anthology of Touch and Go fanzine hit the bookstores on June 30, setting off a whirlwind of page-flipping, rare record rediscovery, and belly laughs the likes of which the literary world has never before seen. TOUCH AND GO: The Complete Hardcore Punk Fanzine ’79-’83 by Tesco Vee and Stimson (and edited by Steve Miller of the Fix) is like a dense rubber band ball of Midwest joy and desperation, packing layer upon layer of handmade discovery and punk frustration into a book that reveals the boyish hearts at the beginning of all this DIY hardcore punk nonsense.

So get the book, and while you’re waiting a few days for delivery, check out the straight-ahead Tesco Vee interview above. The dancing lancer of Lansing sets the scene, shows the lay of the land, and plays tracks by Necros, Negative Approach, 999, and more. He explains how the hardcore scene emerged from the punk happenings of the 1970s, how the live circuit was built, and what became of personalities like Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye in the wake of it all. (By the way: Part 4 contained a song belonging to the Warner Music Group, so they caned that section.)

You can also keep up with Touch and Go book events and special moments at the book’s Facebook page. And another, longer podcast interview with Tesco Vee and editor Steve Miller lives at the official Touch and Go book site.

I’m completely in awe of “Mr. Meddled,” a musical parodist whose genius and skill apparently rivals Ihsahn of Emperor but extends to the surf rock genre. I love surf music like the Surfaris and the Joker’s green-haired surf band in the campy ’60s Batman series, but I don’t know jack about it. Guess I’m saving that that quest for knowledge for when I turn 80 and retire to Big Sur like Henry Miller. Mr. Meddled knows surf inside and out, the guitar trills and whammy dives, the rapid-fire runs, the haunting organs, and the slow steady woozy stability that glorifies the salty drift of days running together and beach life. He’s recorded immaculate surf arrangements of Emperor and Burzum songs that will blow you away if you’re a lover of black metal music (and not just the face paints and empty boasts), capping them off with silly alternate mythologies placing “Chip Ihsahn” and “Rocky Samoth” on the California waves in the 1950s. Respect!

Endless summer is coming, are you ready?

“What happened to those beers somebody was just bragging about?”—Ronnie Dio

Blubber, blubber, blubber…sniff!

Read Lemmy’s “devastated” remarks about the passing of his old friend (and see a photo that will make you choke up) at this location HERE.

I think about closing the door, and lately I think of it more…

Help me, tell me I’m sane, I feel a change in the earth and the wind and the rain…

Think you’re safe but you’re wrong, falling off the edge of the world.

Ronnie James Dio, rest in peace.

Who’s more devotional in their ceremonial rituals, the legendary legions of Slayer fanatics, or their sworn and hated enemies from Team Jesus? Judging by this secret surveillance footage obtained by enemy agents—and the lameness of crowds at Slayer gigs lately—I’m throwing my hat in the ring with these crazy Christians. Watch and learn a lesson in violence!

Thanks, Tesco!

Sad news this morning is that drummer Chuck Biscuits died last weekend of throat cancer at the age of 44. He was a past member of D.O.A., Danzig, Samhain, Social Distortion, and briefly the Circle Jerks. He also laid down the drum tracks for Run-DMC’s Tougher Than Leather album.

In 1982, Chuck was a member of Black Flag—the greatest rock band/emotional malfunction ever—during a particularly intense period of their history. He recorded a scrapped version of their My War album that was never released officially due to the band’s crippling legal problems at that time. He did play live, including this blazing scene-stealing performance atop atop a shining drum riser at New York’s The Ritz in September 1982. Note that Chuck is wearing a fedora for about 10 seconds during the beginning of “Can’t Decide”!

I could easily be overlooking someone, but despite countless close calls I believe this is the first loss of a past member of Black Flag. R.I.P. and condolences to his peers and close persons, and he joins his deceased brother Dimwit from D.O.A.

UPDATE [6:45PM ET]: Only death is fake? Now the source of this news is recanting based on new evidence. Follow the mystery through the Internet if you dare… I’ll report back when the case is closed.

UPDATE [The next morning]: The moral of the story is that if you want to pull the wool over the eyes of the Internet, just invoke the name Chuck Biscuits and people will believe anything. Someone has been hoaxing Crawdaddy writer James Greene for six months, pretending to be the legendary hardcore drummer (with throat cancer, no less, so telephone calls would be impossible). Well, Chuck Biscuits’ brother drove to see him with his own eyes yesterday, and he ain’t dead yet.

FULL (?) STORY

Hope you enjoyed the video!

Eddie Van Halen let one rip last night on some TV sitcom. The show stars Charlie Sheen, and I think each week the plot involves a setup where Sheen ends up needing to go to the bathroom very badly. This week his relief is delayed because Eddie Van Halen is already in the john with his guitar, writing new material to play with Roth, Alex, and Wolfgang.

EVH: “That’s called ‘Two Burritos and a Root Beer Float’.”

Okay, boss!

Here’s a video of Michael Jackson with his brothers on the Jacksons Victory tour in 1984, joined onstage by Eddie Van Halen to play the guitar solo in “Beat It.” This is the best tribute this death metal demo blog can muster — and why not, it’s public shred and excess at its finest! Rest in peace, zombie king.

I’m stunned at how well this video delineates our relationship, myself and each and every one of you anonymous blog surfers on an individual basis, and also the relationships of our forefathers and foremothers before us. Play this almost-soundless video on endless repeat while listening to these demos!

Thanks Jack Drury!

Wow, Chthonic has a weird new look. Did the Taiwanese black metal band play a show with Australia’s furnitureheads Portal or something? Just reminds me of a comical Asian horror film I just saw about out-of-control hair extensions. Yes, in fact it’s called Exte: Hair Extensions, have a good time watching the trailer.