Fucked Up and Photocopied: Instant Art of the Punk Rock Movement

Bryan Ray Turcotte and Christopher T. Miller.
Gingko Press
Copyright Date:
Review Date: 2003

If “Please Kill Me” is the ultimate written word on punk rock (and it is), then “Fucked Up and Photocopied” is the Mount Olympus of all punk art books. The title alone is reason enough to have this tasty tome on your book shelf. “Fucked Up and Photocopied” (FUAP) is 238 pages jam packed with full bleed, full color, fully aggro punk rock flyers with photos and words wedged into almost every conceivable margin and and crack. The anecdotes and short essays are written by band members, promoters, artists, photographers, and slam dancers. The flyers are shown one or more to a page, usually with a photograph peeking out from underneath. The design of FUAP thankfully avoids the pitfalls that a lot of contemporary books do, mainly the excessive use of grunge type and poorly applied Photoshop filters. Don’t expect minimalism though. Your first clue will be the cover, which looks like a printing mishap or proof sheet that got used to clean up ink overflow. The cardboard stock is mostly uncovered, but still printed on. The part that is covered appears to have been printed with a different design that is abruptly chopped off. FUAP will leave your optic nerves jangling like tinfoil on a cavity or a nine volt on your tongue. Included in the collection are several of Winston Smith’s flyers for fake bands that preceded his involvement with the Dead Kennedys.

“Fucked Up and Photocopied” is divided into geographic sections as follows: SoCal, NorCal, PacNoWest, RestofTheWest, Texas, Midwest, Boston, NYC, DC, Everywhere, and Canada. Every scene has at least one or more prominent member or founding father donating a quick and often funny story. The names are as often famous (well, sub-famous) as not. Occasionally there are smaller subsections such as Skate Rock that serve to remind you that there actually was a Skate Rock scene and kickflips weren’t being done because at the time there was no “ollie'” attached to the word kickflip. Look closely at everything and you’re likely to seee a flyer from a show you attended or at least from the same tour. The memories will start flowing like something that flows very heavily. Fill in your on allegory here.

You’ll be hard pressed to say anything negative about Fucked Up and Photocopied. Especially if you’re from California, which accounts for about half of the book. That’s my biggest beef. For example, if the Offspring know enough to cover the smalltown Illinois band the Didjits, why didn’t they (the Didjits) end up in the book? Don’t judge the Didjits by the Offspring, please. My point is that there are scenes that are under represented, even given that the Lion’s share of bands might have come from California. The only other fault with Fucked Up and Photocopied lies in the artfully constructed cover that leaves some edges of the hard cover cardboard stock exposed. It’s cool to look at, but those raw edges are destined to become the most dog eared and frayed FOURTY DOLLAR book on your shelf. Still, “Fucked Up and Photocopied: Instant Art of the Punk Rock Movement” is an instant success with everyone who picks it up. You should buy it.

Rating: 10 out of 10 Letraset sheets.

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In a related note, the Midwest Flyer Project is an attempt to do what FUAP does so well for California. Initial plans call for a web archive, with a print project to follow, depending on the quality an quantity of the collection. Visit the web site for more information.