When music journalist Nick Mann died in March 2015 after trying to save his brother from an oncoming tube train, he left behind a legacy of fantastic, passionate punk rock journalism.
A Short Fanzine About Rocking (ASFAR) was started in Nick’s bedroom in 2001 as a ‘zine focussing on the thriving underground hardcore and punk rock scenes that had risen to prominence in the UK thanks to bands like Dead Swans, Dirty Money and Honour Among Thieves.
The ‘zine quickly became hugely popular, becoming the go-to place for news, interviews and reviews of bands, live shows and figures of the scene – a scene which Nick was not only a huge part of as a writer, but also as a friend and close companion.
The full catalogue of A Short Fanzine About Rocking has been kindly donated to both the British Library and the London College of Communication so that those who were close to Nick, and those who have an interest in viewing his beloved work, can now experience and appreciate the zine for themselves.
LCC said it is “happy and honoured to have a complete set of A Short Fanzine About Rocking in the LCC Library Zine Collection”, and that it aims to put it on display later in the year.
ASFAR Autumn 2009 edition
Nick died, after seeing his beloved Shrewsbury Town FC beat Portsmouth, while trying to pull his brother away from an oncoming tube train after he fell on to the track at Old Street station. He was 35.
It was Nick’s wife, Jen Kavanagh, who offered the ‘zine to both LCC and the British Library stating she was “determined to honour his amazing contribution to music journalism and the DIY scene.”
“ASFAR had already started back in 2001, and so when I met Nick in 2005 it was already a big part of his life. Since then I watched the ‘zine grow into a huge success, get amazing reviews, be bought by people all over the world, and be talked about online by fans, bands and other ‘zine writers.” she said on her donation of the ‘zine to LCC.
It was while living in Manchester that Nick would attend punk rock, metal and emo shows almost religiously whilst sharing a house with like-minded friends, who would eventually become contributors to his ‘zine.
On his move to London in 2007, ASFAR began to form into a full blown project, as he’d write notes into his phone between the bands’ sets – “in case of any beer-induced memory loss” according to Jen.
A featured interview with Leeds hardcore band Dead Swans. One of the many in depth interviews featured in the Zine.
Nick would also never shy away from the realities of the sometimes flailing underground scene he was part of, and if shows weren’t up to scratch and nobody showed up, or even if Nick left early, he would always address the issues and reflect on what they meant for the scene.
“His honesty was part of ASFAR‘s charm,” Jen told Artefact.
Nick worked full time as a journalist, and later a press officer, alongside his commitment to ASFAR, but he also had another passion – Shrewsbury Town FC.
NICK MANN: 35 Town shirt and flowers laid on Nick’s usual seat in block 19 >> pic.twitter.com/9JEEHlHSFP
— Shrewsbury Town FC (@shrewsweb) April 3, 2015
The club would offer a touching tribute to Nick after he passed, laying flowers and the number 35 club shirt, his age that he died, on the seat he had bought a ticket for.
When asked in an interview in 2012 if he’d consider finishing the ‘zine, Nick said: “I’m addicted to it! Every issue I talk about sacking it off sometime soon, but then said issue sells really well and I remember just why it’s worthwhile. Plus I get to talk to loads of awesome bands I might not otherwise meet and find out more about the music they make which I enjoy.”
Nick would eventually call it a day in Spring 2014, when he felt he could no longer continue to put the same passion and energy into it any more.
“He was sad to declare the final issue his last, but he later said that he didn’t regret wrapping it up. Which is a great comfort to me now, because life is too short for regrets,” Jen concluded.
A Short Fanzine About Rocking is available to view on request at both LCC’s Zine Collection and the British Library.
Featured image via Jennifer Kavanagh