*EXPLETIVE DELETED

*Expletive Deleted is a digital fanzine inspired by my record collection.

Here you will find reviews, articles and occasional interviews with bands I admire, find interesting and whose vinyl records I own.

The only guiding rule, that is only occasionally bent, is that for something to be included in the ‘zine, it must be represented, on vinyl, in my record collection.

Downloads, cassettes and CDs don’t count. They don’t resonate in the same way for me.

They don’t feel like lifelong treasures; they just feel like a format.

My words are honest, but this is what I do for fun - so you’ll find the majority of records have a positive write-up. Why waste my time writing about something I don’t enjoy?

I was born in 1970. I bought my first record in January 1981 (Antmusic, Adam and the Ants) and haven’t stopped since.

Up to that point, I felt disinterested and sidelined by everything apart from from comics, books and Star Wars. Realising that there was a wealth of music out there that I could make my own and could guide me through life - whether musically, principally, morally, artisitically, politically or stylistically - was an instant and seismic realisation that changed everything for me.

That moment caused a cultural cluster bomb to explode in my ten year old mind; a big bang, birthing a million more bomblets that continue to contagiously blow with new music, a lifetime later.

It’s all that’s ever really meant that much to me.

I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing. *Expletive Deleted combines the things I love to motivate me to do something creatively in my spare time. If someone else enjoys it too, that’s great.

If they don’t, no matter.

I also write occasionally for Louder Than War, the online music magazine. I archive those pieces here too, once they’ve been published and available there, exclusively, for a week or two.

If you like the ‘zine, please like, subscribe, share or comment. It all helps the algorithm to earn its keep.

I was once told that if I had the mental capacity to retain useful information in the same way I recalled pop lyrics, I would be an undisputed genius.

It was intended as an insult, but I took it as a compliment.

Expletive Completed.