Love Seat issue 1

Love Seat issue 1 cover

Last week a regular poster on the Livewire Board named Mickey Nolan posted saying that he was selling his copy of Love Seat #1. Perhaps the only person I'm aware of who actually even owns a copy of Alex Brown's pre-Schism, Iowa-based fanzine from 1986, Mickey is selling a piece of HC collector's gold, and we had to bring it to the attention of the DCXX readership. After it is sold, we'll be running some scans of the zine for all to view. In the meantime, check the auction:

eBay Link

And for our own purposes of excessive factual detail and general completeness, here's the full backstory from Mickey:

A few years ago my friend and mentor Greg Thompson came to stay with me in Chicago for a show. Greg sang for Iowa/Illinois area bands Butt Lynt and Crosscheck and has been dedicated to hardcore and punk since the mid-80s.



Around the time that Greg came to visit, Bridge 9 Records had released the Schism Fanzine anthology. Greg told me he had a present for me and was clearly excited when he handed me a folded over 8x11 sized fanzine with a red cover. It took a second for me to realize the significance of this zine. Loveseat #1 was scrawled across the red cardstock cover. Loveseat...Loveseat...I wracked my brain and then it dawned on me. This was the zine that turned into Schism.

I was moved, and grateful, to receive such a gift. I read it once, put it in a bag and stored it. Over the years I thought about scanning it, but not having a scanner I never got around to it.

Earlier this year I decided to sell my record collection. With a couple of non-critical health issues going on, I knew the extra income would help. I've since sold the majority of my records and have gotten down to a few remaining items. When it came time to think about selling my copy of Loveseat #1 I gave Greg a call and asked his permission. He was supportive.


Love seat issue 1 back cover

Here's Greg on how he acquired his copy of Loveseat #1:

I do not remember the date exactly, it was only the second DIY show ever held in the Quad Cities. It was late '85 or early '86. The show was at the Col Ballroom. The only bands I remember being on the bill were Welfare Skate and A Child's Trust In God. Both bands were from Des Moines, IA and played super fast hardcore. I had read MRR for a couple years, but had never gotten a zine done by a kid. I bought it because I enjoyed reading MRR. It ended up being the first of hundreds of zines I have read over the years.

I have to say that a printed zine is one of my favorite aspects of the punk/hardcore community. I would read them all the time to find out about new bands and to see what kids did in different citites. Long before the internet, zines were the way kids learned about bands, scenes, tape trading, etc. Now any shit band can get a MySpace page and put up just as shitty songs. The printed zine is now pretty much a thing of the past, and it sucks!!! It is for sure a medium that I wish would make a comeback!