Amy Spencer
Marion Boyers Publishing: 2005
378 pages

This well-informed study champions the unsung heroes and heroines of DIY distribution in art, music, literary zines and culture. The exploration of lo-fi culture traces the origin of the DIY ethic, from the skiffle movement, mail art, Black Mountain poetry, and Avant-Garde art of the '50s, through the punk scene of the '70s and '80s, up to the current music scene. Through interviews with key writers, promoters, and musicians (including Bikini Kill and Bratmobile), it charts the development of music outside the big companies' publicity machinery, and examines the politics behind the many "home-made" recordings and publications available today.