One thing that that doesn’t seem to be talked about enough is the fan clubs and information services that existed in 80s and 90s in the UK which enabled bands to build active and large fanbases and also a community which allowed real fans of goth and alternative music culture to meet and mix together and build real friendships outside of their local clubs.

In the days of the postal order and cheque you could pay a few quid and get unique newsletters, comics, badges, pens, keyrings, posters, T-shirts, enter competitions to win signed records, and competitions to win tickets to gigs.

Some bands sent you free promos, autographed pics and there was also some that had sections looking for penfriends with similar musical interests which meant you could get in contact with genuine people who were into Goth/ Alternative music anywhere across the UK and Europe. None of the posers, dress up clones or plastic people that seem to have infested the necessary evil minefield that is (anti)social media.

I was looking through a few of my crates and pulled a few examples. Note to self I need to really open a museum/and write my musical biography about the chaos of the UK. (if anyone is seriously interested in being part of these projects do get in contact for a chat)

Madness Information Society

From 1981 here is the first one which came with a Carols on 45 flexi disc when I joined the Madness Information Service. There was also a free membership badge and an edition of the Nutty Boys comic which I think was quarterly from memory. The comic was about Madness featuring some bands pics and satirical stories about the band. The First edition of comic came free with The Return Of the Los Palmas 7 12” which was a good way to publicise the launch of MIS.

Big Country – Country Club


The next one is from around 1983 when I joined Big Country’s Country Club. From memory I think I got a free t-shirt, pen, keyring, autographed picture and Christmas Card, as well as a quarterly magazine. They also sent brochures for their merchandise at ACME and offered the opportunity to buy advance tickets for gigs which had a fan club zone at the front very useful for places like the NEC in Birmingham. I did not dig out the magazines but I seem to remember they had a penfriends section which led to meeting some nice people at gigs in the UK and Europe and a great visit to Frankfurt – Hello Monika, Andrea and Andrea – Public Footpath. 😉 Also led to to some great swapping of mixtapes and getting interested in new bands, buying records and going to more concerts 😉
Here are my membership cards which have pics. One pic id from when I had a moustache only suitable for Halloween but was used for getting served alcohol underage 😉

Cactus World News / Blue In Heaven

Cactus World News information service was free and ran by a lady called Aileen. She sent me loads of great things a signed picture, a limed edition 12”, a poster and pictured complimentary tickets for a gig in London which was filmed for the Old Grey Whistle Test.

I remember writing to Blue In Heaven and telling them how great Explicit Material their new album was and that I was looking forward to their gig supporting The Damned in Leeds. They told me to fetch the album to the gig and they would sign it, which they did and gave me a beer backstage 😉

The Mission – Mission World Information Service / All About Eve – Eden Information Service

Next up two of my favourites The Mission World Information Service and Eden The All About Eve information Service. Both had membership cards with you photo on the reverse. You also got a membership badge and I think quarterly newsletters, autographed pictures, merch mail outs and advance notice of gigs. There was also the chance to win tickets and records.

I think with Eden I won a signed Ever Angel Single and also won tickets to their gig in Bradford, where I met Julianne and her sister who were a bit upset as I ended up getting a ticket in the seats rather than the stalls and they said they would make up for it on the next tour. Being  lovely people they kept their word and I was guest listed and offered the chance to go the backstage party after the show at the Town and Country in London, where I had a good chat with Jez Webb the Mish stage manager who used to be on the road crew for The Sisters and it turned out we both had worked for same branch of the M.O.D.

Met lots of great people and swapped lots of mix tapes from people across the UK and Europe – Hello to Kat Belgium, Marissa The Netherlands, Lydia and John, Sandra, Sam, Debs, Brett to mention a few 😉

90s Goth / Now

Nosferatu had great fanzine called The Gothic Grimoire run by Vlad and Sapphire which gave information on the band and as well as selling some nice vampire themed jewellery. The zine led to contact with lots of other zines in Europe. In the 90s the Gothic community was very strong in the UK, there was a hardcore group who went everywhere to support everything so it was great time to be part of of the Goth scene. You might not have know everyone’s name but you never forgot a face.

At the backend of the 90s some really great Gothic forums appeared in Europe, Chat rooms populated by Goths and Orkus in its early days had a good penfried section. From the contacts I managed to borrow a tent for my first WGT, meet a good friend in Berlin who drove me to DJ at my first Castle Party 😉 Meet lots of nice people in Vienna and DJ there a few times 😉 Don’t get me started on how good Myspace was for music and connecting 😉

However as the internet has grown it has become very dull/controlled with Goth history being retold from Chinese whispers and dress up influencers loosing the facts along the way. Social media and smartphones have destroyed living for moment as it was. Black was the colour of rebellion, non conformity and not blandness.