By Luke Ryan
Originally published November 4, 2009
Meet Samuel Miers — zine-maker, crate-digger, and defender of obscure musical genius. When Sam says he’s into German New Wave, he doesn’t mean Kraftwerk or some Spotify playlist titled “Berlin Beats.” He means ZickZack Records — a label so underground it practically tunnels.
Six months ago, Sam went full detective mode, convinced that the DNA of modern rock owes more than a casual nod to the spiky, synth-laced weirdness of early-‘80s Hamburg. And so began Disco Rough #1, a lovingly handmade zine dedicated to ZickZack and the shadowy, wiry energy it unleashed.
Inside:
- Interviews with forgotten post-punk heroes
- Flyers, grainy press shots, and photocopied record sleeves
- The only known English translation of an article that uses the phrase “German New Wave” without irony
The launch is going down tonight at The Tote, with a bill featuring Ooga Boogas, Pets With Pets, and other lovers of the analog squelch. There’ll be synths, sweat, and at least one person yelling “ZickZack forever!” over a drum machine.
Event Details
📍 Where: The Tote, Melbourne
🕒 When: Thursday, November 5
💸 Entry: $8 at the door
📰 Get the zine: Sunshine & Grease, Missing Link, or email Sam directly
💰 Price: $4 for the zine
🎶 Format: Paper, punk, passion
Disco Rough #1 isn’t just a zine — it’s an education. It’s a mixtape in pamphlet form. It’s the kind of thing you buy now and pretend you’ve had forever.
Be there, and be slightly confused — that’s the point.