Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of 1967’s Summer of Love, the book was edited by Barry Mile and James Birch.
Miles was co-founder of International Times (IT), the first of the major underground publications, with John ‘Hoppy’ Hopkins in 1966. In an age when UK television and radio programming was mainly controlled by the state, the new format revolutionised editorial styles even in the mainstream press and sparked a number of similar titles such as Frendz and Gandalf’s Garden.
The launch of the book coincides with an exhibition of the same name at A22 Gallery in Clerkenwell, London, from September 28-November 4.
Included is every cover from each of the leading underground magazines of the 1960s. Among them are 174 from International Times, 21 from cOZmic Comics, 29 from Frendz and seven from Nasty Tales.
The entire collection is offered together for approximately £100,000 and each of the covers is included in the book.
Front cover of new book The British Underground Press of the Sixties, edited by Barry Miles and James Birch, published by Rocket 88. ‘Classic edition’ copies are available online for £35. ‘Signature edition’ copies are priced at £250.
Oz journey
Among the featured publications is Oz, which helped popularise psychedelic art, bring attention to the underground music scene and provide spaces for bands such as Pink Floyd, Soft Machine and Tomorrow.
Continuing interest in – and nostalgia for – the late Sixties is reflected at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which purchased the Oz archive earlier this year and whose exhibition Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains runs until October 1.
Launched at an all-night rave at London’s Roundhouse, IT first ceased publication in 1973 after being convicted for running personal ads for gay men.
However, it has been revived and continued in various forms since and still has an online presence.
As well as the covers in the A22 exhibition are 50 assorted posters, flyers and other paraphernalia also included the book (published by Rocket 88 priced £35).
One hundred limited edition copies of the volume will be released, each with a case and including an original copy of IT, one of Oz and a 1971-issue poster of Janis Joplin created for IT on the occasion of her death. Special edition copies are available for £250.
