By Public Collectors Chicago, IL, Public Collectors, 2011
Pages: 28
Dimensions: 8.5 in X 11 in
Cover: Paper
Binding: staple-bound
Process: offset cover with black insides
Color: color cover with digital insides
Edition size: 200
(second printing: 70 additional copies in January 2013) ISBN: none

"I had no musical ability and I wasn’t old enough to be a college radio DJ. I was into art and writing but needed something much more interesting to work on than the high school yearbook. I wanted to contribute to the underground music and publishing communities, make new friends and interview my favorite bands. So from 1988 until 1991 I published Primary Concern, a thick photocopied ‘zine that I wrote, designed, printed, and assembled with few outside contributors."

So begins a personal essay by Marc Fischer of Public Collectors (as well as Temporary Services and Half Letter Press) about photocopied, self-published hardcore and metal music 'zines in the late 1980s and early 90s. In addition to a nearly 2000 word essay, this booklet includes full and quarter page reproductions of cover art from 33 'zines from this period (including one cover from Fischer's 'zine Primary Concern). Other titles included are Total Thrash, I4NI, Philly 'Zine, Bullshit Monthly, The Happy Thrasher and Poser Death. Fischer's essay gets into many of the mechanics of self-publishing back then, from illegally recycling postage stamps to conducting band interviews:

"Band interviews were conducted through the mail, in person, or recorded over the phone using speakerphone or a cheap suction cup mic. In some cases I looked up band members’ phone numbers using directory assistance. For the bigger groups, record labels would schedule interview times and have band members call people from the label’s office. One of my favorite memories of doing a ‘zine was imploring my mom not to embarrass me by picking up the phone one afternoon because Jeff Hanneman from Slayer was going to be calling. For all I knew, Jeff Hanneman might have still been living with his parents too. Many band members still lived with Mom and Dad."

This booklet was made to accompany a presentation of around two hundred 'zines made during this period from Fischer's collection that will take place at The STOREFRONT on Saturday and Sunday, August 6 & 7, 2011, from 12-5 PM at: 2606 N California Avenue, Chicago, IL.