MUDKISS FANZINE

The Books description on Amazon: A big fat book crammed with photos and memories centering on the unique Liverpool music club Eric's - from the people who worked there, hung out, formed bands and played there, and MORE! It was known as a PUNK club - Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop, The Ramones, Buzzcocks, Joy Division, The Fall, The Damned, The Clash.The club nurtured local bands such as Big In Japan, Wah! Heat, Teardrop Explodes, Echo & The Bunnymen, and Pete Burns played his first ever gig there in The Mystery Girls. 

The book looks at the Liverpool scene before Roger Eagle and Ken Testi set up Eric's, and what people went on to do next... it is packed with tons of interesting stuff that you will not read about anywhere else.This book has been painstakingly researched in depth, cataloguing not only Eric's but the whole Liverpool music scene since the early days of rock n roll.

Well March 18th 2009 at 9.30am I heard a loud thud upon my door mat, I went to see what the postman had brought me and to my most pleasant surprise it was a huge book called `Liverpool Eric's, all the best clubs are downstairs, everybody knows that' from Jaki Florek. I immediately browsed to find the section which I had contributed to, and had a chuckle at the old photos. The layout of the book is wonderfully done, in a punk style text and dark edged pages giving it a vintage theme. The sheer volume of the book shows just how much work, research and dedication has been ploughed into the creation of this book.

I love the way they have chosen the names for the chapter's, I am still working my way through the many pages, even after all this time, you won't be disappointed. Read the interviews, the stories, the diary entries and see the photos, it brings it all to back to life again.I especially enjoyed reading all about Roger Eagle and his history, plus the many tales from people who knew him. It has interviews with the leading lights of Liverpool at the time, people spoke with a passion for Eric's and to date it still has people who want to reminisce and tell their own versions. Mark Jordan has a web site dedicated to Eric's which you should check out here. www.ericsclub.co.uk

I was a regular Eric's goer and I have a little piece in the book, a chapter called 'Adventures At Eric's' so maybe you think I'm biased. However it is a huge tome of a book, very hard to put down. If you like me enjoy reading about musical history, especially one which you were part of, then you MUST buy the book. It's the book which had everything going for it but then something came along to scupper the proceedings, eventually after years of much passion, perseverance and determination from Jaki Florek, it came to press. Thanks to Jaki and Paul for the Eric's book and for making our memories a part of your history. I will treasure it!!

Adventures At Eric's by Melanie Smith (Photos by Mel & Vanessa)

Program of Eric's The Musical

Review by Mel 20.03.09