FRIENDS magazine/newsletter

Item Details

London, England, T. F. Much Company Ltd., 1970, wrappers

VG

A bi-weekly magazine edited by Alan Marcuson, launched in London in the 1960s as a “rebellious offshoot” from the UK edition of Rolling Stone. The magazine was first published as Friends of Rolling Stone. It was later retitled Friends & ran for 28 issues before being retitled as Frendz  in May 1971 & growing in more of a political direction until it ceased publication in Aug. 1972. It was intimately connected with UK underground media such as Oz &Time Out, & its contributors were part of the London underground or avant-garde scene in the 1960s.  (Art & Popular Culture).

Stapled binding, decorative newsletter -weight wrappers, in 31 pages with photographs, comic strip art, & pen-and-in sketches throughout. This issue has a never-before-published letter from Charles Manson to Evelle J. Younger, District Attorney of Los Angeles County, where Manson had just been convicted for his role in the Tate-LaBianca murders by his “family” the previous August. This missive is accompanied by “A Letter from his Friends,’” in an article titled, “Charles Manson: Someone Ought to Listen.” Also included are short pieces on the Black Panthers & black power movements, the Vietnam War, MGM pictures, the electrification of folk music, musicians Steve Winwood, Spencer Davis, & Buffy Sainte-Marie; film director Ken Russell; a new utopian movement founded in the wake of Woodstock by the Earth People of San Francisco; & book/film/album reviews. Cover design depicting a half human/half zebra wearing stockings & heels by British artist Adrian George (1944-2001). Condition is VG: page 31-back cover starting to tear at fold & there are 2 small stains at crease that permeate a few pages. Else clean & unmarked. Edges tanned but pages completely supple. Paper was stored folded a bit unevenly. Minor nicks to extremities.