The first issue of the fanzine Kaspar Hauser was published in June 1983. Although it was also the last issue, the experience gained from its publication resulted in the launch of Fanfar several years later.
During my first year of secondary school, I transitioned from a political interest to a passion for music. I was also moving away from punk towards other alternative cultural expressions, particularly industrial music and more artistic forms of rock.
This is quite evident in the enormous diversity of the only issue of my first fanzine, Kaspar Hauser, apart from the fact that I was young and inexperienced. It included an interview with the then almost completely forgotten poet Åke Hodell; long portraits of contemporary bands such as La Crosse and Strasse; an interview with Henrik Venant from Underjordiska Lyxorkestern; and a few mixed reviews of albums and concerts that I had come across.
Much water has flowed under the bridge since Kaspar Hauser was published, and one can forgive the occasional blunder along life’s journey. When I leaf through one of my few remaining copies now, I am still struck by the apologetic tone and the fact that nothing is allowed to run its course, with a pretentious approach often being taken down with a half-hearted joke.
A few years later, I did an internship at the music magazine Schlager. It was the editor-in-chief, Håkan Lahger, who helped me overcome my fears. I was assigned to review Bengt Ohlsson‘s debut book, “Dö som en man” (Die Like a Man), and I handed in a rather bland text. It was rejected with the instruction, ‘Write what you think instead’. It was a valuable learning experience.
Remember, this was long before the days of the internet. As a teenager, it was expensive to go to a print shop with your fanzine. I didn’t have my own camera and we had to borrow a tape recorder and other equipment. This was certainly one of the reasons why we didn’t publish any more issues.
Also in Kaspar Hauser, issue 1, 1983:
- Interview with Simple Minds by Ulf Waldecrantz
- Interview with Abcess Exil by Annicka Lang
- Interview with Untermensch by Magnus Nilsson
- Concert review of The Monochrome Set at Kolingsborg, Stockholm, by Magnus Nilsson
The issue is also full of fantastic photographs taken by Måns Edwall, including shots of concerts featuring Sex Pistols, The Clash, and Simple Minds in Stockholm. Måns Edwall also took the cover photo, which features Fred Asp, who was the drummer in his band Alien Beat at the time.