TOXIC SHOCK Assassin of Mediocrity A Story of Love, Loss and Loud Music BOOK

A tribute to my late wife and partner, this is my memoir/scrapbook.
204 pages loaded with rare photos and graphics that chronicles the history of the punk record store/mail-order enterprise and groundbreaking record label Toxic Shock from its origins in 1980 in the grimy suburbs of Pomona CA, a brief foray into New Orleans. to its demise after 23 years spent in Tucson by 2014. Through a combination of a very personal biography, oral history and extensive imagery, the book covers the many twists and turns that made Toxic Shock an often misunderstood punk rock institution. It covers how the death rock band Christian Death inspired the co-owners to create the record label and how it survived without selling major label releases. Graphic artists such as Pushead, Vince Rancid and Jim Blanchard lent their artwork to document its record label releases and mail order catalogs. It covers it’s involvement with the bands Decry, Zero Boys, Skinner box, Corrosion of Conformity, Dayglo Abortions, the Hickoids, th’Inbred, Skin Yard, Sloppy Seconds, Treepeople and more! Includes tour diaries with Italy’s Raw Power. It features cover art and several illustrations from graphic artist Brian Walsby, plus several never published photos from the iconic Ed Colver. The book covers the trials and tribulations of running a totally independent record store through 3 decades and an in-depth oral history from former employees, and musicians from the Toxic Shock roster, such as Decry, Modern Industry, Manson Youth, Massacre Guys, Human Therapy, Raw Power, Peace Corpse, Pillsbury Hardcore, Hullabaloo, House of Large Sizes and more! (Fluke Publishing)