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Introduction

The Exclusive is a paper based "alternative" music fanzine from the fanzine capital of the world, that being Stoke-on-Trent in the UK of course. that started in 1997 and did a very patchy debut issue but then got better and became quite regular. Eventually, as the editor (Mr. Matt T) realised he was not going to be able to make a living from free records and pound coins, he was forced to involve himself in the grubby world of work. This tended to slow down the production rate somewhat, but enabled the issues to be bigger as he had more money. He soon got sick of the horrible corporate world and for some insane reason returned to University in 2000, just after the 6th issue (that was the last one for you newbies). This meant two things: Firstly, he had even less time than when working, as at Uni you are expected to work at night as well as during the day. Secondly, it meant that he had no money whatsoever, not enough to pay the rent let alone print up copies of the fanzine. Therefore, he made an executive decision to leave the zine until the course was over and he could return to normal life. He did intend to write a letter to everyone who had written to explain what was going on, but didn't even get around to that. Anyway, in late 2001 the course finished but he had now somehow got himself involved in the even grubbier world of life. Life includes grubby work, but also encompasses even grubbier things. He then settled into this "life" thing and found he was able to start writing the elusive seventh issue, which is now out for you to buy. In 2002 he went mad and actually managed to get TWO issues out in the same year. This is unprecedented since the early days of The Exclusive and signifies a new beginning. Or just that he had a bit more time. Mail us at

matt <squiggly at symbol> exclusivefanzine <dot> co <dot> uk

We've got rid of the big email link to attempt to reduce spam to a manageble level. I'm sure you know how to interpret the details above, and whilst it makes it a bit more of a ballache as you can't just click something it reduces the time we spend on deleting the shit we get sent. Use that email address above to ask any questions. You can also order the zine, or go to the news section to see what is in it.

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A bit more background: The "Exclusive" is mostly all the work of the Editor, Matt T(ee), he writes the articles, columns, reviews, rants, layout...near enough everything!, alongside Vic (columns, articles, book and music reviews), Neil(columns, rants, and reviews) and Joincey. There are also various other people who write for us fairly regularly, such as Susan Darlington (of Romantic Outsider zine), John O (of The Music Room) and numerous others. Links to their appropriate sites can be found on the links pages. We also invite people to send us work for inclusion, in particular columns.

The reason we have decided to put the fanzine onto the web is because it is the ideal way for us to let our readers know what we are doing and when new issues will be out. It can take us three months to get a new issue of the fanzine out on paper and as we can update the website a lot faster, we can keep it updated frequently with our plans and news. Currently, the website includes samples of every issue we have available, as well as sneak previews of what we have got coming up in the future. Previously the site has just sat here like a big lump of useless HTML but now, with our all new MOTIVATION, we are going to keep this thing updated. Really. Keep checking back and you will soon eat those words... There are a couple of links to samples of each issue on this page but that is all. At the moment we're concentrating on the paper based version of the fanzine, at least until we get our heads around this Web thing, so you'll have to write to me I'm afraid. You can get ordering information from here.

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Back Issues

Below are links to the appropriate online issues. At the moment, there are only samples from each issue online so if you like the description of what is included you will have to order a back issue. Email Matt (matt <squiggly at symbol> exclusivefanzine <dot> co <dot> uk ) with any questions you may have...

Issue 1 - Online there is an interview with bis from 1995 as well as an article on Cardiacs and sample reviews.(The full fanzine also features Disco Pistol, Clementsons Mill and hundreds of articles and reviews.)

Issue 2 - Featuring an interview with cover stars, Strangelove, alongside personal columns and reviews. (The paper version also features an interview with the now defunct Dream City Film Club, Target Shoppers, and all the usual interesting things)

Issue 3 - Online you can read the interview with the king of 'k' Calvin Johnson, and sample columns and reviews. The paper fanzine also features a brilliant (if I do say so myself) Kristin Hersh interview, Gel, Inca Eyeball, and some good articles. Issue 3 has been the most popular issue - visit it to see why

Issue 4 - Here you can read an interview with the "chart topping" Cornershop and all the usual reviews and ranting. (The paper version also features a hilarious Earl Brutus interview, as well as Warser Gate and loads of other goodies.)

Issue 5 - Online we have given you special, special people an interview with Six By Seven, and, oh yes, sample reviews, articles, and column. The big fat beautiful paper version also features Stephen Regnauld, The Ultra Montanes, and the GENIUS Teenbeat.

Issue 6 - The online samples of this little beauty give you an interview with Michael J Sheehy and some reviews and a large rant about how poor Webzines are. I's our biggest issue so far, so get to it people and order it. The paper version features interviews with Muse, Billy Childish, Merz, and Rima as well.

Issue 7 - Our lastissue and it features interviews with Patrick Duff (ex-Strangelove and full time genius), Sleater Kinney, Camera Obscura, Marshal and Dimension FM (pirate station). You can't see this online as it is our current issue and we want you to BUY IT.

We are just sorting out an issue 8 page now. Come on, we have to change the menu and everything so give us some slack.

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In case you're wondering, we have absolutely NOTHING to do with brothels, the only reason we keep the word on this page is because it seems to drag a lot of people in who search for things like "brothels that offer sexual spanking in Stoke-on-Trent" (there is another 200 hits. We know what you people out there are searching for). And yes, we did take our name from one. If you're intrigued however, you can find out more at The "Exclusive" brothel.

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Introduction

Back Issues

Newsletter