The idea to start a music fanzine is something that I have been pondering about for a long time. I have always enjoyed reading fanzines, in print, as well as on the web. It is thanks to the vast numbers of fanzines that I have gotten to learn about so many great bands, record labels, and generally creative people from around the world. Many years ago I started the Hits From The Past blog (integrated into this zine), and after having maintained it for some time I definitely felt that while I enjoyed reviewing my records and books, I really wanted to take things a step further. Eventually, a decision needed to be made whether I wanted to start the zine in print format or on the web. It was not an easy decision, but the web option clearly won me over being cheaper and allowing for far more flexibility. Nevertheless, hopefully in the future a print issue once or twice a year collecting the best interviews/articles with maybe some exclusive material is something that might become reality.

By this point you might wonder what Barstool Revolution is all about. Well, to be perfectly honest originally I had planned on expanding on the idea of the Hits From The Past blog and concentrate solely on old stuff all the way up to the end of the '90s. More recently though I came to the conclusion that I didn't like that idea and while I personally have stopped following new(er) acts, many have not, and that it will suit this site much more if the coverage includes every decade all the way up to the very present.

While my background and concentration in music revolves around the love for punk rock and hardcore punk, it does not mean that those genres will be the only ones covered, not at all. The aim here will always be to cover as much ground as possible in terms of what preceded punk rock, and the aftermath of the punk rock explosion. The goal of this zine shall always be to offer a wealth of genres and subgenres to chose from in order to reach a readership open to not just different styles of music, but different cultures and subsequently different approaches to the meaning of subculture. Hence it is of great importance to me to highlight the fact that Barstool Revolution is all about having an international mindset. Interesting scenes were not always just the product of their environments and therefore something exclusive to major international cities like London, New York, Los Angeles or Berlin. One of the objectives for this zine shall be to bring to life the numerous underground music scenes that had sprung up, and thereafter established themselves in every corner of this world; hence Barstool Revolution's coverage will always strive to be as international and as inclusive as possible.

Having said all of this you might have noticed that I am talking about my own goals and aims for Barstool Revolution. Even though I have come up with the idea for this zine, I am under no illusion that I will be able to achieve all of this on my own. Barstool Revolution will always rely on the knowledgeable and creative brains scattered across the globe, and as a result of that this zine will always mirror the efforts of a devoted group of people.

Last but not least keep in mind that this zine will always be a work in progress, meaning that at times you might get more new updates, and at other times you will get very little. Above all, remind yourself that this will be a collaboration between people with jobs and other commitments, and that a project like Barstool Revolution is only possible through dedication to the cause, and the willingness of people to give up their free time.

Enjoy the ride with us, and keep on rockin' folks!

Yours truly,

Josef "Joe" Barstool