Running at the edge of their world : The Suspect Device fanzine story - Book (by Tony & Gaz Suspect)

"Running at the edge of their world: The Suspect Device Fanzine Story" by Tony and Gaz. "Suspect" is the behind-the-scenes story of one of the UK's longest-running and most cherished punk fanzines.

From typewriter setup to cut-and-paste layouts, to illegal late-night photocopying, and today's comparatively sleek publication. The book is packed with stories from the early days of the community they helped build, supported, and continue to support.

It's about the changes and challenges Tony and Gaz have had to navigate, and the lifelong friendships forged along the way.

This book is about the "Suspect Device" fanzine, but also about the punks who came together to create the scene based on the principles of DIY, friendship, and collaboration.

You'll love it, and it might even inspire you.

As Pete Zonked's foreword says: "Get off your arse and do something."

About the Authors:

Gaz and Tony Suspect met on their first day of school and have now been friends for over 50 years. This friendship was cemented in their teenage years by their shared love of football and punk rock. Playing football meant exposing themselves weekly to the dangers of opposing fans, violent police, and Tony’s grandfathers at the wheel. But they survived it all relatively unscathed. Cycling between their respective houses meant running the gauntlet of unlit country lanes, eerie woods, and the danger of meeting Tony’s grandfathers coming the other way in the car. Gaz’s dad could never understand why they both bought the same records, while Tony’s dad introduced Gaz to darts and homebrew. Tony doesn't play darts or drink beer.

They have experienced and survived most of life's ups and downs, thanks in part to their friendship and punk rock. Gaz now lives in Norfolk and Tony in the New Forest. Tony has been in several bands – Obvious Action, Fusion, Thirst!, Portiswood, Chokeword, Pilger, Screwed Up Flyer, The Shorts, and is currently with Abrazos.

Gaz has not been in any bands because he has no rhythm or timing and generally can't remember what day of the week it is, let alone lyrics or chords.

Review:

When Benjamin Franklin said there were only two certainties in life, he could neither foresee the advent of punk rock nor could he fathom that Suspect Device would endure for more than four decades of ups, downs, and twists and turns. Had he known, the story might have been quite different.

Speaking of history, this book, "Running At the Edge of Their World," not only tells the story of one of the longest-running and most beloved punk zines in the world, Suspect Device... Well, it is the story, and that alone makes it worth the price, but it's much more than that. It's the story of two lifelong friends and their enduring passion for the subject at the core of their publication. It's about the contributors and the names and faces behind the interviews and reviews, about creating a legacy that its architects don't know they're creating. It's about the power of music and culture. It's about facing the trials and tribulations that life throws at all of us and rising above them, refusing to give up. It's about withstanding the approaching tide of progress and time, doing what you love, and creating something from nothing, simply because you love it.

History is not only written by the victors but also by those who were behind the scenes and made it possible. Gaz and Tony, whether they know it or not, are two of the most enduring bastions of punk rock. Their memoir, "Running At the Edge of the World," is a captivating, exciting account of how they helped shape and define a scene with their small, influential zine "Suspect Device."

288 pages in English