Why You're Reading Stub: A VERY Brief History of DIY in Leeds

The 1980s birth of the post-punk and alternative music scene, after the short birth and so called ‘death’ of punk, gave a community of disenfranchised young people a space to freely express themselves through nonconformist outlets. As a silent watcher of gigs and reader of 'zines (and owner of a First-Class degree in History) the comparisons of 80s post-punk and the alternative scene today are pretty much identical and, in my opinion, show that the scene is strong and thriving. In 800 words or less, I'm going to delve into the history of Leeds DIY, 'zines and what it meant to be alt in the 80s and I'm sure you'll see the similarities crop up.

 DIY and ‘zines in 80s Leeds allowed creatives to freely discuss and shape cultural practices. This was in the wake of media and tabloid distortions, and unsettling political times. It also allowed for the easy circulation of ideas and opinions with like-minded individuals (like you!). One of the very first Leeds ‘zines was ‘New Pose’ which included striking black and bold writing and images, curated onto one side of paper. People who frequented gigs wrote reviews and gave insights to what it meant to be a part of the community. 'Zines allow us to stay self-made and shine light on events that may not get the coverage we think they deserve.

'Zines aside, there were many accredited alt venues in 80s Leeds. The F-Club, Fforde Grene and The Duchess of York were the big hitters. It welcomed alternative subcultures and provided sanctuary and community, just like it does now.

Venues still standing strong today include The Fenton, The Poly (now Leeds Beckett SU) and Warehouse. The Fenton was and is an extremely popular place to drink within the post-punk community with the likes of Leeds legends Gang of Four and Soft Cell frequenting there. Both of which were formed by meeting at the Arts Uni.

Speaking of Gang of Four, not only were they the proprietors of 80s post-punk, but they were also at the forefront of true DIY. Their music was created to be abrasive and against the idea of rock and modern pop. Shouting lyrics that had relatability towards being young and struggling with the austerity that working-class folk faced allowed for a boom in popularity and growth of like-minded individuals. It's what the people wanted. It wasn't only their music and lyrics, garnered from an LS6 living room, that were DIY... even their album artwork was too. I mean you would expect that considering they were art students, but it just goes to show the level of commitment for the movement.

Just as we have today, with the likes of Gold Sounds, Dark Arts and the ever growing Live At Leeds, post-punk Leeds saw the creation of one of the first alternative music festivals, Futurama. Unlike the cartoon, it was a day fest which included 'up and coming bands' like Joy Division, PIL and The Fall. What an absolute belter of a line-up! The poster for this was, you guessed it, heavily sharpied, messy and DIY. But who managed to pull the day fest off you ask?

None other than the promoter John Keenan. 

Synonymous with the late 1970s/80s Leeds scene, Keenan pioneered in booking/promoting gigs and creating spaces where people within the scene could meet and enjoy live music. He is still going strong today, promoting events at the Brudenell and Irish Centre, although his focus is more on tribute acts now. He helped Leeds and Manchester bands who wanted to play here by giving them a leg up with opportunities for gigs. He was known for putting on gigs at the Poly but, after some tensions, moved on to his club - The F-Club. In his own words, it stood for ‘F*$% the Poly’. I have to note though, all beef has now been resolved. This was 40 years ago. The F-Club was a huge part of Leeds’ grassroots DIY community and, if not for Keenan, such venues and gigs in Leeds today would look and sound a lot different.

The alt music history of Leeds seems to be finally getting its flowers, with a recent book by Gavin Butt; ‘No Machos or Pop Stars: When the Leeds Art Experiment Went Punk’, and John Keenan's blue plaque recognition for his work within The Duchess of York pub. Leeds was and always will be a large player in pushing and helping the alternative scene flourish. 

First picture - New Pose, found at the Leeds Discovery Centre. 

Second picture – Poster for Futurama, found on Google. 

Words by Jen x