The first of 15 issues of Back Door Man, the South Bay’s original rock ‘n’ roll  fanzine, is now available free online. More will be added as later issues are scanned and prepared.

Although having lived a part of my early childhood in Torrance, a suburb in the South Bay of Los Angeles, I don’t have a lot to say about the city. I remember it being pleasant and quiet and that the Del Amo Mall was featured in Tarantino’s Jackie Brown. It was one of those typical Califorian suburbs with carefully manicured lawns and a sizeable Asian American community. But in the late ’70s Torrance was home to one of the seminal music zines during a time when punk was just blowing up.

For three years and 15 issues, Back Door Man covered Iggy Pop, the Ramones, The Doors, Chris Burden and many others of the late decade. The layout was simple and hand-assembled, interviews generally non-P.C. and music coverage carefully and snottily curated. Having grown up with Richard Pryor, Lester Bangs and Lenny Bruce, the writers were always fresh and irreverent.

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Click here for the first issue in its entirety.

via Abe Ahn, 24 March 2009 6:31am | |