Jersey Beat #26 (Weehawken NJ)

Although publisher Jim Testa hasn't put out an issue of Jersey Beat in some time, his impressive little music rag can boast of 77 issues published during nearly 25 years. Considering that Testa's zine was more of a labor of love than a business with an actual staff (i.e. Maximum Rock 'N' Roll or Punk Planet), that's no mean feat. An integral part of the North Jersey music scene, a talented writer and critic, and an engaging, entertaining songwriter, Testa's one-man-show often times showed up publications with bigger budgets. Through the years, Testa's eye for talent resulted in folks like Jim DeRogatis, Ben Weasel and Howard Wuelfing writing some great material for Jersey Beat. In the interest of disclosure, the Reverend has also written for Jersey Beat, contributing record and DVD reviews to the zine for almost 15 years.

Issue #26 seems to be the first that I have in my archives, a relatively early issue from 1986 that is smaller and more scattered than later issues. This issue includes coverage of the second annual "Noise Fest," a showcase for NJ metal bands, as well as articles on the band Fahrenheit 451 and Bob Cianci, record collector and producer of the Attack Of The Jersey Teens collection of '60s garage bands. There is a very cool "metal underground" column by "Metal" Mike Farris covering bands like Deathrash, Matriarch and Bloodlust as well as a bunch of record reviews, including discs from Jersey's own Yo La Tengo, Rage To Live, the Feelies, and Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel. There are a few 7-inch reviews and a handful of John Crawford's hilarious "Baboon Dooley, Rock Critic" cartoon strips. Not quite the JB that we would later come to love and anticipate, but Testa and his crew were well on the way.

(Click on cover thumbnail to see larger picture)

VITAL STATISTICS:
• Issue #26
• May/June 1986
• B&W, 20-pages (including covers)
• Style: music zine

ARTICLES/INTERVIEWS
"Noise Fest" heavy metal festival
Fahrenheit 451
Bob Cianci (Attack Of The Jersey Teens LP producer)
"Baboon Dooley" cartoons by John Crawford
--> also live show reviews, album & zine reviews