Ugly Things Magazine

Ugly Things Magazine Wild sounds from past dimensions Ugly Things is a music magazine established in 1983, based in La Mesa, CA.

History
Contributing writers include such names as Mick Farren, Alan Clayson, Richie Unterberger, Doug Sheppard, Michael Lynch, Miriam Linna, Phil X Milstein, Don Craine, Mark St John, Pete Innes, Lenny Helsing and Michael Lucas. San Diego City Beat reviewed Ugly Things in an article titled, "Mike Stax of Ugly Things: A local scenester's internationally known music magazine." The Lama Workshop edi

tor Patrick Lundborg has stated about UT and editor Mike Stax: "1980s (music) zines have retired into the great recycling container in the sky (it's down to UT, Shindig!, and Misty Lane now), Mike Stax has managed not only to keep it alive, but expand his trip in various directions, and in the process become one of the very best -- perhaps THE very best -- 1960s-oriented writer out there." A review of Ugly Things in Head Press by David Kerekes sums up the publication, "When it comes to garage rock and everything associated with “wild sounds from past dimensions”, there is little to compare to the magnitude that is the mighty Ugly Things." .

TODAY! Anja and I will be spinning discs at Vinyl Junkies Record Shack in South Park from 2:00-3:00 PM in celebration of...
11/28/2025

TODAY! Anja and I will be spinning discs at Vinyl Junkies Record Shack in South Park from 2:00-3:00 PM in celebration of RSD Black Friday and 13 years of Vinyl Junkiedom. Hope you can stop by to say hi, dig some tunes and grab yourself some special vinyl.

UGLY THINGS #70 is coming soon! POP ART is our cover story as we examine how British Pop Artists ignited the Swinging S...
11/10/2025

UGLY THINGS #70 is coming soon! POP ART is our cover story as we examine how British Pop Artists ignited the Swinging Sixties in the UK and how the art world and the pop world intersected throughout that decade and into the next. I was fortunate to interview the great Pop Artist Derek Boshier at length for this story, and he had some fascinating stories and insights to share. Anja’s cover design really captures the vibe. Also in this issue, the tale of two obscure but wonderful, overlapping West Coast-inspired bands from Kansas, In Black & White and the Wizards From Kansas, and interviews with Brian McMahon of the electric eels, and Dave Clague (Bonzo Dog Band, Kevin Coyne’s Siren). Plus: the Churls, the Unforscene, Kathy Smith, the Lubricants,the Why Four, Plasticland, and a tribute to Pretty Things drummer Viv Prince.

New issue coming up! Ad space is still available so please contact me to book space in what promises to be an ultra-fab ...
10/13/2025

New issue coming up! Ad space is still available so please contact me to book space in what promises to be an ultra-fab issue. BRITISH POP ART is our cover story as we examine how British Pop Artists ignited the Swinging Sixties and how the art world and the pop world intersected throughout that decade and into the next. I interviewed the late great Pop Art icon Derek Boshier for the story. Other interviewsinclude Vern Miller of the Remains. Brian McMahon of feral proto-punk geniuses the electric eels, and Dave Clague (Bonzo Dog Band, Kevin Coyne’s Siren). Other must-read stories include Toronto ‘60s garage hooligans the Churls, enigmatic folk goddess Kathy Smith, notorious Milwaukee punk rockers the Lubricants, and the tale of two obscure but wonderful, overlapping West Coast-inspired bands from Kansas, In Black & White and the Wizards From Kansas. Not to forget ‘60s Midwest garage band the Why Four, and the final installment of our epic story on Milwaukee psychedelic heroes Plasticland. As always, you can count on acres of reviews covering all the latest and greatest reissues, and our esteemed book review section.
Email us for our affordable ad rates: [email protected]

I only recently learned of the existence of Nick Kent’s novel, The Unstable Boys, published in 2021. I’ve long enjoyed K...
10/13/2025

I only recently learned of the existence of Nick Kent’s novel, The Unstable Boys, published in 2021. I’ve long enjoyed Kent’s rock journalism, dating back to the 1970s when I read his work weekly in the NME, so I quickly tracked down and purchased the book. It’s the story of a fictional British rock band from the 1960s who achieve fame and notoriety only to flame out in the early 1970s. The story picks up in 2016 as people are beginning to rediscover their music. It’s a lot of fun, juiced by plentiful injections of caustic humor, along with some suspenseful plot turns, and a cast of colorful characters, not least of them being the band’s tormented sociopath singer known only as The Boy. I won’t give away any of the plot in case you’d like to partake yourself — which I suggest you do. But I thought I’d share a couple of pages where the Pretty Things figure into the story. (Viv Prince gets a couple of mentions later in the book too.)

R.I.P. Chris Dreja of the Yardbirds. Another sad loss for lovers of real music. As rhythm guitarist (and later bass play...
10/03/2025

R.I.P. Chris Dreja of the Yardbirds. Another sad loss for lovers of real music. As rhythm guitarist (and later bass player) in a band famous for their lead guitarists, Chris was somewhat overlooked in the Yardbirds story, but his tight, dynamic playing was a crucial element of their uniquely brilliant sound. He was a sharp dresser too, and a bit of a demon on the maracas. And let’s not forget his splendidly grotesque artwork for Roger the Engineer, and his skills as a photographer. I had the pleasure of spending time with Chris on several occasions, and he was always erudite and humorous. I’ll never forget the afternoon Anja and I spent at his home in London in the early 2000s. He was a genial host, genuinely good company and like any proud Englishman, knew how to make a perfect cup of tea. I think there were biscuits too. A true gentleman and a rhythm guitarist for the ages.

NEW EPISODE! A gripping interview with Robb Huxley (of the Saxons and the Tornados), who shares extraordinary stories ab...
09/23/2025

NEW EPISODE! A gripping interview with Robb Huxley (of the Saxons and the Tornados), who shares extraordinary stories about working with maverick independent record producer Joe Meek in the mid-1960s. I’ve known Robb for a while so I knew he had stories, but I wasn’t prepared for how much he was ready to reveal in this conversation. As well as talking about the music he recorded with Meek, Robb opened up with absolute honesty about some quite difficult and troubling subjects, and the sinister figures that lurked behind the scenes of the music business during that era. I was on edge of my seat for parts of this interview, and I expect you will be too.
Please listen, review, rate, recommend and subscribe. Also, consider becoming a Patreon member and get access to a growing archive of exclusive bonus content. This time Patreons get to hear an additional interview segment with Robb on the subject of Joe Meek’s obsession with the supernatural.

R.I.P. Tom Ward. It’s been heartwarming to see the flood of tributes to Tom over the past few days. What better proof th...
09/22/2025

R.I.P. Tom Ward. It’s been heartwarming to see the flood of tributes to Tom over the past few days. What better proof that he was deeply loved and respected by all of us who knew him? Authenticity was everything to Tom, in music, in fashion, in his interactions with others, in the way he lived his life. He was an outstanding musician with a meticulous sense of taste, style and tone. Although he played in numerous bands over the years, he’ll be most remembered for his work with the Nashville Ramblers with whom he logged countless, consistently sensational live performances as well as one immortal 45 (and compilation release), “The Trains.” Anja and I were fortunate enough to visit Tom shortly before he passed. I told him he’d used his time here well, that through his dedication to his music and his craft he’d brought pleasure to a lot of people. I told him how much I admired him as a bass player, as a musician, as a man. I was speaking for all of us, and Tom knew that too. He appreciated it. He wanted to be remembered, and he will be. I’m happy he is at peace now.
Condolences to all who knew and loved him, especially Ann who took such great care of him in his final years, and Carl who was a true and solid friend and musical brother right through to the final chord.

R.I.P. Viv Prince. I just got word a couple of hours ago that Vivian Prince, the legendarily mercurial drummer of the Pr...
09/11/2025

R.I.P. Viv Prince. I just got word a couple of hours ago that Vivian Prince, the legendarily mercurial drummer of the Pretty Things (1964-65) passed away earlier this week at his home in Portugal. Viv, the self-appointed Prince of Drummers and, briefly, “King of the World” was an unforgettable character, most remembered for his wild on- and off-stage antics. But he was also a fantastic drummer whose propulsive playing was a crucial element in making those early Pretty Things records so unique and exciting. He also played drums for Carter Lewis & the Southerners, the Honeycombs (when Honey Lantree left her drum seat to sing), the Bunch of Fives, Vamp, Kate, and, in his early days, a number of trad jazz bands. I never met Viv, but I did have a couple of wild, rambling, intermittently hilarious phone conversations with him back in the early part of this century. My friend John Baker spoke to him a couple of weeks ago and was able to convey my best wishes. I was all set to give him another call, but cruelly time ran out. I wish I’d got to hear a few more of his stories. Wishing him happy trails on his next journey. Long live the Prince!

Malibu, California, 1956. Natalie Wood stands on the shoulders of actor Steve Rowland. Hard to believe that ten years la...
08/29/2025

Malibu, California, 1956. Natalie Wood stands on the shoulders of actor Steve Rowland. Hard to believe that ten years later Steve would be producing Pretty Things singles like “Come See Me,” “A House in the Country” and “Progress,” and their 1967 Emotions album. He also produced Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, the Herd and PJ Proby, among others, and made records with his own group, the Family Dogg.
Steve is still alive and kicking at the age of 92, and living out in Palm Desert. I interviewed him a couple of years ago.
(Photo by Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

NEW EPISODE! It’s my interview with an unsung hero of 1970s NYC punk rock, Sonny Vincent, whose band Testors made some o...
08/18/2025

NEW EPISODE! It’s my interview with an unsung hero of 1970s NYC punk rock, Sonny Vincent, whose band Testors made some of the most viciously intense, soulful punk rock ‘n’ roll of the era. Sonny shares incredible stories about his days as a teenage runaway in the 1960s, his early bands, and the glory days of Max’s Kansas City and CBGBs. It’s a wild ride — jump in and buckle up!
Please rate and review us, and consider becoming a Patreon member. For a small monthly donation you get access to a growing archive of bonus material, including exclusive interview outtakes.

Tomorrow: Saturday, August 16, the Loons will be at the Casbah with femme garage icons the Pandoras and San Diego rock n...
08/15/2025

Tomorrow: Saturday, August 16, the Loons will be at the Casbah with femme garage icons the Pandoras and San Diego rock n roll hotshots the Film Company, plus DJ Tony the Tyger. The joint will be jumping. Hope to see you there.
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