Historical information

Fast Forward was an audio-cassette based music magazine conceived and edited by Bruce Milne and Andrew Maine. Both had music programs on radio station 3RRR and Milne ran the successful independent record label Au Go Go Records. Michael Trudgeon joined them as the designer for the magazine. Each issue comprised a cassette tape interspersed with music and was packaged with printed artwork. The magazine was distributed in record shops for $3.50. Thirteen issues were produced between November 1980 and October 1982. Regular contributors included Jeff Holland, who created elaborate sound collages which were combined with elaborate illustrations in the booklet that accompanied the audio cassette. Many ground breaking Australian bands were first published on Fast Forward tapes including Hunters and Collectors. An international audience was first exposed to music from Australian bands including Laughing Clowns, the Go-Betweens, Rowland Howard’s ‘Shivers’ as performed by The Young Charlatans, The Scientists, the M Squared label, Dead Can Dance and Pel Mel’s ‘No Word from China’ recorded as a ‘demo’.

Significance

Fast Forward was the world’s first audio-cassette music magazine. As the magazine’s presence and reputation grew, international acts began to submit material for publication including The Cure. Interview subjects included Nick Cave, The Cure’s, Robert Smith, Mark E Smith of The Fall, and the manager of The Clash.

Physical description

Cassette magazine in vinyl cover. Contents includes one magazine, one audio cassette, one crossword, one subscription pamphlet, and one pamphlet titled 'The Kmart Herald'.