The Anti-Matter Anthology: A 1990s Post-Punk & Hardcore Reader

by Norman Brannon (Editor)

Anti-Matter offers a fascinating and earnest glimpse into the lives of the artists themselves: A straight-edge punk icon admits to straying from his teetotal principles. A multiplatinum rock star divulges the point that his own celebrity brought him to tears. The guitarist of a lyrically uplifting hardcore band discusses his failed suicide attempt. These are the kinds of stories that weave the fabric of The Anti-Matter Anthology ? a definitive collection of interviews from the fanzine that inspired thousands of young punks in their own self-discovery ? featuring revealing conversations with FUGAZI's Ian MacKaye, RANCID, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Zack de la Rocha, SNAPCASE, JAWBOX, photographer Glen E. Friedman, SICK OF IT ALL, QUICKSAND, and the late Elliott Smith, to name a few.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

250 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2007

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging set of interviews generally centered around the hardcore scene in the mid-‘90s—not as factual descriptions, but as conversations of candid, personal, and reflective responses. Ian MacKaye’s interview was unsurprisingly enjoyable. Zack de la Rocha’s interview was a standout for me. So was this anecdote:
“I was also coaching a girls' field-hockey team for awhile, The Slamdek Rockers. Scott Ritcher, the guy that owns Slamdek Records, is just crazy. He's not crazy; he's wonderful, but he just got on this field-hockey kick and spent $800 that he didn't have to buy T-shirts and admission fees for this league. He recruited all these different punk-rock girls that played hockey in their high schools to play. It was awesome. We did pretty good, too. There'd be like 75 hardcore kids that would come and sit on the stands and just scream. They’d have these big signs that said: ‘Let’s take it to the pit, Rockers!’”

[Miloš · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a refreshing breeze of music memories from '90s. I loved the interviews with Rancid, SDRE and Craig Wedren. Some of the artists compensated their lack of depth with a load of enthusiasm and zeal.

[Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite not knowing that many of the interviewee's bands Norman asks deeper questions than your typical fanzine fare and so even though some of the people weren't that interesting to me, overall this collection is extremely readable and well done.

[Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review of Anti-Matter Anthology from Verbicide issue #22 (Winter 2008):

The Anti-Matter Anthology: A 1990s Post-Punk & Hardcore Reader compiles the best interviews from Norman Brannon’s early- to mid-‘90s zine, Anti-Matter. A lot of people try to conduct interviews, but there are few who pull it off well by probing their subjects with thoughtful questions, getting past the surface of the performer or public figure and exposing the human element and the belief system that makes them who they are. I personally enjoyed excellent interviews with J. Robbins of Jawbox, photographer Glen Friedman, Ian MacKaye, Dave Smalley, and a rare interview with Sunny Day Real Estate. The interview with Snapcase was probably the first I’ve ever read, despite that I was a big fan circa Progression Through Unlearning. And reading Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against The Machine rattle off the facts of the 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation that sent Leonard Peltier to life in prison is outstanding. There are also good interviews with bigger-name acts, including Rancid, Sick Of It All, and the late Elliot Smith, a bunch of bands I never cared about like Samiam and Quicksand, and some “shocking” revelations from some straightedge icon who performed with a hangover a couple times. Also, more Hare Krishna jibber-jabber than you could ever possibly care to read. Overall, though, a study in excellent music journalism.

[Subvert · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been some years since I've read this book and I would love to re-read some of it to find out whether my opinion has changed over the years. But this is probably one of the best books on punk (ethics) and DIY ever written.

Norman Brannon publishes interviews with several hardcore bands from his Anti-Matter fanzine of the 90s. Not the usual "what are your influences, your favourite band" questions, but real personal questions to young people that play in hardcore-punk bands, who often feel a bit alienated from society, and what drives them. The result is not just interesting to people that are interested in these bands or even hardcore-punk in general, but to basically anyone.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, Norman is a good friend of mine and I remember this in it's fanzine version fondly so of course I am biased. Great reminiscences for the early to mid-90's hardcore (i am not going to use the e-m-o word) scene. Great interviews and an amazing resource for those of us who were there to remember it by, and those who were not to learn a bit about the time. Recommended.

[Angela Perkins]

A research book for my 90's blog: Damn The Man, Save The Empire! at http://co-optingthe90s.blogspot.com/

Library needed it back. Never touched it. Will eventually get it again.