Melody Maker Magazine 5 October 1996 Baby Bird Oasis Metallica Richey Manic NP003

Original Melody Maker music magazine/newspaper dated 5 October 1996, Issue 40, Volume 73. A strong mid-1990s issue packed with Britpop, indie, alternative and rock coverage from one of the major UK weekly music publications of the era.

The front cover is dominated by a deliberately surreal Baby Bird feature, with the large headline “Who’s a pretty boy? BABY BIRD”. The unusual yellow-background cover photograph uses a comic/distorted styling, with cucumber slices over the eyes and a small face image positioned over the tongue, giving the issue a particularly distinctive piece of 1990s Melody Maker artwork.

Other prominently advertised cover features include Richey Manic, Jon Spencer, David Baddiel, Metallica, Silver Jews, Rocket From The Crypt, Camden Crawl, Skunk Anansie and Oasis, together with a competition advertising Pulp videos and Lemonheads albums.

The top banner promotes “The Vanishing of Richey Manic: C4 Special”, making this especially interesting for collectors of Manic Street Preachers memorabilia and 1990s alternative music journalism.

The photographed interior contents page confirms a substantial range of material. Features include music news, tours, album and singles coverage, interviews and live reports, with clearly visible references to Oasis, Baby Bird, Alan McGee, New Labour, Tony Blair, Blur, Pulp, Manic Street Preachers, Skunk Anansie, Weezer, Glastonbury, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, The Lemonheads, Camden Crawl and numerous other period artists.

One particularly notable photographed news feature discusses Creation Records and New Labour, including material involving Alan McGee, Oasis and Noel Gallagher. This gives the issue additional interest as a snapshot of the close interaction between British music, celebrity culture and politics during the peak Britpop period.

The contents column also advertises sections covering:

• News
• Reviews
• Albums
• Singles
• Tours
• Live music
• The Camden Crawl
• Metallica
• Skunk Anansie
• Glastonbury
• Reader letters
• TV and entertainment
• Gig listings / forthcoming dates

A very period-specific issue that would suit collectors of Melody Maker, Britpop, Oasis, Manic Street Preachers, Baby Bird, Metallica and 1990s UK music press memorabilia.

Condition

Pre-owned vintage condition with visible age and handling wear.

From the photographs:

• Front cover remains complete, colourful and highly presentable for its age.
• Visible creasing and fold lines across the cover, particularly around the edges and lower section.
• Some surface marks, rubbing and general handling wear are visible.
• The lower-left corner and bottom edge show creasing, softening and small areas of wear.
• There is light edge fraying/roughness consistent with the newspaper-style paper stock.
• Upper and side edges show some minor waviness and age-related handling.
• Interior pages have visible age toning/yellowing, particularly toward the margins.
• Some interior pages show creases and folds, including around the lower edges.
• The centre/spine area appears used but remains together in the supplied photographs.
• Printing and photographs remain clear and readable.
• No obvious large sections appear missing from the photographed areas, although the complete publication has not been page-counted.
• No separate poster is visibly shown in the supplied photographs.

Please study all supplied photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.

Item Details

Publication: Melody Maker Magazine
Full Date: 5 October 1996
Issue: 40
Volume: 73
Main Feature: Baby Bird
Other Featured Acts/Subjects: Oasis, Richey Manic, Metallica, Jon Spencer, Silver Jews, Rocket From The Crypt, Skunk Anansie, Pulp, Lemonheads, Camden Crawl
Genre: Britpop / Indie / Alternative / Rock
Format: Weekly Music Magazine / Newspaper
Language: English
Era: 1990s
Condition: Pre-owned with age-related creasing, edge wear and page toning
SKU: NP003