Now that is a throwback. Back to times where there was only ever analog information, most of it printed. Or radioed. So i guess we all got our admission into Punk either way:
Trough friends, school mates, radio (either BFBS & John Peel or NDR & Ruth Rockenschaubs Letter from London) or Musik Magazines (be it juvenile Bravo or eg. the german edition of Sounds. Or, better, an NME scored at the international newspaper stand at Hamburg Airport).
Once into Punk, there where Fanzines. I got setup by the guys from the Willkürakt fanzine (both Lars and Thies attended my school, one and two years higher respectively). Once they lectured me, i found Konnekschen (pre-Unterm Durchschnitt), Rip Off and then … other local fanzines.
Rockmusik was odd from the name and once reading it became … odd. Not the street language i was getting from other fanzines but obviously older guys, university lectured (maybe, back then almost one of the foes) and let’s say from times when everything needed a thorough discussion. More theoretical. More for the sake of the discussion than the topic.
But deeply rooted into more progressive rock and linked to the blooming bootleg scene. So in-the-know on many fronts.
I discovered Rockmusik only in say 1980, ignored most of the stuff in the earlier editions and sure only every did read what was obvious punk related.
Rockmusik #1 carries least punk content, though reviews of fanzines and shows.
Rockmusik #1 (Feb 1979)
(c) gehkacken.de 2025
Rockmusik #2 already dives deep, prime with a review of the Into The Future festival at the Markthalle (24.02.1979), recorded and delivered in bootleg fashion by Robert Nitz (who had his operations next to the Konnekschen).
Rockmusik #2 (Apr 1979)
(c) gehkacken.de 2025
Rockmusik #3 then has it’s focus tilted over to Punk, Punk in Hamburg (a long interview with the Coroners and Eugen (Pretty Vacant & Krawall 2000)) and reviews of records and shows.
Rockmusik #3 (Jul 1979)
(c) gehkacken.de 2025
Back then it was definitely not sexy for a punk kiddie but quickly it became cool reference material.
I did not find trace of Rockmusik #4 (October 1979) though i know i had it once. It carries further interviews with Punk Bands like Male and Mittagspause (preserved at highdive.de).
Uli went on to take over Konnekschen & Unterm Durchschnitt and dove head first into Atonal (and Dub), Kai got lost over the years. I guess i will need to ask Uli one day about the history of the AG Rockmusik, how it came about and how he felt the transition towards the new thingy called Punk went for him.
Note: Most of my fanzine collection got lost over the years, some traded, some handed away and some simply thrown into the paper waste. A couple of Hamburg Zines i held onto and they got lost in the cellar.
In 2025 i did dig into it, found them and took the effort to scan them in high-res (600dpi) for further use. And then i gifted them to a collector, who treasures them (and may reward me, one way (liquid) or the other (vinyl)).
You can find the raw scans time being over at www.oldpunks.de in the ZINES section. At one point in time they will be changed out to searchable PDF’s, once i master the art of creation.
