Editor Nick West
Terry Hermon Founder Nigel Cross Country United Kingdom | Categories Music Year founded 1979 Based in London | |
Bucketfull of Brains (also known as BoB) is a London-based music magazine, founded in 1979. An associated record label was launched in 2010.
History
Bucketfull of Brains was founded by Nigel Cross in 1979, and has been published in the U.K. continuously since that time, on an irregular schedule. Since 1996, the magazine has been edited and published by Nick West, and more recently by the editorial team of Nick West and Terry Hermon.
Editorial interest, over the years, has included "an affection for songs with guitars and thus bands like the Barracudas, the Flamin' Groovies, the Dream Syndicate, the Long Ryders and the Green Pajamas hold a special place in its affections." Until early 2003 (issue #64), the front cover of the magazine included a logo with a sub-title that listed the musical genres on which it focused: "rock 'n' roll, pop, psych, garage, punk, r'n'b, country, folk." An earlier version of the subtitle read "rock, garage, psych, folk-rock, pop, rock'n'roll".
Bucketfull of Brains has been acknowledged by Trouser Press as a source of "essential discographical and background information." According to American music writer John M. Borack, the magazine has earned a reputation as a "quality, focused publication" in both Great Britain and the United States by "championing worthy artists big and small".
In 1989, founder and editor Nigel Cross received an unusual honor from members of the band R.E.M. During R.E.M.'s tour for their album Green, members of R.E.M. combined with Robyn Hitchcock and Peter Holsapple to form a band that they called Nigel and the Crosses, which played two concerts during periods between R.E.M.'s shows. Nigel and the Crosses debuted on March 8, 1989 with a show in Minneapolis, and in London on May 28, 1989, Nigel and the Crosses played a 90-minute show in Soho at the Borderline Club, which BoB reviewer Jon Storey called "enough fine music ... to satisfy anyone." Nigel and the Crosses also recorded a version of the song "Wild Mountain Thyme" for the 1989 album Time Between – A Tribute to The Byrds, and a live 7" single that was distributed with BoB #34.
In addition to publishing the magazine and associated blogs, in 2010 Bucketfull of Brains launched a record label, which is distributed by Proper Music Distribution. Its recording artists include Benjamin Folke Thomas, Trent Miller, and John Murry.