It all starts in Herne Bay

Young Punks Hanging Out In The Record Store

Birth Of Tone Death Fanzine

“Song Of The Flame” Tone Death

“Mansonik No 1” Konstruktivists

Printing By NMX

Fanzine Distro

Taking Carrier Bags Of Fanzines To Rough Trade

“Love Is….” Legendary Pink Dots

Grim Humour Flexi-disc

Rising From The Red Sand

“Gdansk” Test Dept.

Dave Henderson Review In "Sounds"

“Onslaught” Attrition

Martin Bowes, Attrition

Rough Trade On The Phone

“At Set Points” Ian Boddy

“Strange Play Of The Mouth” Nurse With Wound

Growing Grim Humour

“Grow Dark In The Sun”  Mummies & Madmen

“Not Me” Thurston Moore w/ Tom Surgal

Skinny Puppy Looking For A Deal

Front Line Assembly

Selling Third Mind

“Bite My Head” Portion Control

Armed with fanzines, cassette tapes, and a fierce DIY spirit - two teenagers from Herne Bay helped shape the UK’s underground music scene.

In this episode, host Martin Franklin traces the journey of Gary Levermore, founder of Third Mind Records, and Richard “Richo” Johnson, the force behind Grim Humour fanzine and Fourth Dimension Records. From their early days frequenting a local record shop to trading zines and music through the post, their story captures the energy of a grassroots movement that gave voice to some of the most experimental and influential acts of the 1980s.

We explore how fanzines like Tone Death and Grim Humour connected a sprawling network of artists and fans, and how this evolved into Third Mind’s legendary cassette compilation “Rising from the Red Sand”—a defining moment for underground electronic and post-industrial music. The episode offers inside perspectives on artists such as Nurse With Wound, Test Dept, Attrition, and Legendary Pink Dots, while also shedding light on the support they received from key tastemakers like Rough Trade, John Peel, and Dave Henderson of Sounds.

Along the way, Gary reveals the moment he turned down the newly formed Skinny Puppy, and how that decision—and others—shaped the future of Third Mind and its eventual partnership with Roadrunner Records.

Richo discusses the evolving mission of Fourth Dimension and his enduring dedication to artists with a distinct sensibility, both sonically and personally.

Passion, persistence, and a love of experimental sound helped two independent labels make their mark on music history—one photocopied zine and dubbed cassette at a time.

Hosted by Martin Franklin.
Theme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen/"Hesatative" Jack Hertz

VIDEO
You can find video of some of the fanzines and cassette releases we discuss in this episode on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcast

VOICES
Richard “Richo” Johnson
Gary Levermore
Dave Henderson
Martin Bowes

MUSIC
“Mansonik No 1” Konstruktivists, Psyko-Genetika, Third Mind Records 1983
“Song Of The Flame” Tone Death, Rising From the Red Sand Third Mind Tapes 1983
“Love Is….” Legendary Pink Dots, Basilisk, Third Mind Tapes 1984
“Page After Page” I’m Dead, Grim Humour#3 7” Flexi, Fourth Dimension Records
“Gdansk” Test Dept, Rising From The Red Sand, Third Mind Tapes 1983
“Onslaught” Attrition, Onslaught, Third Mind Tapes 1983
“At Set Points” Ian Boddy, Visions, Third Mind Tapes 1983
“Strange Play Of The Mouth” Nurse With Wound, Rising From The Red Sand, Third Mind Tapes 1983
“Grow Dark In The Sun”  Mummies & Madmen, Winter Hill Recordings 2024
“Not Me” Thurston Moore w/Tom Surgal, 10” EP, Fourth Dimension
“Film-o-sonik” Konstruktivists, Psyko-Genetika, Third Mind records 1983
“Bite My Head” Portion Control, Rising From The Red Sand, Third Mind Tapes 1983

Herne Bay ambient recordings by Damon Hart-Davis used by permission.
https://www.earth.org.uk/Herne-Bay-ambient.html

LINKS

Third Mind Records
https://www.discogs.com/label/2746-Third-Mind-Records

Fourth Dimension Records
https://www.youtube.com/@FDRecords2023
fourthdimensionrecords.bigcartel.com

Dave Henderson
https://23ears.co.uk/

Attrition
https://attritionuk.bandcamp.com/

THANKS TO:
Damon Hart-Davis for capturing the ancestral ambience, Dave Henderson & Martin Bowes for going the extra mile, Alan Rider for this months package.

AVAILABLE NOW: The project that started it all.
"Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989 - 90" SoundImage Tapes cassette reissue, Infinite Expanse, 2024
https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com

*Cassette Culture* is produced by Martin Franklin for East Coast Studio. (https://eastcoaststudio.com.au)

 

 

Armed with fanzines, cassette tapes, and a fierce DIY spirit - two teenagers from Herne Bay helped shape the UK&rsquo;s underground music scene.
In this episode, host Martin Franklin traces the journey of Gary Levermore, founder of Third Mind Records, and Richard &ldquo;Richo&rdquo; Johnson, the force behind Grim Humour fanzine and Fourth Dimension Records. From their early days frequenting a local record shop to trading zines and music through the post, their story captures the energy of a grassroots movement that gave voice to some of the most experimental and influential acts of the 1980s.
We explore how fanzines like Tone Death and Grim Humour connected a sprawling network of artists and fans, and how this evolved into Third Mind&rsquo;s legendary cassette compilation &ldquo;Rising from the Red Sand&rdquo;&mdash;a defining moment for underground electronic and post-industrial music. The episode offers inside perspectives on artists such as Nurse With Wound, Test Dept, Attrition, and Legendary Pink Dots, while also shedding light on the support they received from key tastemakers like Rough Trade, John Peel, and Dave Henderson of Sounds.
Along the way, Gary reveals the moment he turned down the newly formed Skinny Puppy, and how that decision&mdash;and others&mdash;shaped the future of Third Mind and its eventual partnership with Roadrunner Records.
Richo discusses the evolving mission of Fourth Dimension and his enduring dedication to artists with a distinct sensibility, both sonically and personally.
Passion, persistence, and a love of experimental sound helped two independent labels make their mark on music history&mdash;one photocopied zine and dubbed cassette at a time.
Hosted by Martin Franklin. Theme music &ldquo;This Is Concrete&rdquo; by The Happy Citizen/"Hesatative" Jack Hertz
VIDEO You can find video of some of the fanzines and cassette releases we discuss in this episode on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcast">https://www.youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcast</a>
VOICES Richard &ldquo;Richo&rdquo; Johnson Gary Levermore Dave Henderson Martin Bowes
MUSIC &ldquo;Mansonik No 1&rdquo; Konstruktivists, Psyko-Genetika, Third Mind Records 1983 &ldquo;Song Of The Flame&rdquo; Tone Death, Rising From the Red Sand Third Mind Tapes 1983 &ldquo;Love Is&hellip;.&rdquo; Legendary Pink Dots, Basilisk, Third Mind Tapes 1984 &ldquo;Page After Page&rdquo; I&rsquo;m Dead, Grim Humour#3 7&rdquo; Flexi, Fourth Dimension Records &ldquo;Gdansk&rdquo; Test Dept, Rising From The Red Sand, Third Mind Tapes 1983 &ldquo;Onslaught&rdquo; Attrition, Onslaught, Third Mind Tapes 1983 &ldquo;At Set Points&rdquo; Ian Boddy, Visions, Third Mind Tapes 1983 &ldquo;Strange Play Of The Mouth&rdquo; Nurse With Wound, Rising From The Red Sand, Third Mind Tapes 1983 &ldquo;Grow Dark In The Sun&rdquo;&nbsp; Mummies &amp; Madmen, Winter Hill Recordings 2024 &ldquo;Not Me&rdquo; Thurston Moore w/Tom Surgal, 10&rdquo; EP, Fourth Dimension &ldquo;Film-o-sonik&rdquo; Konstruktivists, Psyko-Genetika, Third Mind records 1983 &ldquo;Bite My Head&rdquo; Portion Control, Rising From The Red Sand, Third Mind Tapes 1983
Herne Bay ambient recordings by Damon Hart-Davis used by permission. <a href="https://www.earth.org.uk/Herne-Bay-ambient.html">https://www.earth.org.uk/Herne-Bay-ambient.html</a>
LINKS
Third Mind Records <a href="https://www.discogs.com/label/2746-Third-Mind-Records">https://www.discogs.com/label/2746-Third-Mind-Records</a>
Fourth Dimension Records <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@FDRecords2023">https://www.youtube.com/@FDRecords2023</a> <a href="https://fourthdimensionrecords.bigcartel.com/">fourthdimensionrecords.bigcartel.com</a>
Dave Henderson <a href="https://23ears.co.uk/">https://23ears.co.uk/</a>
Attrition <a href="https://attritionuk.bandcamp.com/">https://attritionuk.bandcamp.com/</a>
THANKS TO: Damon Hart-Davis for capturing the ancestral ambience, Dave Henderson &amp; Martin Bowes for going the extra mile, Alan Rider for this months package.
AVAILABLE NOW: The project that started it all. "Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989 - 90" SoundImage Tapes cassette reissue, Infinite Expanse, 2024 <a href="https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com/album/premonitions-underground-cassette-network-1989-90">https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com</a>
*Cassette Culture* is produced by Martin Franklin for East Coast Studio. (<a href="https://eastcoaststudio.com.au">https://eastcoaststudio.com.au</a>)
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

The stories of the global underground movement that shaped experimental music and culture, told by the artists that were there…

For two decades during the '80's and '90's, the international mail system fostered a network of underground artists, exchanging cassette tapes of music and homemade artwork – all under the radar of mainstream media. Taking the DIY message of Punk as a jumping off point, we travel through the network to find the creators of the fanzines, the music, the labels and events.

The stories of the global underground movement that shaped experimental music and culture, told by the artists that were there&hellip;
For two decades during the '80's and '90's, the international mail system fostered a network of underground artists, exchanging cassette tapes of music and homemade artwork &ndash; all under the radar of mainstream media. Taking the DIY message of Punk as a jumping off point, we travel through the network to find the creators of the fanzines, the music, the labels and events.

Cassette Culture

The stories of the global underground movement that shaped experimental music and culture, told by the artists that were there...

For two decades the international mail system fostered a network of underground artists, exchanging cassette tapes of music and homemade artwork - all under the radar of main stream media.

We track down some key figures in the cassette scene, and follow the web of connections outward from the UK around the world, mapping the impacts and their ongoing effects.

We speak with musicians, label runners, and fanzine writers, who share their experiences of connecting through the mail system and its ongoing effects on their lives.

Hosted by Martin Franklin & Hudson Graham | Podcast produced by East Coast Studio

Find us on www.cassetteculturepodcast.com

The stories of the global underground movement that shaped experimental music and culture, told by the artists that were there...
For two decades the international mail system fostered a network of underground artists, exchanging cassette tapes of music and homemade artwork - all under the radar of main stream media.
We track down some key figures in the cassette scene, and follow the web of connections outward from the UK around the world, mapping the impacts and their ongoing effects.
We speak with musicians, label runners, and fanzine writers, who share their experiences of connecting through the mail system and its ongoing effects on their lives.
Hosted by Martin Franklin &amp; Hudson Graham | Podcast produced by <a href="https://eastcoaststudio.com.au/">East Coast Studio</a>
Find us on <a href="https://www.cassetteculturepodcast.com">www.cassetteculturepodcast.com</a>

Third Mind, Fourth Dimension

Advertisement