Gray Areas Magazine Spring 1995 Volume 4 Number 1

164 Pages·1995·66.8 MB·English

by  Gray Areas, Inc.

w OUT WITH PHISH MEMBER MIKE GORDON
IN LIFE, THERE IS NO BLACK AND WHITE, ONLY « ..
SAVVUADU V
SPRING 1995 LAW, MUSIC, TECHNOLOGY, POPULAR CULTURE & REVIEWS VOL.4NO.1
INTERNET LIBERATION DEFCON, LOLLAPALOOZA,
FRONT SPEAKS! WOODSTOCK & HOPE
ADULT FILM STAR / JETHRO TULL
RICHARD PACHECO BOOTLEG VIDEO LIST
PSYCHOANALYSIS DRUG ADDICTION
AND FEMINISM
: GUN CONTROL
POLYGRAPH TESTS
BLOCKBUSTER
PROSTITUTION REVIEW SECTION OF:
SOFTWARE, MOVIES,
TUNING IN CATALOGS, CDS,
ILLEGALLY ON wee VIDEO GAMES,
PHONE CALLS Ce BOOKS, COMICS,
Ao ZINES, CONCERTS,
GRAY THOUGHTS > LIVE AUDIO
& VIDEO TAPES
==
Ci...
NOW SIXTEEN A
—
MORE PAGES! «(Cc
Display
SFA‘“AUASJUMVMDD —INIVOAOS LN IINIIdOAWONO IINIdI H OUInStI ilL
July 3, 1995
$6.95 U.S.A.
$8.60 Canada
£6.00 U.K.
“Vv
y
2 We)
Z wt
(\ ocOo
>ra ic)o
) ©
a
Vi
~t
~t
nm
i|t
|“ #1 ZINE OF 1993” “Gray Areas serves as a valuable |
“One of The Top 100 Sellers”
guide through the treasures and |
| - Pulse! - Fine Print Distributors
traps of our quick-changing high- |
Holiday issue 1993 1993 catalog
tech age... Gray Areas is not cheap. |
'“ One of the Ten Best Magazines of “Few publications can boast to find- But as a glimpse into the next cen- |
tury, it delivers your money’s |
|1 992... With an objective focus on ing acommon ground of interest for
the unusual, Gray Areas is a maga- such disparate disciplines as music, worth.” | |
- Unbroken Chain |
|z ine for those who love looking at law, technology and popular cul-
|t he world a bit askew. Its particular ture. Gray Areas provides insightful Vol. 7 #4)
|s trengths are the excellent, well- reviews of books, zines, catalogs,
“They make a point of conducting |
|c hosen comments on the passing software, CDs, concerts, movies, live
intimate interviews with figures the |
is cene and descriptive, sometimes audio and videotapes that you might
|e valuative, annotations on out-of- otherwise have never discovered. A national media wouldn’t touch with
a 30-foot boom mike.” |
|t he-way catalogs, magazines, vid- sort of “Unholy Earth Catalog,” it
} - Bookpeople |
|e os, and comics.” aspires to entertain and educate
Spring 1994 catalog |
: - Library Journal baby-boomers with brains.”
May 1, 1993 - Ubiquity Distributors, Inc.
“Netta Gilboa impresses us as one |
1994 catalog
|“ Gray areas are activities and ob- of the most competent interview- |
|j ects that skirt around the borders “Features an excellent review ers in the Zine scene, and does for |
print media what Mike Wallace |
|o f legality or acceptability, and this section as well as a lot of useful
|m agazine explores them.” computer information, and the pre- and Barbara Walters do for televi- |
| - bOING bOING sion: She brings incisive questions |
sentation is uniformly attractive and
Number 11 well-organized.” — to bear on her topic and elicits |
uncompromising information in|
~ Request
the Wallace tradition while never |
|“ In an age of narrow-casting, two-
losing sight of the subjects’ human- |
|m inute attention spans, aggressive “In no uncertain terms can this be
ity (in the Walters tradition).”
|W ired graphics and cyber-styled called a fanzine either. It’s big and
|M ondo fashions, Gray Areas is a full with useful information and - Computer underground Digest |
irefreshingly retro, egregiously enigmatic writing.”
“Truly this isa fanzine for the gray... |
|e clectic, and easy-on-the-eye look ~ MFTEQ9
the rock-o-phile will find much |
|a t privacy issues.”
| - Whole Earth Review “A smart and attractive zine that is concrete information here of inter- |
est. From old concert schedules to |
Fall 1993 definitely not just for Deadheads.”
waxographics, you can find all the |
- Covert Culture Sourcebook
trivia about your favorite golden |
|“ Professionally produced but sub- St. Martin’s Press
group. Members of the Woodstock |
|t ly subversive, ostensibly main-
Istream but still very cult, this generation whoare stuck there will |
“All in all, one of the half dozen
'weighty mag aims to investigate groove.” |
shiny magazines that you really
- Small Magazine Review |
|a nd celebrate the twilight of mod-
should allow yourself to buy.”
|e rn life; and hey, why not?!” August 1993 |
- Farm Pulp
| - Record Collector
Feb/March 1994
January 1993 |
NTERNET LIBERATION FRONT 14
SCAN& NCELELULRAR SCA LLS 20
DEFCON II CON REVIEW 21
9 HACKERS ON PLANET EARTH 23
5 HOHOCON 1994 REVIEW Pe|
HACKERS ON PLANET EARTH REVIEW acer ARE YOU A LIAR? 32
ROBBERY 33
ZSA ZSTAHE &TO RT EXPLOSION 39
POLITICS OF PARODY 40
SCHMECKEL MOVIES IN CA 45
THE OLDEST PROFESSION >2
PSYCHOANALYSIS/FEMINISM 60
DRUG ARTICLES 64
POLYGRAPH TESTS 7)
ADOPTION ARTICLES 78
ART OF JOHN WAYNE GACY 85
LOLLAPALOOZA REVIEW 145
WOODSTOCK 1994 REVIEW 148
THE PHISH INTERVIEW 151
| BURIED PAUL 1!
JETHRO TULL LIVE ON VIDEO 19
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR >
COOL CATALOGS 87
COMIC REVIEWS 88
m ZINE SCENE REVIEWS 90
[> BOOK REVIEWS a3
> SOFTWARE REVIEWS 100
x VIDEO GAME REVIEWS 107
a MOVIE REVIEWS 109
— » 6 = COMPACT DISC REVIEWS sb,
INTERVMIIKEE GWORD:ON OF PHISH PAGE 151 CONCERT REVIEWS 133
LIVE AUDIO REVIEWS 142
VOLUME 4 NUMBER1 ISSUE7 SPRING 1995
®) You must put your name, address and phone number on your work so that we can
properly identify it to credit you. We discourage phone calls but can be faxed at
[phone]. Please allow three rings.
COMPUTERS:Gray Areas accepts software for review. We also prefer receiving articles
and letters on disk if our systems are compatible. We can read anything in IBM format
and can have Mac disks converted if you save them as Ascii, *.doc or *.txt with a file
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & PUBLISHER: Netta Gilboa name of 8 letters or less. Please include information with any disks sent indicating what
is on them and which software packages and computer type they are compatible with.
SENIOR EDITOR: Alan Sheckter
Use a dark ribbon and white paper if you send us something typed. Please do not write
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Paul Miller by hand on your typed pages, as we might have them scanned into a computer. Gray
Areas is produced entirely on the desktop with two IBM clones. Our primary computer
COPY EDITOR: Richard Freeman
is a 486-50 EISA clone with 1OMB of RAM and 256k cache. It has 1.2 and 1.44 floppy
EAST COAST CORRESPONDENT: Ellen Levitt drives, 540MB and 212MB hard disks, a Bernoulli removable 90MB hard drive with 1.3
CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE: J.D. Abolins, Elizabeth Adams, gigabytes of additional storage, a Colorado Jumbo 250MB tape drive, a Pro Audio
Katherine K. Alamo, Cameron Archbold, Amy Armstrong, Gianluigi Spectrum 16 sound card, an NEC 74 CD ROM drive, a Diamond Stealth SVGA
accelerator graphics card and a Xenix cordless mouse. Gray Areas is proofed on an HP
Blasi, Jerry Brand, Doug Brunell, Adrian ClarkeJ,o e Coughlin, T.F. 4M Postscript laser printer with OMB of RAM in it. Itis then sent to a service bureau
Davis, John Denker, Ken Doucet, Russell Eisenman, Jennifer to have film made using a Linotronic. Our backup computer is a Pentium laptop with
Elden, Todd Ellenberg, Richard Freeman, Carolyn Chiterer Gilboa, 16MB RAM, 500MB hard disk, 14.4 modem, etc. We are using the following software
to produceGray Areas: Adobe’s Berkeley Oldstyle family and other fonts, Adobe Type
Itzchak. Gilboa, Adam Gorightly, Jason Gossard, RobertJ . Gre-
Manager 3.0, After Dark 3.0 , Atech Software's Dingbats 2 & 3 and International fonts,
gory, Linda Gusmano, David Hargrove, Jane C. Holmes, E. Horswill, Bitstream Typeface Library fonts, ClickART clip art, CorelDRAW! 4.0c, and 5.0,
Craig M. Houck, Scott Hughes, Vincent C. Hughes, Roxanna Microsoft DOS 6.2, FontMinder 1.1, Freehand 3.1, Funny Business, Gallery Effects 1.5
Vol. 1 & 2, Graphics Works forWindows, Harvard Draw 1.1, Illustrato4r.0 , INPRINT Art
Johnson, Dan Kauffman, Arthur Winfield Knight, Peter Knight,
Library, MakeUp 1.1,MCS Stereo 1.04, Monotype's FoneFont Typeface Family on CD-
Michael Lawrence Langan, Emily Sarah Lineback, Gordon S.
ROM 92.3, Norton Desktop For Windows 2.2, Norton Utilities 8.0, PageMaker 5.0a,
Livingston, Christopher B. Martin, F. Meck, Michelle M. Neitzel, PhotoFinish 2.0, PhotoStyler 1.1a, Picture Publisher 3.1, Pixar Typestry, RoMaterial, True
Effects For Windows, Type Align 2.1, Windows 3.1, Word For Windows 6.0a, etc.
Jay E. Nowman, Hale O’Malley, Richard Pacheco, Daniel Patton, L.
Peryer, Jr.,K eenan Reed, Ralph R. Reiland, John Rich, Steve Roeser, SUBSCRIPTIONS: A four-issue subscription to Gray Areas costs $23.00 U.S. shipped
Jeffrey Setzekorn, Dale C. Shackelford, Ben Sherman, RobertJ . bulk rate or $32.00 U.S.shipped first class, $45.00 foreign (shipped air) payable in U.S.
Sodaro, Thomas Storch, Mark Thomas, Johnny Townsend, Erik funds. A twelve-issue subscription is available for $65.00 or $100.00 foreign (via air
mail). The library/corporate/institution rate is $40.00 for four issues. You may
Twight, Jeff Wampler, David Watson, Deb Webber, Ronald Weitzer,
purchase a twelve-issue subscription and give four or eight of the issues away as gifts
Wild Bill, Neil Williams. for the same price. You may also purchase a twelve-issue subscription and donate four
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Craig Bowley, Inc., Amy Cahill, Jill or eight of the issues to prisoners. We will find the prisoners for you and let you know
who they are. Back issues and sample issues are $8.00 each U.S. and $12.00 each foreign
Galbraith, Netta Gilboa, Bill Kirch, rOpe, Alan Sheckter. (U.S. funds only shipped via air mail). Make your check or money order payable to Gray
ARTISTS & CARTOONISTS: J.D. Abolins, Ace Backwords, Areas, Inc. andsend to: P.O. Box 808, Broomall, PA 19008-0808. Please note that if you
change your address, you must notify us immediately as the post office will not
Bulent Oktay, James Charette, Julia Hatch, Kenneth T. Podell,
automatically forward Gray Areas to you. We can get your address changed in our
Dennis Preston, Tom Roberts, Jim Siergey. records by the next issue published, but we are not responsible for replacing lost issues
COVER DESIGN: Jeff Wampler because you moved and chose not to tell us. The post office does not forward bulk mail.
Ifareplacement issue must be sent to subscribers, there is a $5.00 charge for each issue.
LAYOUT: Netta Gilboa
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: Gray Areas exists to exam-
MANUFACTURED AND PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA| ine the gray areas of life. We explore subject matter which is
illegal, immoral and/or controversial. We hope to unite
Gray Areas (ISSN 1062-5712) is published on a more or less quarterly basis by Gray Areas, people involved in all sorts of alternative lifestyles and
Inc., P.O. Box 808,Broomall, PA 19008-0808. It is devoted to examining the gray areas ofl ife. deviant subcultures. We feel that the government has done a
Gray Areasis printed in the U.S.A. This is Volume 4, Number | published Spring 1995. Entire great job of splitting people up so that they do not identify
contents are copyrighted 1995 by Gray Areas, Inc. Nothing may be reproduced in whole or
with other minority groups anymore. There are so many
in part without written permission from the publisher with the exception that authorization
to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific causes now that people often do not talk to others not directly
clients, is granted by Gray Areas, Inc., provided that the base fee of US $1.00 per copy, plus involved in their chosen causes. Gray Areas provides an open
US $.10 per page is paid directly to Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive,
forum for all of these causes. We believe that the methods
Danvers, MA 01923. For those organizations that have been granted a photocopy license by
CCC, a separate system of payment has been arranged. The fee code for users of the used to catch criminals are the same regardless of the crime
Transactional Reporting Service is 1062-5912/93 $1.00 + .10. All trademarks belong to their and that much can be learned by studying how crimes in
respective owners and are not individually acknowledged due to the overwhelming number general occur and why only some are prosecuted. It is our
of them in this publication.Gray Areas is now a registered Mark on file at the U.S. Department
mission to educate people so they begin to care more about
of Commerce, Patent and Trademark office.
the world around them and become less hasty in judging
HOW TO REACH US: We love to get your letters! Please send questions, requests, other people's morals. Gray Areas provides the only place in
comments and feedback to Gray Areas, Inc., P.O. Box 808, Broomall, PA 19008-0808. We print where lawbreakers can speak freely (we guarantee
answer all of our mail if, and only if, you enclose an SASE . We can also be reached at
“76042,[email protected]” via E-mail. Please note that all E-mail is unsecure .If in anonymity) and law abiders and enforcers can safely interact
doubt, use snail mail instead. Please consider usingPGP. Our public key is printed elsewhere with them. The opinions expressed in articles, columns,
in this issue. All letters (including ones sent electronically) are presumed to be for publication cartoons and ads reflect those of their authors and not
unless you specifically request that we omit your name or refrain from publishing your
necessarily those of Gray Areas, Inc. We strive to present all
comments. If you are writing about something which could incriminate yourself or others
we will protect your identity as a matter of policy. We will also treat as confidential any news sides of an issue when we cover it, but need to continue
which we are asked not to publish. Please avoid using U.P.S. and Federal Express as they do subjects over several issues. We hope you'll consider our
not deliver to P.O. boxes. We accept unsolicited materials such as review copies, artwork, coverage of issues as a whole. Please join our efforts by
cartoons, photographs, articles, reviews, etc. However, under no circumstances are we
subscribing, advertising with us and by spreading the word
responsible for unsolicited materials. All unsolicited materials become the total property of
Gray Areas, Inc. and may be published at any time in the future. You must include return about what we're up to.
postaigf eyo u would like your materials returned in the event we choose not to use them.
4 GRAY AREAS SPRING 1995
WARM FUZZIES ers and the WELL break-ins were fascinat- turbing enough, but the longer-term hostil-
ing - 1 guess more for the reader than for the ity incurred by your quest for the truth is
To Whom It May Concern, participants. even worse to contemplate. I'd call ita social
As for future directions for the magazine, disease.
I saw your mag peeking out of the maga-
I guess I’m really quite happy with things Well, anyway, thanks for what you do. It’s
zine shelves at the local newsstand, and the
more or less as they are now. To a greater or truly inspiring.
name sounded familiar so I picked it up and
lesser degree it’s all quite interesting. Per- Bill
noticed the interview with Chris Goggans
sonally I enjoy the computer and communi-
advertised on the cover. As I started to flip
cations related stuff most but other items are Dear Netta and Alan:
through it, I realized that this was a pretty
at least of passing interest and most likely First, let me compliment you on the con-
cool mag.
not to be found elsewhere so I'd be reluctant sistently high quality of your publication.
I bought it, brought it home, read it cover
The caliber of your work more than justifies
to cover, and am impressed. I am so im-
the slight risk I took in subscribing to an
pressed, I would like to get all of the avail-
unproven periodical.
able backissues. Enclosed isa check to cover
“Your coverage of the
expenses for issues 1-5. Thanx in advance To date, Gray Areas has been illuminat-
and keep up the good work! computer underground, ing, both in its coverage of my areas of
interest and in exposing me to other view-
John
in particular the privacy
points and other areas of concern. In many
Netta, issues raised by your ways, Gray Areas seems tailored for my
background and interests. Your coverage of
After sampling two issues of Gray Areas,
coverage of the break-in the computer underground, in particular
the last two, with the financial assistance of
the privacy issues raised by your coverage of
my father, here is U.S. fundage for the next at the WELL, was
the break-in at the WELL, was sobering and
four issues of your wonderful magazine.
sobering and cautionary cautionary and of great value. I can expect
Into the wee hours of the morning did I find
no more from a publication.
myself readingGray Areas, and consequently and of great value. I can
In many ways, I feel that Gray Areas is
do not think I did as well on my Physics test
expect no more from more closely tailored to my interests than
as I would have liked had I been reading
any other periodical currently on the mar-
2600 <grin>. Now I will have no reason to a publication.”
ket. For many years I wrote advertising
leave the house sinceGray Areas is delivered
copy; my work included both creating trade-
to the door <grin>.
marks and all but infringing on them for a
Thanks for everything.
large department stores private label soft
Dan
goods — I’m fascinated by the way trade-
to suggest that they be curtailed. Items on marks and brand names are used to create
Netta:
live video and audio tapes are also really “meaning” and associations. Subsequently,
Issue #5 was super! Your interviews with
useful and all the review sections are read I received a master’s in social work and am
the two “crackers” read like detective sto-
with gusto. Stuff about smart drugs and the still interested in both orthodox and unor-
ries. | read both in one sitting and even
though I am computer illiterate and didn’t items on the various aspects of the sex in- thodox views of the mind. Currently, man
dustry are of peripheral interest but at least attorney representing large financial institu-
understand about a dozen terms, I couldn’t
worth a read. tions and concerned with the legal implica-
put the thing down.
I also enjoyed the phone phreak article, Best Wishes, tions of conduct. I once collected records
smart drugs, and of course all the reviews! | Keith and still play Grateful Dead tapes while |
drive in my car. I’m even writing this on a
even read some stuff 1d on’t usually read like
Dear Netta: home computer that my kids use for games
the S/M dominatrix interview. So you're
going to keep all of this coming? Great. Thanks for your amazing article on the in the daytime.
Bill WELL. It certainly takes the glamour out of I'm looking forward to the next several
E-mail and online services to realize that years of Gray Areas.
one’s private correspondence can easily be- Name Withheld
Dear Netta,
come so much public property. That’s dis-
Time to re-subscribe. The features on hack-
SPRING 1995 GRAY AREAS 5
Dear Gray Areas, Netta, et al, praise hackers and then complain when one trivialization of rape, which is what I see in
Kudos on another excellent issue. I found of your writers gets hacked. this article, as well as those phrases I listed
the interview with Chris Goggans to be above.
highly interesting, and I have absolutely no Also, in the end of the part about child
FEEDBACK ON ARTICLES
interest in computers apart from the most abuse, he wonders why pedophiles are not
basic word processing stuff. I cannot wait to extended “the same grand benevolence” as
TRUE, BLUE, GRAY
read your interview with Mike Gordon. | society now grants gays. Speaking as a bi-
have had the opportunity to speak with him sexual queer, I'll note that while we don't
on many an occasion, and have always found Dear Netta, seem to be rounded up for our “crimes”
Had to write to applaud the article “True
him to be interesting and incredibly sincere, anymore, we are certainly still considered to
Cop, Blue Cop, Gray Cop” by Jack Duggan
even when talking to tourheads like me. be criminals in the many states where homo-
in Vol. 3 No. 2. Pure commonsense from the
Jason sexuality is still on the books as a crime,
first word to last. Excellent!
ranging from misdemeanor to felony. We
Allan
My ass hurts from how hard your Fall are still considered to be criminals by the
issue kicked it. highest court in the land. Remember “Bow-
Dear Ms. Gilboa,
Mike ers vs. Hardwick”?
I was going to order your zine from Xines,
But I haven't gotten to Duggan’s question
Inc., whose catalogue | had received after
PENPALS WANTED about this benevolence: “And if not, why
reading Factsheet 5. Then I saw it in a book
not?” I'll tell you why not - what we do is
store and snapped it up. It was even better
I saw Ann’s letter in the Fall 1993 issue of consensual. Even in cases where pedophiles
than I expected it to be, with intriguing
Gray Areas. | think it is wonderful what you claim that the relationships are consensual,
articles, essays, and reviews. I subscribe to at
are doing, Ann. I’m a deadhead doing time the burden of responsibility is always on the
least ten magazines, and buy dozens more
for selling LSD. If you'd like to write me, I’m adult. The risk of exploitation is too great. I
onan occasional basis. ’'d putGray Areas on
Stanley Marshall, 07832-026 U/W, 9595 W. can’t believe that in 1994 Ihave to tell people
a par with Ben Is Dead, Women & Guns and
Quincy Avenue, Littleton, CO 80123. the difference between gays and pedophiles!
The Idler. But [must comment on the “True
Peace. I could go on, but this letter is long enough.
Cop, Blue Cop, Gray Cop” piece by Jack
Stanley Sincerely,
Duggan in the Fall 1994 issue.
Rochelle
I have known many police officers over the
HACKERS SPEAK OUT
past several years, and so | agree with much
Greetings,
Below are comments sent to Netta as mes- of the article regarding different phases of Despite the fact that 1am a commissioned
sages on IRC (Internet Relay Chat): attitude during time spent “on the job.” | law enforcement officer (patrolman), I have
*RU Netta? Kewl. I like your zine... inspir- also agree with most of his realities of crime always felt that the rights of the individual
ing <grin>. Youre a kewl writer, interesting and the justice system, regarding gun con- have been compromised by the system. In
that is. trol and the drug war. But we disagree on the reading your article, “True Cop, Blue Cop,
* Just picked up the new issue of your mag. subject of rape. Sexual gratification plays a Gray Cop,” I sense a bitterly honest man
part in this crime, but to say that this is the
Fascinating as usual. raising an outcry against the immoral and
* Youve changed my mind about curse sole purpose of rape, and that “Violence can unethical actions of those who are placed in
words. I used to think it was free speech, but be inflicted on the citizenry with a teeming power to protect us. And if he is bitter, so
now I think it’s just ignorant. profusion of available weapons in our soci- what? We all should be, at the injustices
ety, but a penis makes a poor truncheon”
* Are you the magazine people or just a suffered by honest people in our society!
normal person? (Netta replied “both”) I got shows unbelievable ignorance. Numerous Not enough people are aware, and even
a couple of copies while I was in Vegas at books and articles have been written on this fewer are brave enough, to stand up to a
Defcon. Loved ‘em. subject, so I'll be brief: a penis actually makes system that condemns, then attempts to
* You aren't connected with the mag are ya? avery effective weapon, and the act of sexual destroy, those who exercise their right to
I read it a few times. What do you do for it? torture, which is simply another term for free speech. I applaud Jack Duggan, and
rape, is one of the worst assaults you can
Holy (censored). Should | bow down now those like him, who are willing to stand up
commit upon another human being.
<grin>? I like ita lot! Youve done a GREAT for whatis right, and speak of what they have
jobso farand I hope it continues... we NEED To use one of Duggan’s phrases: “Think a mouth full! Your readers should know that
more magazines like yours. about it.” To propose that rape is not used to he is telling it like itis, and that he is, or must
* | liked the latest issue, especially the porn punish women (or men, in prison) is to live have been, involved in law enforcement to
star. Jes kidding - it was good. in a different world than the one I live in. know what he is sharing with us.
* Tread the article on Erik B. That was really Also consider: why do people use the word Netta, your magazine is exactly what soci-
interesting. Yowd done your homework “rape” in business deals, such as “We got ety needs. I am glad that I stumbled onto it
before you talked with him. raped on that one” or in discussions of envi- in the newsstands! I had heard about it
ronmental catastrophe, suchas “Weare rap-
* Werd to your magazine. before, but until now was not lucky enough
* Regarding the interview with Erik B., it’s ing the Earth?” Are these people sexually
to know where to mail my subscription fees
amazing YOU got so many words in. Good gratifying their partners in bad business
job. deals or sexually gratifying themselves with to.
Let me share a little about myself. I have
* Caught your new issue.... cest chouette! the Earth? Of course not. They are punish-
been employed as a patrolman for some
* Great f---en mag. ing and violating them. Mr. Duggan may fourteen years now, and throughout that
* Are you going to HoHoCon? The only never have known anyone who had to suffer
time, | have attempted to do right by those I
reason I’d come is to see you. through this wrenching crime of violence, serve. It has been an uphill battle. There has
* Your mag sucks. It caters to lamers. You but I have known several. I resent the
6 GRAY AREAS SPRING 1995
been many a time that I have had to try to perpetrator, in the same way laws against But one thing did disturb me greatly. Ellen
correct a wrong, done by the system, to murder, assault, etc. are gender blind. Any Levitt is certainly entitled to her opinion,
people that have not appeared guilty of any “gender-based differences in sexuality” is but calling Public Enemy racist without hav-
wrongdoing. Regrettably, I have not always something the individual has to deal with, ing one shred of corroborative evidence
been successful. Ihave, however, always had not the law. The woman rapists confused, seems highly debatable, to put it mildly.
total success at making myself an irritant to perhaps endocrine-based (matro)-sexual Having had the privilege of interviewing
those who would just as soon take the easy urges are no more of an excuse that the Chuck D. at length, he’s far from racist, at
route, as to do the right thing. Copsare, after constant erections of a psycho eyeballing least not by the definitions I’ve seen in
all, somewhat lazy at times, and the admin- kids ona playground. Oh, and thanks for the Webster's, Collier’s and the American Heri-
istrators that guide us can be far worse. well-thought-outassumption that your sexu- tage dictionaries.
Brian ality is meaningful and complex, while mine I was not there, so I must assume her
is roughly on par with taking a dump. I comments on what Chuck D. said at the
REVERSE VICTIMIZATION could use the same logic to analyze your seminar are accurate. They strike meas silly
article to prove that male reasoning (e.g. and uninformed, but racist?
Netta, Et Al. “the law”), operates in a straightforward, The continuing phenomenon of throwing
I snagged Gray Areas a few days ago, and scientific method, while female “reasoning” buzz words around on both the left and right
must say | enjoyed it for the most part. The operates on an us-vs.-them basis, not unlike has reduced sensible dialogue on most is-
book and zine reviews, hacking/ phracking/ one troop of chimpanzees threatened by sues to zero. If criticizing the policies of the
quacking, etc., and privacy and control stuff another troop. American government and the refusal of
was great. 55: many whites, male and female, to speak out
One thing I wanted to address in particular against injustices done to all others who
was “The Double Standard And Reverse Vic- UNFAIR TO PUBLIC ENEMY? aren't white makes you a racist, then I'll
timization” by Denise Noe. I didn’t see the gladly say I'm a racist too, though I know
episode of Donahue in question, but ’m Dear Gray Areas, better.
assuming it was essentially the usual re- I recently discovered your magazine and It puzzles me that in a publication which
versed-role exploitation. Denise, please wake read it closely from cover to cover. In gen- otherwise opts for reasoned analysis stress-
the f--- up. Statutory rape laws exist to pro- eral, the issue (Spring 1994) was informa- ing varied assessments of all sides, a re-
tect minors (particularly the very young) tive, entertaining and not predictable or viewer weighs in with a slanted opinion.
from sexual exploitation irrespective of their overloaded with the standard celebrity hype/ Calling Public Enemy racist is similar to
gender, and irrespective of the gender of the propaganda. labeling a feminist “anti-male.” You're free
~The NAMES Project
AIDS Memorial Quilt
It is larger than 7 football fields.
It weighs more than 18 tons.
It commemorates the tragic loss
of over 20,000 people.
And it is growing every day.
lMPMihia orrtcaoen.ld a
If you would like to be a panelmaker, volunteer, community organizer,
or financial supporter, call or write to:
The NAMES Project Foundation |
2362 Market Street
San Francisco, CA. 94114
415/863-5511 FAX: [phone]
SPRING 1995 GRAY AREAS 7
then of speaking to the points they raise, to sex, to food, to drugs, to sleep, to EV- The Family Dog, Go Ride The Music and An
because you've demonized the speaker. ERYTHING. Hour With Pink Floyd) as well as the unaired
Ron And we thought we had privacy. Allman Brothers Band footage had been stolen
HAWKWIND RULES! And we thought we had the right to say by an employee years ago and leaked to the
whatever we wanted to say. trading scene. Excellent copies abound but all
Greetings, And we thought we had the right to post we do is review tapes, not help readers locate
Corrections are in order regarding Erik whatever we wanted to post. them.
Twight’s Hawkwind tape review on page 124 Does he realize that some of those posts
of the Fall issue. have activities attached to them which put KURT COBAIN’S SUICIDE
First, there seems to be more dispute as to some of us in danger of being arrested, or
the date of this tape than any other live under suspicion, or worse? Some things are Gray Areas,
Hawkwind tape. While 8/10/74 is the date sacred. Some things have NO statute of It was just an hour ago that I first picked up
according to most lists, the correct date is 9/ limitations, and even if they did, do you a copy of Gray Areas in Barnes and Noble.
22/73, which can be verified by the song think that the “law professions” wouldn't I've never heard of this magazine but was
selection (“It’s So Easy” and “Time We Left” think twice to find some other way to snag intrigued by the title. The first piece I read
weren't on the setlist at that point in 1974) people NOW, 5,6,7 years down the road? was a small article about Kurt Cobain’s sui-
and the very audible presence of Michael I'm 21. I’ve been in trouble with the law cide. Although the issue has become some-
Moorcock, who does most of the reciting over these things already. It isn’t pleasant what trite, what I read in this magazine was
here, including the still evolving “Warrior or fun, in fact jail is piss boring. anything but that. It was all I needed to read
On The Edge Of Time” sections which I don’t mean to rant like this, but I didn’t before I brought the copy over to the cashier.
Hawkwind would adapt and use on-stage for realize how strongly I felt about this subject My thoughts of Kurt have not begun to
the next two years. until I reread the Phrack from last year. subside, but I have grown so tired of what
This tape is unique compared to other live Now I am absolutely boiling. And that is seems to be ridiculous publications of many
tapes from what we'll call Hawkwind’s hard to do, get me angry. ignorant opinions. This is the first reference
“Lemmy Era” (late ‘71 to mid ’°75) because Well, if you wanted to provoke, as jour- I've ever read to suicide which invites unin-
there’s a long improvisation on it, lasting nalism issworn to be meant for, then bravo... hibited expression to the issue, especially in
around 20 minutes. But even if | am pissed off at ErikB., I guess relevance to Kurt Cobain.
Its a lot easier to determine the players on Icansee where he is coming from. |w onder Regardless of whether Kurt was dissatis-
a given Hawkwind performance than Erik if he can say the same thing to me??? fied with his current life, nostalgic for a past
Twight suggests, especially through the Please don’t let him take this personally. one, or eager for the next, he was, as anyone
1970s. Twightis correct in saying this is one He is a REALLY cool guy otherwise. I just is, entitled to decipher for himself whether or
of the better Hawkwind tapes from the think he/they should have been (a) market- not he can continue living. It is inevitable
“Lemmy Era,” and that many others sound ing major(s). that we will miss him, but either way, now or
awful, but there are several worth hearing, Thanks, Netta. twenty years from now, people will miss him.
and | just might submit reviews of them in (Oh, and publish away, if your heart Perhaps not the same people, but he will be
the near future. desires, this post—you may be selling it missed. Why did his early decision offend so
Stay tuned... (and I certainly feel your magazine is worth many, if eventually it will happen anyway?
Larry the money I pay at Borders for it (the mail The bitterness expressed by fans, and even
around here is notoriously bad), but | am those who had no idea of him, is no less
ERIK BLOODAXE INTERVIEW doing it with PRECOGNITION, which is irrational than what they describe his suicide
the fundamental difference between the to be. Suicide is simply a form of death. Why
Netta: aforementioned and the current project...) deny someone the will, or aggression for that
In response to your E-mail comment that Name Withheld matter, to attain it? If Kurt had not ascended
“ErikB is not selling those files, Legion of to the plain he hoped to reach, then I feel
Doom is and he handles the transactions.” PINK FLOYD sympathetic and quite empathetic toward
To me it is the same thing... Ok. I just him. However, considering that he’s on his
pulled an old Phrack (44) out of my (work) Dear Alan, way there, he’s still fortunate to be that much
computer and saw the “Project” outline. I In the Spring 1994 issue you wrote a brief closer to it than we are.
was wrong. They aren't jerks. They are review of a video of a Pink Floyd concert, If my theory has offended any value of life,
pathetic jerks. First |w as worried about the broadcase on PBS in 1970, titled An Hour then I assure you you have misconstrued my
money—now | am worried about their mo- With Pink Floyd. message, or I have conveyed it to you im-
tives, period. Not that us “hacker elites” I contacted PBS to try to obtain a copy of properly. Kurt was an individual who
aren't a--holes sometimes, but we DO have the video, butitis unavailable through PBS. shouldn’t be judged, rather relinquished... as
an INTENSE privacy thing going. He wants In fact, they said they do not even have a any person who has committed suicide.
to let outall our “secrets.” Hell ifpeople want copy. The article discussing this issue closes out
the message bases so bad, tell him to upload I was wondering if you might know how with the invitation for comments on the gray
them to an internet site. At least then I I might obtaina copy. Asa Floyd fanatic, I'd areas of suicide. The color gray is defined as
wouldn't (and most likely other people) love to get ahold of this video! an intermediate area between mortality and
wouldn't feel so 1984 about all of this. These Sincerely, immortality. Therefore, I see it that suicide
are OUR thoughts. These are OURallnighters Ron on its entirety is gray. I appreciate your
on BBSes back whena 2400 baud modem was It does not surprise us to learn PBS does not generosity, as you did anything but condemn
something special and wonderful and unique have this tape. We heard that all three of the Kurt Cobain in your article. A piece like this
and OH...some of us prefer(red) the BBSing completed tapes in this series (A Night At is rare and very welcomed. I’mimpressed and
8 GRAY AREAS SPRING 1995
look forward to further editions.
ABOUT OUR PRICE
Chrisi
INCREASE
BACKSTAGE TIPS
Regular readers will notice our
Dear Gray Areas, cover price increased dramatically
First, please renew my subscription, 12 this issue. You can blame it on the
issues first class. | wish I had the bread for
post office who increased the post-
a lifetime subscription, as | will always find
age by a whopping .96 cents per
your magazine worth reading cover to cover.
issue we mail! While most maga-
Second, an observation (and some back-
stage tips) about access to large scale rock‘n ado zines will also raise their prices,
Jerry Garcia lounges backstage, Chicago 1993
roll events. Many of your readers seem we have chosen to add 16 more
concerned about access to the people who Happy trails...
pages to give you something of
entertain them. The inaccessibility of “star” rOpe
value in return. We have also raised
performers is part of the energy that sus-
tains the star/fan relationship. If everyone And From A Second Letter... our subscription prices and you
could have lunch with a star, what value can save money, as well as making
would your chance meeting of a favorite Dear Gray Areas,
sure you get each issue when it’s
persona carry? Some notes to go with my first letter. |
published, by subscribing. While
That said, some tips on how I was able to thought I would share some abuses of au-
get close to one of my favorites, Jerry Garcia. thority with you that | have witnessed at our price may initially seem high
What many people forget about larger events concerts. Some rock‘n roll roadies get off on when compared to mainstream
like Dead shows, is that they take a lot of the status and power that a laminated back- magazines, we offer more infor-
hard work, and somebody has to do that stage pass gives them. Everyone knows that
mation per page and are not flooded
work. In exchange for my backstage pass to groupies will do anything to get backstage.
with ads instead of articles. Thanks
a Dead show (and some serious cash), | (Thanks to Pink Floyd and The Wall <grin>.)
handled hundreds of sheets of plywood, But do you know the things that some roadies for your continued support.
raked up thousands of cigarette butts and do to get their kicks? I have seen roadies and
setup 18,000 folding chairs in the rain. And parking lot attendants use their badges to
I was not alone. Hundreds of people are obtain free T-shirts, tickets and drugs. The thinking he is going to be busted. At this
required to put on a show like The Dead. scam works like this: the roadie hides his point the roadie will act mercifuland agree to
You could be one of those people! laminate and goes out into the crowd incog- let the “suspect” go in exchange for all the
In this day and age, most people expect to nito looking for contraband. When he finds contraband on his person. So remember,
obtain privilege without any contribution something he likes, he makes a buy and then most people with laminated passes are only
on their part. However, rewards do exist for flashes his backstage pass as if he was an authorized to do things like push road boxes
people willing to work hard. I have seen actual undercover cop. The poor kid who full of gear around... If you are actually being
“Tour Rats” exchange three days of hard has just sold him contraband starts to freak, busted, the laminate will plainly say in large
labor for a pair of backstage laminates, for- letters, SECURITY, and that an actual police-
feiting the cash wages they had rightfully man is the only one who can arrest you.
earned. I have also seen other Dead Heads Security guards can only detain you or evict
blowa chance to get backstage because they you from the premises. Also remember that,
didn’t have the class or the stamina to earn like anything else, laminates can be forged.
the respect of those with the power to pass I do not want to give a bad rap to stage
out the rewards. If you want to get inside, hands, (Iam one). Most of us are very cool,
find the back door and ask for a job. (Also especially those who have been in the busi-
a good way to earn the gas money home...). ness for a long time. Some of us even used to
Be willing to work hard and be resourceful buy contraband for personal use.
(kiss up), otherwise the only reward you get Another con game to look out for is the
will be the Camel Cash you find while “Oops, you have a counterfeit ticket, will
bagging litter from the seats. you give it to me?” scam. | have seen this one
What are these rewards, you ask? I have at sold-out Dead shows in small venues. The
watched Sting and Jerry Garcia perform a con artist convinces someone who bought
set together during sound check, photo- their legitimate tickets second hand, that
graphed Jerry Garcia backstage, and watched they unfortunately bought counterfeit tick-
a Dead show from ten feet behind the ets and then offers to buy them for next to
nothing as a “Favor.”
soundboard.
Remember, rules and restrictions are for As it takes less skill to run these cons, than
Jerks, don'tact like a Jerk and the rules may to run “three card monte,” show some re-
spect for yourselfand don't take advantage of
not apply quite as strictly to you...
Also, remember that your part of the fan/ other fans.
performer exchange is respect and admira- Happy trails...
tion. rOpe
SPRING 1995 GRAY AREAS 9
Pro-Dead enemy. To get one or think you have one, By the way, I wait impatiently for the next
you must be pretty paranoid or must have issue with those articles on Phish, The Dead
Gray Areas, done something pretty s---ty to someone and Jethro Tull (what about including some
I wandered into a Tower Records while else. Anyway, stop me, I’m ramblin’. Keep reviews/articles on house, techno and trance
attending the Dead shows in Boston (Sept/ Gray Areas as full of variety as you can. I like sounds?) I find the music section very rock
Oct 1994) and came across Volume 3 the concert and tape reviews. The film and oriented. I like Melanie, Judy Collins, The
Number 2 (Fall 1994) when | realized I video reviews are good too. | don’t own a Dead, The Airplane/Starship, but I enjoy
had allowed my subscription to lapse and computer yet, but when I get one Ill be highly the music of Deee-Lite, The Shamen,
subsequently lost my renewal notice. Oh going back through old issues for sure. The The Future Sound Of London, and the cur-
the horror. I was a ‘charter’ subscriber and S/M and porn star articles are interesting rent Californian ambient/trance scene with
have lost that distinction - the shame!! So too. Keep up the good work! labels like Exist Dance, Hard Kiss and Silent,
as not to miss any issues I’m submitting Steve and videos like the alien dreamtime of the
the “Regular Subscription” criteria found San Francisco duo Space Time Continuum
in the ‘Editor’ page of the latest issue. I The catalog you sent us contains illegal with guru Terence McKenna. | hope to see
have enclosed a check in the amount of bootleg CDs, not legitimate recordings. Think some of it in future issues of Gray Areas.
$50.00 so as not to run across this prob- about it. Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead and Cheers,
lem I experienced - for some time. Madonna are not on the same record label. Mario
While I have your attention, let me com- You are probably notf amiliar with any of the TAPING LAWS
mend you ona fine publication that really titles listed as discs sold at major record
speaks to my lifestyle. I find many of my chains. Why would Madonna or Pink Floyd or Dear Gray Areas,
interests and concerns lie in these “Gray the Grateful Dead have so many records you Fascinating magazine you have, folks! I’m
Areas” of our existence that you superbly have never seen before all only available in the a student and am currently researching legal
address with each issue. I’ve read com- one catalog you were sent? issues surrounding live audio/video record-
plaints about your Grateful Dead coverage As to enemies, most people I know who work ing for personal use (with some discussion
(too much) and in my opinion, you bal- in large companies have enemies in their of “for profit” aspects). It is truly a gray area
ance The Dead with other music in a fair workplace. Those of us who say what we think in that there are very few specific statutes
and consistent manner. If anything, I'd make enemies. I don’t know a single celebrity and precedents which address the issue di-
enjoy more coverage, including interviews or even magazine publisher who does not rectly.
with Cutler, McNally, and how about the have disgruntled people badmouthing them. This is what I’ve found so far:
wonderful job the mail order ticket office This magazine definitely has enemies not the 17 USC s 101, Wire Tapping Laws
does in distributing 50% of all Dead tick- least of which are zine publishers who are 894 F2d 240, 7th Circuit Case, In Matter of
ets (special accolades to Bam-Bam at simply jealous of our use of glossy paper and John Doe Trader #1(1990)
GDTS). give us bad reviews because of it, or people 19 CFRs 133.42, Infringing copies or phono
Also, as an intrigued student of Terrence who didn't like the nasty response we gave to records
McKenna, some coverage of his views and the idiotic idea they called to propose to us at 23 ALR3d 34, Fair Use
‘doings’ would be greatly appreciated. | 2.a.m. (please write us instead ocf alling ify ou 40 ALR3d 553
also enjoy your computer coverage - from want something). 104 S.Ct. 774, Sony Corp. v. Universal City
piracy to hacking, and even though I con- In the hacking community, some people Studios (1982)
sider myselfa computer novice, | find your prey on their peers. It seems uglier than other Home Audio Recording Act of 1992
articles intriguing. | look forward to fi- communities to me, but it is entirely possible 82 Cal Rptr 798, Capitol Records, Inc. v
nally entering The Internet world and to do nothing to anyone and create enemies Erickson
look forward to using many of the con- there simply for hanging around. This is also CA Penal 653h, Misappropriation of re-
tacts I’ve been able to obtain in your pub- true of cyberspace in general, not only those corded music for commercial advantage
lication. places where hackers congregate. DC Code s 22-3814, Commercial Piracy
Thanks again for your fine publication Thanks very much for your help and best
and look forward to my next issue. SHORT & TO THE POINT of luck with GA.
Sincerely, It’s a thin tightrope on which we choose to
Jay
walk, but where’s the fun without the dan-
Dear Gray Areas,
My only criticism of your mag is all the ger?
UNDERGROUND CDs LEGIT? Name Withheld
coverage of pornography. I don’t dig porno,
but I’m into freedom of speech. Keep up the
Hi Netta/Gray Areas:
good work. Send me four more issues.
I received this CD info in the mail. It was
Peace & Love
mailed from New York. I think the name
We love to get your letters
Jim
was “Mystic Productions.” Are they legit?
and print as many as we can.
I think they are a bit overpriced.
Your last issue was good stuff - as usual! SUGGESTIONS However, you MUST enclose
Don’t listen to those computer guys who
a self-addressed stamped
want you to choose a specific direction for Hello Netta!
Gray Areas. (Between you and me, they Included is the money for my subscrip- envelope if you expect to
are a bit bent). | mean most of them tion renewal toGray Areas for the next four receive a reply.
mentioned having enemies. Excuse me? issues. I think the actual articles in it are
Enemies? I don’t knowanyone who has an very good and interesting.
10 GRAY AREAS SPRING 1995