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Indie Press Online (IPO) is a monthly electronic publication dedicated to the punk, indie, alternative, and other music genres not considered to be in the 'mainstream'.

We've decided to stray from "traditional" circulation in favor of the web for several reasons. The first and most important aspect is that we won't be contributing any more hard-to-recycle paper choking already full landfills. The second is obvious ... we can reach more people this way AND you get to read interviews, news, and reviews in a timely manner... and it's free...

Our History...
In the mid 80s, IPO began as just the Indie Press (published in "glamorous" style on 8.5 x 11 folded and staple-bound paper) in the DC area. Indie Press was the product of a handful of bored, music-addicted university students who were spending too much time immersed in the DC indie and punk scene. Of the founding staff, three remain, but we've coerced a few like-minded folks to join our ranks and keep the publication going...

Vanessa Bradley, the first editor, left last year and her assistant, Bonita Reynolds, and the senior writer/photographer, Elizabeth "Bonnie" Erskine, took the reins and kept IPO from folding. In late 97, base operations moved just outside NYC, though we maintain folks in DC and on occasions in England, the west coast, and Texas.

How To Find Us...
As this is the electronic age, news and information, suggestions and the like will travel to us much faster via one of the mediums listed below:

Telephone -- 201.988.2188
Electronic mail -- General Information: indiepress@altavista.net,or specific site questions can be directed to our Webmistress: lunasol@bellatlantic.net

Our Staff...
We asked our writers and other contributors to tell us a little bit about themselves so that we could pass it onto you, ( surprise! they actually cooperated ) with the expected truthful yet smart ass responses...

Bonita Reynolds - Editor-cum-Dictator
With IPO Since - "I named the publication, does that give you an idea?"

With a background steeped in writing and editing (and a flare for using lots of red pens), Bonita was second-in-command until the untimely departure of our former editor. She happily took the lead and left behind getting tossed around in the photo pit at gigs. Completely no-nonsense, she knows how to get the job done and will move IPO into the 21st century. She may not know how to code the pages and set the bells and whistles, but she knows the people who do! Get the answering machine much? She hates answering the phone when she's got a desk full of work... leave a message and she or one of her minions will return your call.

Attachment - "What do you think I am? An up-right vacuum? (Don't answer that...)"
First Show - "Shows? I send other people to them. Do you think I've got time to go to a show?"
Words to Live By - "God, how I do love being Queen."

Elizabeth "Bonnie" Erskine - Senior Staff Writer/Photographer/occasional web person
With IPO Since - "I came with the bricks..."

A native Washingtonian now living outside NYC, Bonnie was already well acquainted with the DC punk scene when the Indie Press published its first issue. With a passion for photography, she's responsible for 90% of IPO's pictures. Aside from a full-time job and IPO, she worked in a DC bookstore as a "hobby" and served as the "music and arts" section guru. In her previous "mundane" job she was a world traveler, spending months at a time in London and becoming IPO's first international correspondent (and logging so many frequent flier miles in the process she flew Concorde to the UK in April 98 to cover a tour for IPO).

Attachments - "Entirely too single..."
First Show - "QUEEN, 24 February 1975... ok, so I was a glam rock fan... I think the first "real" show was when I was 12 or 13... it was the RAMONES just prior to "Rocket to Russia" being released... circa 1977-78."
Words to Live By - "Deny everything, admit nothing, demand proof."

Nora Medrano - Writer/Photographer/WebMistress
With IPO Since - 1990 (or thereabouts)

A Texas native transplanted in Washington, DC ("don't tuck with Fexas!"), her "real" paying job is engineering video networks. Her claim to fame is that she has more tattoos than the rest of us combined!  Another world traveler, probably the most asinine assignment she's undertaken for IPO is riding "shotgun" 17 straight hours with a member of senior staff (who will remain nameless) to St. Louis, MO. All this to cover a show because a PR office made a mistake (now that's dedication). We tease her about this picture taken in England in 92... yeah, in reality, she's Andrew Eldritch's little sister...

Attachments - "It would take rope and a bottle of thorazine to get me down the aisle."
First Show - "Believe it or not, it was Lynrd Skynrd. My brother had to 'keep an eye on me' and he wanted to go. I was transported under duress. Lots o' drunk rednecks though, so it turned out to be pretty entertaining."
Words to Live By - "When we lose the right to be different, we lose the right to be free."

Laurie Russinko - Writer/Photographer
With IPO Since -  July 1997

One of IPO's contributors and former IPO site designer (from the AOL days), Laurie webmasters an unofficial JAMES website that many fans on the internet treat as the JAMES bible... and some times as an oracle. Last summer she took the challenge and jumped in feet-first with the Lollapalooza-From-Hell tour, offering major contributions on band interviews. Laurie risks life and limb to get a story, literally! The injured hand she's submitted as her photo was the result of an overzealous audience member landing on her wrist as they were dragged over the pit barrier at a recent JAMES gig in England. (Who were thought you'd get people that excited at a JAMES show? They're all Zen-Buddhists who just sit down, right?)

Attachments -  No comment
First Show - No comment
Words to Live By - "Stupid band... hate them... UGH!"

Danny Lugo - Writer/Photographer/Some times web person
With IPO Since - July 1998

It came from Secaucus... HEY! What exit? IPO's most recent addition, Danny, appeared just as IPO launched from the depths of AOHell to Xoom and produced our last issue. Like everyone else here, no one can accuse Danny of being a conformist. Okay, so he used olive green backgrounds and almost made Bonita spin on her head, he's one of IPO's "web people" (he used to work on A&E's site) and rovering reporters. Occasionally asked if he's Chris Farley's evil twin, he's got a good, twisted sense of humor which is essential to work with the rest of us. His claim to fame? This Jersey native (?) knows almost EVERY hole in the wall venue and club from North Bergen to Long Island...

Attachments - Jury's still out on this one.
First Show -  ??
Words to Live By - ??

C. Marks - Writer/Photographer
With IPO Since - September 1997

Not much is known about this elusive reporter and sometimes photographer, who tends to cover English bands and is IPO's part-time westcoast correspondent.

Attachments -
First Show -
Words to Live By - Hmmm, well... I read emails filled with "UGH!"

Robert "Scott" Stephens - Staff Writer/"Newshound #2"
With IPO Since - 1989

Rob, or Scott, was assimilated into the hive shortly after the unique combination of BLACK FLAG, SMITHS, and GO GOs albums were found in his record collection. He will proudly tell you he owns both the PARTRIDGE FAMILY ALBUM and THE BAY CITY ROLLERS (we knew then that he was twisted enough for our ranks, considering most of us have those albums, too). His paying job is to freelance with Gannet and his favorite food is Cheese Doodles. Rob retired from the review staff after getting a concussion at a Rollins gig (that's what you get for staying down front).

Attachments - "Elmers."
First Show - "The Go Gos (okay, stop laughing)"
Words to Live By - "Would you like fries with that?"

N. "Newshound" Thompson - Staff Writer
With IPO Since -  "Since the night we decided on this hair-brain scheme."

(This is my best side, by the way) I'm an all around good guy and the author of this page. I sometimes work for McPaper's parent company on a quasi-permanent/freelance basis (you can't call it a "real" job) and pull together the news pages in my spare time (you should see some of the crap that comes across the wire). The most memorable show I got to cover for IPO was NEW ORDER, PIL, and SUGARCUBES. My favorite DC venue is the old 9:30 Club where a fellow staffer pointed out one evening that you could watch the rats in the rafters if you got bored with the band on stage.

Attachments -  "My wife and chocolate, not necessarily in that order."
First Show - "BLONDIE with two IPO alumnists, and one of their dads (hey, George is cool). Best show was the SMITHS in 1985 and watching Bonnie get knocked to the floor when Mozzer fell off the stage."
Words to Live By - "I've got nothing to declare but my jeans."