Issue 18
Here at SWINDLE, we make a conscious effort to include sociopolitical elements in each issue. With that in mind, coupled with the fact that Election Day is just around the corner, we decided to cultivate an entire issue made up of rare and unusual stories with a political spin. Our cover features eccentric presidential hopeful Vermin Supreme. He didn't make it past the primaries this year, but he still plans to attend the convention and discuss key issues such as time travel, mandatory toothbrushing laws and free ponies for all, with whoever will listen. To balance out Vermin's über liberal views, we talk to conservative political commentator Tammy Bruce. We also look at the revolutionary art of the Black Panther Party's Minister of Culture; find out what the "Subway Vigilante" is up to these days; investigate the world's deadliest gangs; explore psychological operations; and re-fashion political scandals.
Issue 17
For #17, we looked around for examples of creative energy, and brought back quite an eclectic display. From the streets of Baltimore to the bustling capital of Nigeria, the stories in this issue showcase vast forms of expression. We visit Los Angeles’ Mariachi Plaza, where dozens of mariachis congregate every day—socializing, playing music and making their living. In “Nollywood Dreaming,” we go inside Nigeria’s booming film industry, and “Big Rig! Part Two” takes a look at the vibrant subculture of custom trucks through the lens of photographer Roger Snider. We also bring you East L.A.’s obsession with all things Betty Boop; Gary Baseman’s menagerie of mask photos; and three artist features: Chaz, Roy Ferdinand and Amanda Visell. We think that this diverse selection of stories has something for everybody, and we hope that you gain as much inspiration from it as we have.
Issue 16
For #16, SWINDLE embarked on an ambitious project. For the first time, we created a themed issue on a single geographic location: London. In “London’s Muslim Girl Power,” we reflect upon the city’s absorption of a rising Muslim population—and we feature the young Islamic artist Sarah Maple. “Viva Art Squat!” investigates a thriving underground squat scene, in which London artists unleash their creative potential on the fringes of society. And finally—because we at SWINDLE are at the forefront of the global street art scene—we look at three landmark London artists: EINE, CEPT and Conor Harrington. Beside them, we feature Damien Hirst, who, in the ‘90s, became the enfant terrible of British art.
Issue 15
The times they are a-changing. So, we at SWINDLE want to evolve, too. Issue 15 marks the unveiling of our newly redesigned layout. We’ve made the text more engaging, we’ve standardized the fonts, and added two regular columns: James Gaddy’s Classic Graphics delves into the history of iconic logos, and Henry Rollins gives us Dispatches from the Territories. We’ve got a feature on stunt doubles, who risk their lives in anonymity to make movie stars look badass; Doug Pray’s first-person account of making his latest feature documentary, Big Rig; the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s “School of Popular Painting,” an elite group of artists who showcase the thriving urban culture of their country’s capital, Kinshasa; and a fashion spread that is an ode to ‘80s group Strawberry Switchblade. Only SWINDLE can scour the cultural landscape of the globe to give you a mash-up of content this sweet!
Issue 14
SWINDLE concludes 2007 with our most cohesive, beautiful one to date. We’ve got rock ‘n’ roll—with a report on the new Liverpool music scene; we’ve got style—fashion editor Claw Money takes a unique look at holiday office parties; and we’ve got art—in an unprecedented interview, the intensely private Barry “Twist” McGee opens up to fellow artist Andrew Jeffrey Wright about the ‘80s, mopeds, and approaching gallery work with minimalism and purpose.
Issue Icons 2
This year, the SWINDLE Icons are more than celebrities or ubiquitous faces in the media. We relish in the merits of these men and women who have transcended failure to make their unique mark on culture. But most of all, we celebrate these Icons whose influence will persist long after they are gone, through the people they have mentored, and inspired.
Issue 13
We are announcing the release of our special Death & Fame issue. We take a visually stunning, global look at the ways in which death and fame are intricately connected—from an investigation into one of the most notorious murder mysteries in Tokyo: the death of British nightclub hostess Lucie Blackman; a report on the recruitment of child suicide bombers in Palestine; a fashion spread featuring the inhabitance of Los Angeles’ historic Gaylord Apartments; and best of all, SWINDLE brings you an epic cover story on the long and winding history of seminal punk band the Germs—we show you the band like you’ve never seen them before.
Issue 12
With Issue 12, SWINDLE's got an exclusive interview with the street art collective Faile, who brought femininity and escapism to the urban landscape. We take a look at the "cool school" of Los Angeles 'Ferus Gallery' the prototype rebel stars of the art world from the '50s and '60s who created the "template of the brilliant, bohemian bad boy before Dylan even thought about plugging in." We report on the rising problem of opium addiction in Afghanistan; celebrate Ghana's 50th anniversary of independence; and look back at the history of Detroit hardcore music. SWINDLE's got page after page of crazy-sexy-cool fashion' from Danilo Hess's classic, minimalist black and white photography, to Christopher Glancy's hipster paradise and Elizabeth Perrin's avant-garde menswear spread. And, as always, we deliver this sophisticated content with cutting-edge layout and design courtesy of Shepard Fairey's Studio Number-One.
Issue 11
This issue is dedicated to the nerds' those among us whose passions are so complete and pure they transcend trends. Our cover boy, the horn-rimmed Matt Leines makes art that speaks to the dorky teenager in all of us; our funky fresh Fly Gemini fashion spread features creative couples in front of candy-colored air brushed backdrops; the gregariously geeky Ian Sattler's "Cinema Calling"? column reviews video games that were made into movies; we take a look at DigiPen, the Harvard of computer gaming schools; and SWINDLE reveals the creativity and zeal that goes into Pro Wrestling Guerilla, California's independent wrestling promotion. Let's embrace our eccentricity and nerd-hood. By daring to stand apart from the crowd, we are the coolest kids of all.
Issue 10
Subcultures come and go and the zeitgeist always morphs into something new. It is up to the writers and photographers and documentarians to record the evolution—and big chunks of the story inevitably get left out. But SWINDLE's here to fill in the blanks. Washington, D.C.'s Bad Brains are widely considered the first all-Black American punk band. But SWINDLE knows better: Pure Hell was. We all know about Japanese anime, but Koreanimation? Only SWINDLE gives you a feature on Korean animation and its complex patchwork of Western and Asian iconography. There are more missing links from the evolution of pop culture: Philippe Starck, a legendary designer—and a legendary character. Before Target became a household name, he pioneered the idea that beautiful, functional design didn't have to be for the elite. We revisit the Bones Brigade—the proto-type skate team from the 1980's, featuring a teenaged Tony Hawk. And finally, because SWINDLE knows that pop culture is a surface reflection of deeper social issues, we follow Matt Kettmann to war-torn Northern Uganda where he reports on the IDP camp Pader Town Council. Don't worry. SWINDLE is here to tell you the whole story.
Issue Icons
The most stylish magazine on the planet is back with its First Annual ICONS issue, featuring: Gloria Allred, Asia Argento, Peter Asher, Tyra Banks, Sonny Barger, Suzanne Bartsch, Peter S. Beagle, Judy Blume, Buz Blurr, Mark Burnett, Luther Campbell, Exene Cervenka, Margaret Cho, Chuck D, Larry Clark, Chuck Close, Robbie Conal, R. Crumb, Alan Dershowitz, Elvira, Patricia Field, Larry Flynt, Walt “Clyde" Frazier, Glen E. Friedman, Jane Goodall, Brian Grazer, Guru, Laurie Henzel & Debbie Stoller, Hulk Hogan, House Industries, Judith Jamison, Bob Kahn, Hilly Kristal, Barbara Kruger, Don Lafontaine, Kurt Loder, Ian MacKaye, Cheech Marin, Alan Moore, Brendan Mullen, Michael Nesmith, Yoko Ono, Gary Panter, Deb Parker, Raymond Pettibon, Steven Pinker, Anka Radakovich, Karim Rashid, Jack Rudy, Saber, Bobby Seale, Nancy Sinatra, Slash, Seymour Stein, Michele Tea, Ed Templeton, Twiggy, Dita Von Teese, Z-Trip.
Issue 09
Oscar Wilde said, "Any fool can make history, but it takes a genius to write it." We at SWINDLE strive to be both the fool and the genius. We follow up our history making, genre busting First Annual Icons issue with a gritty, girly cover story on the street art of MISS VAN. We revisit that fateful 1979 night at Chicago's Comiskey Park, when Harry Caray announced the death of disco; we take a definitive look at the world of beautifully-crafted screenprinted rock posters; and we're showing you serene portraits of Jamaica's legendary ska pioneers.
Issue 08
The most stylish magazine on the planet is back with its slickest issue yet! We have an exclusive interview with the acclaimed British street artist BANKSY. We take a look at the new Cherry Bombs, rock’s fresh generation of frontwomen. And then there is the profile of Freddie Roach and his legendary Wild Card boxing gym—trainer to Hollywood stars and world champions alike. Of course, we still have the high-end fashion spreads, cutting-edge illustrations and daring design that only SWINDLE can offer.
Issue 07
This time around, we’re bringing you creative lifestyles from around the world: the unifying power of hip-hop in Israel; NYC’s hottest indie fashion designers; and an interview with the whimsical yet serious artist Jim Houser. We take a look at people who devote their lives to single-minded passions—like the feature on the history of prohibition in America (the movement is still alive and kicking!) and Bottega Montana, an Italian furniture design firm based in the wilderness of Montana. SWINDLE is serious about creativity.
Issue 06
SWINDLE is looking at the faux-real movement. We’re taking an in-depth look at the $360 billion knockoff fashion industry. We spend some time with historical reenactors—adults who don the clothing of wars gone by. And photographer Gregg Segal does a photo spread on The Cost of Living, and the modern citizen’s inalienable right to define our lives by what we consume. We deconstruct the culture of consumerism as only SWINDLE can: with creativity, respect and style!
Issue 05
SWINDLE meditates on fantasy. This issue, we take a look at the growing culture of cosplay in America—a Japanese tradition of dressing up as anime/manga/video game/J Rock characters. We look at Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade, in which people dress up as sea-inspired characters like Neptune, and sirens. And punk is back! Billy Idol and Steve Jones sit down to reminisce about the years that brought them from punk’s heyday to where they are now and we discuss nonconformity and cultural instigation with Malcom McLaren. Who says you can’t live in someone else’s reality?
Issue 04
A historical overview of Lego-making; a competitive eating champion/rapper; the Nobel Prize-winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines and female activism in Afghanistan. SWINDLE runs the gamut, from whimsical to political. Bizarre fashion spreads, dazzling illustrations and far-out journalism. What more do you want?
Issue 03
Underground music scenes in Latin America; the Black roots of the skinhead punk scene; and all-girl AC/DC tribute band called AC/DShe. SWINDLE delves into the real alternatives of alternative rock. Our cover boy this time around is the Space Invader—a perfectionist, a thoughtful and focused artist, he considers his street art a “gift” to the city.
Issue 02
Militant street art in Northern Ireland; Mark Mothersbough, ex Devo’s frontman shows off his freaky, ethereal photography; a look back at the last days of Eazy E; at a feature on the epic art work of Richard Colman. Swindle’s fashion editor extraordinaire, Claw Money, show cases the snaziest vintage sunglasses and sends us into a milky, Scandanavian dream with her Swedish Luxotica fashion spread. And finally, Jeff Penalty writes about how he became the new lead singer for the Dead Kennedys.
Issue 1.5
Our mini issue that packed a big punch. Ray Lemoine reports on his misadventures as an NGO Coordinator in Iraq, shortly after the U.S. invasion—a time of “relative calm before the storm... the last chance to travel around the country without fear.” We also feature Juliette Lewis and the Licks, Super Diamond, a Neil Diamond cover band, and a fashion story inspired by dance!