search for something...

search for something you might like...

Get Your Rock & Roll Public Library Ticket New Magazine and Exhibition of over-the-counter artefacts and ephemera from the collection of Mick Jones

Get Your Rock & Roll Public Library Ticket

New Magazine and Exhibition of over-the-counter artefacts and ephemera from the collection of Mick Jones

by LamontPaul, Founder & Publisher
first published: January, 2025

approximate reading time: minutes

“The magazine to me is like a record, with each article a separate track and it tells a story – my story. And by extension through our shared culture, all of our stories. I hope that anyone who reads it will enjoy it.” — Mick Jones

The Rock & Roll Public Library (RRPL) hosts an experiential exhibition of just a fraction of Mick Jones’ personal collection of 20th century cultural artefacts and ephemera (is it ephemera since it has endured?) at London’s Farsight Gallery, from March 1st -16th, 2025. The exhibition accompanies the launch RRPL Magazine #1, their new periodical, a free standing publication—with an indie aesthetic, sharing with readers singular insights into elements of the archive and serving as a curated  journey through the collection. The mag is a portable exhibition in itself, you might say, inviting us to find our own connections and inspirations in the Library’s wide-ranging artefacts, signposting creativity. 

RRPL number one Magazine covers

It would be no understatement to describe Mick Jones as one of the pivotal figures in music and culture in the UK in the latter part of the 20th century. He formed The Clash, one of the most influential bands of all time. Does anyone still reading not know that? I never know what you know. The band performed at the massive Rock Against Racism rallies that were a youth oriented antidote to the rise of the extreme racist right in the 70s. Uncompromising and confrontational, The Clash peered over a punk rock horizon few others were even aware of. Refusing to be pigeonholed their music flexed and ventured in ways their peers couldn’t consider. This way of seeing and embracing, the eclecticism, the musical magpie musicality - and I love magpies - is part of the same impulse that informs collecting I think. Finding joy and value where others cannot. Yet. Anyway… 

Books in the collection

The Rock & Roll Public Library contains thousands of items. Comics, magazines and books; guitars and musical gear, art and clothes; and music and film in every format. It is a celebration of a history that is analog, tactile and physical. It is the cultural history of Mick Jones’ life and times from art school, to The Clash and Big Audio Dynamite. A history gathered from record shops, magazine stands and long lost video stores. It is an array of networked influences spanning the entire 20th century from cities and towns, all over the world.

The Farsight's exhibition is the Rock & Roll Public Library's most exciting event yet. Personally curated by Mick Jones and his RRPL team, it's assembled with the meticulous tenacity of the most dedicated anthropological crate-digger. Leaving no potential nugget from the vast collection untouched or unconsidered. 

I don't want to reveal too much in case real life intervenes and you miss it, but here look: Be Like Mick! Imagine a phantasmagoric living room where you can explore Mick's collection of home-recorded VHS tapes, books, comics, and newspapers – unburied treasure of an era we cannot bring ourselves to abandon. Us folks of a certain age. Wow! at the recreation of a 1970s listening booth where you can spin selections from Mick’s record collection. Then there’ll be a visual art installation styled as a kiosk, offering the first issue of the RRPL magazine and other exclusive merchandise.

Dead media

Behind three contrasting covers, Issue #1 of RRPL magazine explores the DIY culture—to which Outsideleft owes a seminal debt. Feeling out the fabric of the indie aesthetic in fanzines and fashion, drawing the lines from art school to old-school dole queues, from home recording to high-tech studios.  "RRPL #1 is a ragged map to aid further exploration and, hopefully, to inspire yet more creation."

Mick Jones says - “The magazine to me is like a record, with each article a separate track and it tells a story – my story. And by extension through our shared culture, all of our stories. I hope that anyone who reads it will enjoy it.” 

I am totally thrilled about the exhibition and the RRPL Mag #1. I can’t wait to see both. Rock & Roll on March 1st!


Essential Information
The Rock & Roll Public Library
Farsight Gallery, 
4 Flitcroft Street, 
London WC2H 8DJ
1st – 16th March 2024
12 noon - 7pm daily
More info at www.rocknrollpl.com

LamontPaul
Founder & Publisher

Publisher, Lamontpaul founded outsideleft with Alarcon in 2004 and is hanging on, saying, "I don't know how to stop this, exactly."

Lamontpaul portrait by John Kilduff painted during an episode of John's TV Show, Let's Paint TV


about LamontPaul »»

upcoming interviews begin with the Residents Feb 9th

RECENT STORIES

RANDOM READS

All About and Contributors

HELP OUTSIDELEFT

Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]

WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT

If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]

WRITERS thru' the Years

A.I. House-Painter, Agata Makiela, Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Archibald Stanton, Becca Kelly, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Cassie Thomas, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, Danny Rose, David Hackney, David O'Byrne, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Rich, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, J.Lee, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Jonathan Thornton, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Kiah Cranston, Kleo Kay, Lake, Lauren Frison, Lee Paul, Lilly Pemberton, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Martin Devenney, Meave Haughey, Melanie Surfleet, Michelle Williams, Mickey, Mike Fox, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Burns, Paul Hawkins, Paul Mortimer, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Richard John Walker, Rick Casson, Rikki Stein, Ronan Crinion, Rowena Murphy, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Tony Fletcher, Toon Traveller, Trevi, Urs Lerch, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & Lamontpaul

OUTSIDELEFT UNIVERSE

Kerry Hardley-Pryce at the Bear Bookshop
OUTSIDELEFT Night Out
weekend

outsideleft content is not for everyone