A recent listing by Douglas Stewart Fine Books, Melbourne , was this February l972 London edition of the controversial Oz Magazine,46pp , printed in colour by Oz Publications Ink Limited.
The Australian satirical magazine Oz was an important phenomenon of the underground press of the 1960s and early 1970s. Initially edited by Richard Neville, Richard Walsh and the artist Martin Sharp (who designed most of the covers as well as contributing cartoons and other art work).
It was published in Sydney between 1963 and 1969. A London version was also published from 1967 until 1973, edited by Neville, Jim Anderson and Felix Dennis. Throughout its history – a lengthy one for a periodical which was well and truly outside the mainstream press – it attracted contributors who were to become influential figures in their respective fields, as well as in the intellectual life of the 60s and beyond.
These contributors included such luminaries as Robert Hughes, Bob Ellis, Germaine Greer, Philippe Mora and Michael Leunig. Oz was never anything less than subversive and irreverent, and at times was highly controversial, surviving two obscenity trials in 1964 and 1971. ( Pete Steedman's involvement with Oz in London outlined in this blog).
This issue included Norman Lindsay cover art. Four pages of graphics by Condon. OZ subscription ad with Oliver Twist illustration. Vertigo records ad. Two pages ‘Raw War’ cartoon. ‘There’s No Business Like Bomb Business’ by Dave Dellinger – A Time to Look at Ourselves, reprinted from Liberation Magazine. National Enquirer Judy Garland graphic by Heathcote Williams. ‘Tales of Sherwood Forest, or: What Shall We Do With the Bank of England’ from a séance with Robin Hood. ‘Whistle While You Wank Re-Visited’ – Tom Ludd’s critique of David Widgery.
Michael X. ‘Cuntpower Trials’ – in court with the women accused of disrupting Miss World by Rosemary Pettit and Others – “The girls were fined and Women’s Liberation found the court entirely irrelevant”. ’Ink is Definitely Coming’ OZ obscenity fund and Ink production. ‘A Plague of Locusts’ – Felix Dennis reviews Rockin 50’s Rock ‘n Roll. LP reviews: Janis Joplin, Laura Nyro, Jefferson Airplane and Yes. ‘A Deafening of Prophets’ – book reviews by Peter Buckman.
Uriah Heep ad. Ad for Richard Neville’s Playpower. ‘Soul On Acid: Leary in Algiers’ by Michael Zwerin. ‘There Was Once a Shepherdess’ three page cartoons by Guitton. ‘Down on the Farm’ interview with ‘animal lover’ Bodil conducted by Ole Ege. ‘The Anarchist Cookbook: “Turn On, Burn Down, Blow Up!”’ by Jim Anderson. Ad for Man LP. ‘Splendour in the Rice’ by Jay Landesman. Two pages woman/eagle montage. ‘The Daddy of Them All’ – Peter Jones on Richard Dadd + full page reproduction of The Fairy Feller. Back cover OZ Police Ball! ad for an obscenity trial benefit at Middle Earth.
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