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Touch and Go

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description Touch and Go Overview

Touch and Go began in 1979 as a Michigan punk fanzine created by Tesco Vee and Dave Stimson. Its early issues documented the emerging hardcore scene through interviews, reviews, and local reporting, and the name later became Touch and Go Records, an independent label associated with punk, noise rock, and post-hardcore. The label's catalog includes releases by Big Black, the Butthole Surfers, Slint, and the Jesus Lizard, linking the original zine to a wider network of American underground music.

help Touch and Go FAQ

Who created the Touch and Go fanzine?

Tesco Vee and Dave Stimson created Touch and Go in East Lansing, Michigan, in 1979. They produced it as a photocopied punk publication documenting local and touring hardcore bands.

How did Touch and Go become a record label?

The record label grew out of the fanzine and began releasing records around 1981. Necros bassist Corey Rusk later became central to running the label after Tesco Vee moved away.

Which bands were connected to early Touch and Go Records?

Early releases included Michigan hardcore acts such as Necros, The Fix, and the Meatmen. The label later became known for influential artists including Big Black, The Jesus Lizard, and Shellac.

How many issues of the original Touch and Go zine were published?

The original run is generally described as 22 issues published between 1979 and 1983. Those issues were collected in the book Touch and Go: The Complete Hardcore Punk Zine '79-'83.

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