Lies-ography
Lies was a satirical magazine produced in Perth (and later Melbourne) between 1991-1998. The emphasis was on comedy and social satire, and the form it took was fake ads, joke articles, cartoons, photostories plus parodies of other magazines, books, and popular culture. Although it was independently produced, it concentrated on reaching a wide audience through newsagents, as opposed to keeping in the underground ghetto of comics and zines. This was partly because the writers didn’t come from zine backgrounds; also because Lies arose from the burgeoning live comedy scene in Perth in the early-mid nineties which centred around the ‘Laugh Resort’ comedy club. As such Lies was the printed counterpart of the community of comedy performers in Perth which it was very much part of.
Ten issues were produced in Perth – and later in Melbourne - on a nearly-quarterly basis in an A4 magazine format. It was produced and mostly distributed completely outside the mainstream magazine market: Although it took paid adverts, and was partially funded by regular benefit-gig comedy shows, Lies was effectively a non-profit publication and nobody drew a wage.
History
The magazine was started in 1991 by Matthew Dean in Fremantle, who prior to this was involved in writing and producing comedy radio plays, radio presenting as well as live comic performing. It was initially an outlet – where none existed - for comedy material Matt had written which suited the printed form, as well as including poems and other material by local writers frequenting several open-mike poetry gigs.
The first Lies was launched in October 1991 with a comedy gig at FTI in Fremantle, initially as an A5 photocopied magazine of several hundred copies, which was edited and pasted up (literally) by Matt in his flat in Fremantle.
A second issue came out in January 1992, with a similar format and style of content – the majority of material being Matt’s satirical stuff as well as contributions from several poets, cartoonists etc. For the third issue John Hodge, who’d contributed cartoons to the first issues, become more closely involved as a co-editor, writer and lay-out artist. Decisions made around this point included narrowing the editorial line down to comedy only – so no more poetry.
This third issue was launched at Fremantle at the ‘1000 Arabs’ in July 1992 during one of the regular comedy cabaret nights Matt was running there. It was significant that as this issue was going to print, another WA satirical magazine called ‘The Bunyip’ with close connections to the local print media monopoly – The West Australian newspaper – was launched and folded after two issues. Matt and John felt that while they didn't have the local media connections of the brothers who started Bunyip, what they did have was talent!
No new issue came out until April 93, where the fourth issue was launched at the Caffe Sport in Northbridge. Again a range of comedians performed for free to support the magazine. The months since the last issue came out had been spent developing satirical ideas and improving computer skills, so production quality improved. From this point Lies became (nearly) quarterly for several more years. Other additions to Lies from this point onwards was the regular close involvement of cartoonist and writer Alex Manfrin, who become the ‘third member of Lies’, plus other local writers and performers like Mar Bucknell.
For the remainder of 1993, two more Lies issues were produced, and by this stage it was getting much more interest, helped by coverage in the current affairs programme ‘7:30 Report’ and numerous appearances on local radio, in the ‘Fremantle Herald’ and other local papers. In January 94 the two editors travelled to Melbourne and Sydney to promote Lies, in order to increase its circulation outside WA.
Ten issues were produced in Perth – and later in Melbourne - on a nearly-quarterly basis in an A4 magazine format. It was produced and mostly distributed completely outside the mainstream magazine market: Although it took paid adverts, and was partially funded by regular benefit-gig comedy shows, Lies was effectively a non-profit publication and nobody drew a wage.
History
The magazine was started in 1991 by Matthew Dean in Fremantle, who prior to this was involved in writing and producing comedy radio plays, radio presenting as well as live comic performing. It was initially an outlet – where none existed - for comedy material Matt had written which suited the printed form, as well as including poems and other material by local writers frequenting several open-mike poetry gigs.
The first Lies was launched in October 1991 with a comedy gig at FTI in Fremantle, initially as an A5 photocopied magazine of several hundred copies, which was edited and pasted up (literally) by Matt in his flat in Fremantle.
A second issue came out in January 1992, with a similar format and style of content – the majority of material being Matt’s satirical stuff as well as contributions from several poets, cartoonists etc. For the third issue John Hodge, who’d contributed cartoons to the first issues, become more closely involved as a co-editor, writer and lay-out artist. Decisions made around this point included narrowing the editorial line down to comedy only – so no more poetry.
This third issue was launched at Fremantle at the ‘1000 Arabs’ in July 1992 during one of the regular comedy cabaret nights Matt was running there. It was significant that as this issue was going to print, another WA satirical magazine called ‘The Bunyip’ with close connections to the local print media monopoly – The West Australian newspaper – was launched and folded after two issues. Matt and John felt that while they didn't have the local media connections of the brothers who started Bunyip, what they did have was talent!
No new issue came out until April 93, where the fourth issue was launched at the Caffe Sport in Northbridge. Again a range of comedians performed for free to support the magazine. The months since the last issue came out had been spent developing satirical ideas and improving computer skills, so production quality improved. From this point Lies became (nearly) quarterly for several more years. Other additions to Lies from this point onwards was the regular close involvement of cartoonist and writer Alex Manfrin, who become the ‘third member of Lies’, plus other local writers and performers like Mar Bucknell.
For the remainder of 1993, two more Lies issues were produced, and by this stage it was getting much more interest, helped by coverage in the current affairs programme ‘7:30 Report’ and numerous appearances on local radio, in the ‘Fremantle Herald’ and other local papers. In January 94 the two editors travelled to Melbourne and Sydney to promote Lies, in order to increase its circulation outside WA.
Back in Fremantle in 1994 Matt and John got on with further issues, as well as Matt regularly performing at comedy gigs. Each issue was launched with a comedy benefit gig, always called ‘Lies Aid’. Other types of live shows put on by Lies included the comedy debate and satirical quiz night. Issue 9 was launched in November 1994 at the Fremantle Hotel – in a precursor to the monthly comedy gig at this venue which is still going on over ten years later. Later in the year Terry Kane came on board as writer and layout artist.
In early 95 the Lies team were getting exhausted keeping it going on all fronts from producing the material, managing the financial side of the magazine, and running, promoting and performing the comedy gigs – all for no money as it was only just breaking even. As well as all this Matt and John were doing a part time comedy band called the ‘Pisstakes’. But it wasn’t putting satirical material together which was wearing people out, it was the business side which took its toll: a lot of distribution legwork and finding advertisers always went with finishing each issue. The constant search to find trustworthy ‘business’ people often put Lies' financial survival at the mercy of some patronising and dishonest people who were the antithesis of Lies – only there for the money. The final straw was when a would-be publisher pulled out at the last minute to run a gardening magazine… instead of Lies!
After the tenth issue it was decided to have a break and Matt went on a trip to Melbourne, and John went on a trip to the UK. Neither made it back to Perth to do another issue, and the magazine effectively stopped in its current form.
From 1995 onwards Matt set himself up in Melbourne as a comedy performer, including writing and performing a satirical radio programme on Melbourne radio station PBS. In the absence of Lies as an outlet, Matt did several issues of ‘The Battler’ and Alex Manfrin did another publication in a similar vein called ‘The Cornet’; in 1998 Matt did an eleventh and final issue of Lies from Melbourne. John stayed in England, and took a few years out of independent media to study jazz and perform music.
Where Are They Now?
Matt is currently in Liverpool UK performing and recording an album of his songs, as well as the drawn out process of making a film/book/t-shirt/pie about his grandfather, the famous Everton footballer of the 1920-40s, Dixie Dean. Since 2000, John been working as a writer, cartoonist, and editor at SchNEWS, a Brighton UK based political publication. Alex still publishes graphics, cards and publications (to get his brilliant cards click here) as well as comedy performing including many years as Australia's number one John Howard impersonator. A wig and glasses has transformed him into a brilliant Kevin Rudd.
(Updated Nov 2008)
In early 95 the Lies team were getting exhausted keeping it going on all fronts from producing the material, managing the financial side of the magazine, and running, promoting and performing the comedy gigs – all for no money as it was only just breaking even. As well as all this Matt and John were doing a part time comedy band called the ‘Pisstakes’. But it wasn’t putting satirical material together which was wearing people out, it was the business side which took its toll: a lot of distribution legwork and finding advertisers always went with finishing each issue. The constant search to find trustworthy ‘business’ people often put Lies' financial survival at the mercy of some patronising and dishonest people who were the antithesis of Lies – only there for the money. The final straw was when a would-be publisher pulled out at the last minute to run a gardening magazine… instead of Lies!
After the tenth issue it was decided to have a break and Matt went on a trip to Melbourne, and John went on a trip to the UK. Neither made it back to Perth to do another issue, and the magazine effectively stopped in its current form.
From 1995 onwards Matt set himself up in Melbourne as a comedy performer, including writing and performing a satirical radio programme on Melbourne radio station PBS. In the absence of Lies as an outlet, Matt did several issues of ‘The Battler’ and Alex Manfrin did another publication in a similar vein called ‘The Cornet’; in 1998 Matt did an eleventh and final issue of Lies from Melbourne. John stayed in England, and took a few years out of independent media to study jazz and perform music.
Where Are They Now?
Matt is currently in Liverpool UK performing and recording an album of his songs, as well as the drawn out process of making a film/book/t-shirt/pie about his grandfather, the famous Everton footballer of the 1920-40s, Dixie Dean. Since 2000, John been working as a writer, cartoonist, and editor at SchNEWS, a Brighton UK based political publication. Alex still publishes graphics, cards and publications (to get his brilliant cards click here) as well as comedy performing including many years as Australia's number one John Howard impersonator. A wig and glasses has transformed him into a brilliant Kevin Rudd.
(Updated Nov 2008)