About this episode
Armed with fanzines, cassette tapes, and a fierce DIY spirit - two teenagers from Herne Bay helped shape the UK’s underground music scene. In this episode, host Martin Franklin traces the journey of Gary Levermore, founder of Third Mind Records, and Richard “Richo” Johnson, the force behind Grim Humour fanzine and Fourth Dimension Records. From their early days frequenting a local record shop to trading zines and music through the post, their story captures the energy of a grassroots movement that gave voice to some of the most experimental and influential acts of the 1980s. We explore how fanzines like Tone Death and Grim Humour connected a sprawling network of artists and fans, and how this evolved into Third Mind’s legendary cassette compilation “ Rising from the Red Sand” —a defining moment for underground electronic and post-industrial music. The episode offers inside perspectives on artists such as Nurse With Wound, Test Dept, Attrition, and Legendary Pink Dots, while also shedding light on the support they received from key tastemakers like Rough Trade, John Peel, and Dave Henderson of Sounds . Along the way, Gary reveals the moment he turned down the newly formed Skinny Puppy, and how that decision—and others—shaped the future of Third Mind and its eventual partnership with Roadrunner Records. Richo discusses the evolving mission of Fourth Dimension and his enduring dedication to artists with a distinct sensibility, both sonically and personally. Passion, persistence, and a love of experimental sound helped two independent labels make their mark on music history—one photocopied zine and dubbed cassette at a time. Hosted by Martin Franklin. Theme music “This Is Concrete” by The Happy Citizen/"Hesatative" Jack Hertz VIDEO You can find video of some of the fanzines and cassette releases we discuss in this episode on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcast VOICES Richard “Richo” Johnson Gary Levermore Dave Henderson Martin Bowes MUSIC “Mansonik No 1” Konstruktivists, Psyko-Genetika, Third Mind Records 1983 “Song Of The Flame” Tone Death, Rising From the Red Sand Third Mind Tapes 1983 “Love Is….” Legendary Pink Dots, Basilisk, Third Mind Tapes 1984 “Page After Page” I’m Dead, Grim Humour#3 7” Flexi, Fourth Dimension Records “Gdansk” Test Dept, Rising From The Red Sand, Third Mind Tapes 1983 “Onslaught” Attrition, Onslaught, Third Mind Tapes 1983 “At Set Points” Ian Boddy, Visions, Third Mind Tapes 1983 “Strange Play Of The Mouth” Nurse With Wound, Rising From The Red Sand, Third Mind Tapes 1983 “Grow Dark In The Sun” Mummies & Madmen, Winter Hill Recordings 2024 “Not Me” Thurston Moore w/Tom Surgal, 10” EP, Fourth Dimension “Film-o-sonik” Konstruktivists, Psyko-Genetika, Third Mind records 1983 “Bite My Head” Portion Control, Rising From The Red Sand, Third Mind Tapes 1983 Herne Bay ambient recordings by Damon Hart-Davis used by permission. https://www.earth.org.uk/Herne-Bay-ambient.html LINKS Third Mind Records https://www.discogs.com/label/2746-Third-Mind-Records Fourth Dimension Records https://www.youtube.com/@FDRecords2023 fourthdimensionrecords.bigcartel.com Dave Henderson https://23ears.co.uk/ Attrition https://attritionuk.bandcamp.com/ THANKS TO: Damon Hart-Davis for capturing the ancestral ambience, Dave Henderson & Martin Bowes for going the extra mile, Alan Rider for this months package. AVAILABLE NOW: The project that started it all. "Premonitions: Underground Cassette Network 1989 - 90" SoundImage Tapes cassette reissue, Infinite Expanse, 2024 https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com *Cassette Culture* is produced by Martin Franklin for East Coast Studio. ( https://eastcoaststudio.com.au ) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.