Small Axe is the name of the Reggae fanzine published by Ray Hurford in East London. The first issue was published on September 29th 1978 and featured Augustus Pablo and Gregory Isaacs. The magazine was a xeroxed publication consisting of A4 papers folded in half - A5 and stapled. There was 28 issues released on to September/October 1989 when the last Small Axe was released. The magazine however got revived in the 90's again, and five more issues were published.

Ray Hurford stated once that »Small Axe started not out of love, but out of a hatred for the rock music press in this country.« referring to magazines such as NME and Sounds that he felt presented a bad picture of reggae (quote from Reggae Directory, Vol. 3 No .1, 1991). The magazine would also feature articles by authors/journalists such as Penny Reel, Beth Lesser, Dominic, Colin Moore and more.

Bibliography

The first run

Small Axe #01

Articles on Gregory Isaacs, Reggae And The Media. Reviews and News.

Small Axe #02

Articles and interviews feature Prince Far I, the Heptones and Sly Dunbar. Reviews include Burning Spear, the Abyssinians, Tapper Zukie, Junior Delgado, Gregory Isaacs and Augustus Pablo.

Small Axe #08

Articles and interviews feature Sugar Minott, Freedom Sounds, Ray Symbolic's Sound System, Michael Prophet, Trevor Hartley, Ruddy Burnett and I Roy.

Small Axe #13

Yellowman, Mikey Dread, Ashanti Roy, Phillip Frazer.

Small Axe #15

Eek-A-Mouse, Linval Thompson, Michael Prophet.

Small Axe #16

Bob Andy, Joe Hill, Trevor Bow.

Small Axe #17

Bob Andy, Ital Club, Toyan.

Small Axe #18

Junjo Lawes, Peter Metro & ZuZu, Winston Reedy, Ariwa, Bob Andy.

Small Axe #19

Willie Williams, Keith Douglas, Misty In Roots.

Small Axe #20

Wackies, Milton Henry, Willie Williams, Jah Screw.

Small Axe #21

Fashion, Peter King, Patrick Andy, Michael Palmer, Coco Tea, Trevor Junior, Half Pint.

Small Axe #22

Roy Cousins, Peter King, Roddy Moodie, Leroy Smart.

Small Axe #24

Seattle Special - Ini Kamoze, Gladiators, Don Carlos, Yabby U

Small Axe #25

Brigadier Jerry, Major Jackie Knockshot, Ashanti Waugh, Junior Byles.

Small Axe #26

Jah Shaka, Brent Dowe, Earl Sixteen, Top 100 Rhythms 84/84

Small Axe revived

Small Axe 1, Vol. 2 - Joe Higgs (1999)

Small Axe 2, Vol. 4 - Ambelique (2000)

Small Axe 2, Vol. 5 - Jah Bull (2000)

This article is a part of the Reggae Literature series on reggaepedia.