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.
Articles on Gregory Isaacs, Reggae And The Media. Reviews and News.
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.
Articles and interviews feature Sugar Minott, Freedom Sounds, Ray Symbolic's Sound System, Michael Prophet, Trevor Hartley, Ruddy Burnett and I Roy.
Yellowman, Mikey Dread, Ashanti Roy, Phillip Frazer.
Eek-A-Mouse, Linval Thompson, Michael Prophet.
Bob Andy, Joe Hill, Trevor Bow.
Junjo Lawes, Peter Metro & ZuZu, Winston Reedy, Ariwa, Bob Andy.
Willie Williams, Keith Douglas, Misty In Roots.
Wackies, Milton Henry, Willie Williams, Jah Screw.
Fashion, Peter King, Patrick Andy, Michael Palmer, Coco Tea, Trevor Junior, Half Pint.
Roy Cousins, Peter King, Roddy Moodie, Leroy Smart.
Seattle Special - Ini Kamoze, Gladiators, Don Carlos, Yabby U
Brigadier Jerry, Major Jackie Knockshot, Ashanti Waugh, Junior Byles.
Jah Shaka, Brent Dowe, Earl Sixteen, Top 100 Rhythms 84/84
This article is a part of the Reggae Literature series on reggaepedia.