In 1995, I started a graffiti fan-zine called HelmetHeds as a class project in high school. At this time, I was heavy into writing and collecting graff mags. My zine was raw and crude. I didn’t have much money or know my way around a computer so I would trim down real photographs and lay them out with graff-themed articles, random magazine clippings and hand written comments. I’d take the master copy to Kinkos and print them 50 at a time.

In the 90’s, trading hard copy photos in the mail was a big deal. I would send out photos along with my zines and get the same in return. It was always a thrill to open an overflowing envelope in the mail from other writers around the country. Over time I built up a nice collection of photos and zines from other scenes. This fueled my drive to continue producing HelmetHeds.

After high school I enrolled at a digital arts school in San Diego. Graphic design seemed like a viable career in 2000. I never told anyone the real reason I wanted to go was to learn Photoshop so I could make HelmetHeds professionally. While in college, I worked at a local print shop doing pre-press and running copiers. This part-time job helped produce many of the later issues.

I moved back to the Bay Area in 2003 and produced one last issue before pulling the plug. I was a broke 23-year-old barely getting by and HelmetHeds was a money-pit hobby.

Recently, I unearthed my collection of graffiti zines. As I sorted through them, it triggered forgotten memories that made me nostalgic for the zine making process. I thought to myself, “what if I could make THE zine I dreamed of making as a teenager?” As a working artist/designer, I now have the knowledge and the funds to produce it.

So I set off on my quest sorting and scanning old hard copy photos. A lot of my photo collection documented San Francisco in the late 90’s. This was the scene I loved the most so I made the decision to focus on this period for the inaugural issue.

There’s no master plan for BLASPHEMY. Not sure how many issues I’ll produce. Honestly, this might just be a mid-life crisis I’m going through. One thing is for sure, it reignited my love for making zines and I have more photos to scan. Let’s see where this thing goes.

Thanks for reading.