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''Sleazenation'' was a monthly London based
fashion Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture. The term implies a look defined by the fash ...
,
lifestyle Lifestyle often refers to: * Lifestyle (sociology), the way a person lives * ''Otium'', ancient Roman concept of a lifestyle * Style of life (german: Lebensstil, link=no), dealing with the dynamics of personality Lifestyle may also refer to: Bus ...
and “'post-drug culture' magazine according to founding editor Steve Beale in 1999". The publication was co-founded by Jon Swinstead and Adam Dewhurst and published by Swinstead Publishing. It was given away for free to clubbers for one and a half years until its launch in 1996 as a high street magazine. It featured bands and artists ranging from underground acts such as
Genesis P-Orridge Genesis Breyer P-Orridge (born Neil Andrew Megson; 22 February 1950 – 14 March 2020) was a singer-songwriter, musician, poet, performance artist, visual artist, and occultist who rose to notoriety as the founder of the COUM Transmissions art ...
to pop acts such as New Order. "Founded as a free London club listings guide, it went on to enjoy an eight year reign as the world’s most anarchic, unpredictable fashion title, as likely to run a six-page feature on gout as it was a Gucci gatefold," wrote Jack Mills in a nostalgic 2015 ''Wonderland'' magazine feature. Supermodel Agyness Dean named ''Sleazenation'' as her teeange favourite in a 2010 ''Friday Night with Jonathan Ross'' appearance.
Absolute Radio Absolute Radio is a British Independent National Radio, National radio station owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK, Bauer as part of the Absolute Radio Network. It broadcasts nationally across the UK via Digital audio broadcasting and ...
DJ and podcaster Dave Berry is also a vocal modern-day fan. Like ''Dazed and Confused'', ''Sleazenation'' is associated with the hipster regeneration of London's east end in the late 1990s. Writing about the magazine's influence in ''
Resident Advisor ''Resident Advisor'' (also known as ''RA'') is an online music magazine and community platform dedicated to showcasing electronic music, artists and events across the globe. It was established in 2001. ''RA''s editorial team provides news, musi ...
'' during November 2021, reporter Harriet Shepherd observed, "looking back at it now Sleaze Nation is a historic record of the gentrification that has characterised London's cultural fabric—reported, almost unknowingly, in real-time." The early of home of many writers, designers, photographers and artists who would go on to achieve success, Sleaze Nation has also been celebrated in its modern-day contemporaries ''Wonderland'' and '' Show Studio''. "Back then, the style media was a way into journalism for young talent from outside London. It was feasible then, but that door has totally closed. Who can just move into Hoxton Square on spec now?" founding editor Steve Beale told ''The Guardian'' during a 2015 article on east London TV pastiche
Nathan Barley ''Nathan Barley'' is a British Channel 4 television sitcom written by Charlie Brooker and Chris Morris, starring Nicholas Burns, Julian Barratt, Claire Keelan, Richard Ayoade, Ben Whishaw, Rhys Thomas and Charlie Condou. The series of s ...
.


Editorial and Photography

The founding 1996 editor was 22 year-old Steve Beale, who left in 1999 to work at
EMAP Ascential plc, formerly EMAP, is a British business-to-business media business specialising in exhibitions & festivals and information services. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. History Ri ...
on
The Face The face is a part of the body, the front of the head. Face may also refer to: Film * ''The Magician'' (1958 film) or ''The Face'' * ''The Face'' (1996 film), an American television film * ''Face'' (1997 film), a British crime drama by Antoni ...
and
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after editorial director Ashley Heath read his article on
The Sekhmet Hypothesis ''The Sekhmet Hypothesis'' was first published in book form in 1995 by Iain Spence. It suggested that pop trends of an atavistic nature could be analysed in relation to Dr. Timothy Leary's interpersonal circumplex model. It also suggested that m ...
. The magazine's obscure title was taken from a tongue-in-cheek club night Beale threw at university. The magazine was an early champion of influential photographers including Ewen Spencer, Alasdair Mclellan, Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin, and Jonathan de Villiers, particularly through the black and white, documentary-style photography of nightlife accompanying the famously outspoken club listings guide. Beale employed future urban art dealer
Steve Lazarides Steve Lazarides ( el, Στηβ Λαζαρίδης; born c. 1969) is a British-Greek Cypriot publisher, photographer, collector and curator. He has helped popularise street art and underground art. Early life Steve Lazarides grew up in Bristol, ...
as picture editor, where he would meet
Banksy Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based street artist, political activist and film director whose real name and identity remain unconfirmed and the subject of speculation. Active since the 1990s, his satirical street art and subversive epigram ...
who soon also worked sporadically from the office, also producing covers and illustrations for the magazine. The artist
Alexander de Cadenet Alexander de Cadenet (born 24 May 1974), also known as Bruiser, is a British artist working in various media: predominantly painting, photography and sculpture. He is most known for his photographic "skull portraits" and also his meteorite and Li ...
was the Arts Editor from 1997-1999 and featured a series of interviews with significant visual artists of the time. Subsequent editors were Stuart Turnbull, Steve Slocombe, and Neil Boorman. The magazine struggled to match the energy of its 90s heyday and closed at the end of 2003. It was relaunched shortly afterwards as "Sleaze" magazine. During its tenure Sleazenation worked with a number of well-known art directors such as Stephen Male (who helped mould the face of
i-D magazine ''i-D'' is a British bimonthly magazine published by Vice Media, dedicated to fashion, music, art and youth culture. ''i-D'' was founded by designer and former '' Vogue'' art director Terry Jones in 1980. The first issue was published in th ...
in the 1980s), Nick Booth, Guerilla 6, Stephen Duffy and Richard Hart although it is Scott King's time at the magazine which helped solidify the magazine in many people's minds. During his tenure the magazine adopted the
slogan A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a clan, political, commercial, religious, and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose, with the goal of persuading members of the public or a more defined target group. Th ...
, "An ideal for living through fashion, art, music and design". Scott King's "Cher Guevara" coverBritish Council - Arts
Sleazenation Volume 4, Number 1: cover art.
from the February 2001 issue won several magazine awards and was featured in the Barbican exhibition 'Communicate: Independent British Graphic Design since the Sixties'. He also contributed cover headlines such as "Now even more superficial/Over 100 pages of hype & lies" and "Absolute sell out". Other artists included
Banksy Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based street artist, political activist and film director whose real name and identity remain unconfirmed and the subject of speculation. Active since the 1990s, his satirical street art and subversive epigram ...
who contributed to the July issue of 2000.
The re-invigorated 'Sleaze' came under the art direction of Richard Hart but only lasted 4 issues before being closed down. The former editor Neil Boorman and former music editor Stuart Turnbull went on to run free London bi-monthly magazine 'Good for Nothing' which ran for 8 issues before closing around the end of 2005. Sleazenation had an attendant picture library, PYMCA (Photographic Youth Music & Culture Archive). This was overseen by
Steve Lazarides Steve Lazarides ( el, Στηβ Λαζαρίδης; born c. 1969) is a British-Greek Cypriot publisher, photographer, collector and curator. He has helped popularise street art and underground art. Early life Steve Lazarides grew up in Bristol, ...
, who would go on to manage Banksy. 'He had discovered Banksy on a chance photo shoot in Bristol in 2001 while working as picture editor of Sleaze Nation magazine...' Sleazenation was featured in Print! Tearing it Up at Somerset House, London in 2018.


References

{{Authority control Fashion magazines published in the United Kingdom Defunct magazines published in the United Kingdom Magazines established in 1996 Magazines disestablished in 2003 Magazines published in London Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom