Edited by Robert Ford, Trent Adkins, Lawrence Warren.
A full facsimile reproduction of the era-defining queer magazine that documented Chicago’s Black nightlife scene of the early ’90s
Started in 1989 by designer and writer Robert Ford, THING magazine was the voice of Chicago’s queer Black music and arts scene in the early 1990s. Ford and his editors were part of the burgeoning house music scene, which originated in Chicago’s queer underground, and some of the top DJs and musicians from that time were featured in the magazine, including Frankie Knuckles and RuPaul. THING published 10 issues from 1989 to 1993, before it was cut short by Ford’s death from HIV/AIDS-related causes. While THING primarily focused on music, it also opened its pages to a wide range of subjects: poetry and gossip, fiction and art, interviews and polemics. The AIDS crisis loomed large in its contents, particularly in the personal reflections and practical resources that it published. In a moment when the gay community was besieged by the AIDS crisis and a wantonly cruel government, the influence and significance of this cheaply produced newsprint magazine vastly exceeded its humble means, presenting a beautiful portrait of the ball and club cultures that existed in Chicago with deep intellectual reflections. THING was a publication by and for its community, and understood the fleetingness of its moment. To reencounter this work today is to reinstate the Black voices who were so central to the history of AIDS activism and queer and club culture, but which were often sidelined by white queer discourse. This volume collects all 10 editions of this iconic magazine.
PRAISE AND REVIEWS
Artforum
Nate Lippens
The saints at Primary Information recently published all ten issues of 'Thing'—a groundbreaking zine that chronicled the queer Black music and art scenes in Chicago and beyond—into one gorgeous volume (the magazine started in 1989 and ran until 1993, when its founder, Robert Ford, died from AIDS).
in stock $35.00
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Published out of Chicago during the DIY heyday of 1989 through 1993, THING magazine circulated throughout queer Black underground culture the old-fashioned way: by hand, mail and word of mouth. Today, like many of its early contributors—including Vaginal Davis, Larry Heard, Essex Hemphill and RuPaul—it is legendary. Built around the explosive early-90s house music scene, THING featured musicians, DJs, writers, artists, activists, performers and gossip alongside crucial information about the HIV/AIDS crisis that was decimating the community. Now, for the first time, all ten original issues of the magazine have been brought together in one facsimile reissue. Published by Primary Information, this pitch-perfect 460-page paperback arrives at just the right moment, as we find so many of our most beautiful, irrepressible, self-defined cultures again under pressure and in crisis. Contributions by editors Robert Ford, Trent Adkins and Lawrence Warren, plus likeminded luminaries including Lady Bunny, Bill Coleman, Dennis Cooper, Deee-Lite, Lyle Ashton Harris, Steve Lafreniere, Michael Musto, Ultra Naté, David Sedaris, David Wojnarowicz and Hector Xtravaganza, among many others.
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FORMAT: Pbk, 8 x 10 in. / 460 pgs / 12 color / 448 b&w. LIST PRICE: U.S. $35.00 LIST PRICE: CANADA $53 ISBN: 9798988573647 PUBLISHER: Primary Information AVAILABLE: 3/18/2025 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Active AVAILABILITY: In stock TERRITORY: NA ONLY
Published by Primary Information. Edited by Robert Ford, Trent Adkins, Lawrence Warren.
A full facsimile reproduction of the era-defining queer magazine that documented Chicago’s Black nightlife scene of the early ’90s
Started in 1989 by designer and writer Robert Ford, THING magazine was the voice of Chicago’s queer Black music and arts scene in the early 1990s. Ford and his editors were part of the burgeoning house music scene, which originated in Chicago’s queer underground, and some of the top DJs and musicians from that time were featured in the magazine, including Frankie Knuckles and RuPaul. THING published 10 issues from 1989 to 1993, before it was cut short by Ford’s death from HIV/AIDS-related causes.
While THING primarily focused on music, it also opened its pages to a wide range of subjects: poetry and gossip, fiction and art, interviews and polemics. The AIDS crisis loomed large in its contents, particularly in the personal reflections and practical resources that it published. In a moment when the gay community was besieged by the AIDS crisis and a wantonly cruel government, the influence and significance of this cheaply produced newsprint magazine vastly exceeded its humble means, presenting a beautiful portrait of the ball and club cultures that existed in Chicago with deep intellectual reflections. THING was a publication by and for its community, and understood the fleetingness of its moment. To reencounter this work today is to reinstate the Black voices who were so central to the history of AIDS activism and queer and club culture, but which were often sidelined by white queer discourse. This volume collects all 10 editions of this iconic magazine.
