Cream Puff War Issue #1 (1991; 1995)

Although it existed for only a brief two-issue run in the early 1990s, Cream Puff War remains my favorite psychedelic, folk rock, and garage rock magazine of all time. In spite of its title, this publication is not a Grateful Dead fan periodical but rather a collaborative effort from Jud Cost and Alec Palao that focuses on some of the lesser-known but no-less-interesting San Francisco Bay Area bands from the mid to late 1960s. Those two writers would respectively go their separate ways to work with the Sundazed and Big Beat labels before the planned third issue could be completed. While Cost and Palao have written several sets of outstanding booklet notes for the aforementioned reissue specialists, I miss their scholarship from appearing in article form on a semi-regular basis.


The first issue of Cream Puff War came out in 1991, although what's presented here is a reprinting from 1995. What a collection of articles! Since the Bay Area was my favorite music scene from the 1960s, it's little wonder why this magazine appeals to me so much. Palao contributes in-depth histories of two of the earliest first-wave San Francisco groups, the Great Society and the Mystery Trend, as well as a feature on the extremely obscure Final Solution.


Cost's article on Jan Errico covers her time with both the Vejtables and Mojo Men, while his other pieces focus on the earliest days of the Flamin' Groovies and Palo Alto garage legends William Penn and His Pals. Throughout, fascinating photographs and ephemera lavishly illustrate the magazine and help bring the stories related within to life. As an added bonus, this issue concludes with a reproduction of a program from the San Francisco Band Bash '66 (which includes a gallery of captivating and sometimes humorous portraits of the wide range of groups who participated in the competition), a short list of collectible 45s by notable Bay Area garage bands, and reviews of new releases and reissues circa 1991.

All in all, a most informative reading experience.