This Is a Message to Persons Unknown is the first book to explore the history of the legendary band Poison Girls, from their first gigs in Brighton, through their years of touring DIY venues across Britain and Europe, documenting their peerless collection of vinyl releases, the dissident campaigns the band supported, and the uncompromising political statements Poison Girls voiced on record, in print, and through their singular visual aesthetic. Poison Girls offered a passionate, heartfelt rebuttal to punk rock’s Year Zero protestations. While their musical roots predated punk, their songs blended punk’s ferocity, with a sense of wit, creative ingenuity, and emotional tenderness. Formed in 1977, with a line-up that spanned the generations, Poison Girls were fronted by the redoubtable Vi Subversa, a lyricist, songwriter, and singular vocalist. Armed with a message of anarchist self-reliance, Poison Girls confronted the misogyny and ageism of countercultures and opposition movements just as fiercely as that of the capitalist war state.

This Is a Message to Persons Unknown presents the full story of an unparalleled group of radical musicians and artists who saw in punk the opportunity to create something new and extraordinary.

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That’s the one pager basically. To add to that as the editor, Rich Cross wrote the book! He runs the The Hippies Now Wear Black website, and interviewed PG when he was a teen. He’s been a dream to work with. Icky did the layout, and it’s a beautiful book. It’s really been exciting to spend the time in the PG world and remember how powerful art and politics are together. What lives so well lived! I’m so glad I was part of this project.

 The book will be released in Fall, 2025 but you can Pre order here!