Originally from Cardiff in Wales, Welly’s lifelong obsession with punk rock began in the late ‘70s, where he soon found himself designing his own home made record covers. As a result, after high school he studied graphic design at print school and art college for four years and has been a graphic designer for punk bands and labels for over 30 years since, with over 170 published releases to date. 

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While still in high school, after finding out what a fanzine was from the pages of Maximum Rock’n’Roll he began creating his own, Artcore, in late 1985, printing a few dozen copies of the first issue on the high school photocopier in January 1986. He continues to publish Artcore to this day with 40 issues and 16 vinyl fanzines released to date. 

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After writing lyrics from an early age he co-founded FOUR LETTER WORD in 1991 taking up the role of vocalist, and after one 7” EP in 1995 they signed to YOUTH BRIGADE’s Los Angeles based B.Y.O. Records in 1997 for the story you just read. They released a total of four albums and eight EPs and singles before calling it a day 20 years after forming.

After FOUR LETTER WORD Welly formed the short lived STATE FUNERAL on vocals before being asked to join VIOLENT ARREST for their last two releases, followed by the one-off studio project, SIGNAL CRIMES, with three members of HERESY. With 30 years of bands and 20 releases under his belt, he now thinks it’s time for the kids to have their say.

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He also ran two D.I.Y. punk rock record shops/stalls, Damaged Records (2004-2008) and the aptly named Ghost Town Records (2012-2014) in Cardiff, Wales, and was involved in promoting and making flyers for gigs and all-day charity benefits in Cardiff and Newport from the 1980s onwards.

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After the tours he visited the U.S. numerous times with his family before relocating to Arizona in 2018.

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'Directions to the Outskirts of Town: Punk Rock Tour Diaries from Nineties North America' was Welly's first book. His candid and humorous account of life on the road with a touring punk band was published by Earth Island Books in 2021.

 

'Nefarious Artists: The Evolution and Art of the Punk Rock, Post-Punk, New Wave, Hardcore Punk and Alternative Rock Compilation Record 1976 – 1989' is Welly's new book, a huge study of over 500 punk rock compilation albums, and this will be published by Earth Island Books late in the autumn '23.