G.B. Jones
G.B. Jones is an influential artist, filmmaker, musician and zine editor from Toronto.
J.D.s, her first zine, was co-published with Bruce LaBruce and ran for eight issues. The first issue of this cut and paste, photocopied publication appeared in 1985, the intitials 'J.D.s' standing for 'Juvenile Delinquents'. The two editors wrote a manifesto which appeared in Maximum Rock N Roll in February 1989. The effect of the manifesto, and J.D.s itself, was widespread, setting off an explosion of like-minded zines. The editors also released a cassette compilation tape, called the J.D.s Top Ten Tape, featuring bands from the U.S.A., Canada, New Zealand, and the UK, and held J.D.s film nights in London, Toronto, Montreal and San Francisco in 1990.
G.B. has directed, and appeared, in a number of films, and was a contributor to the film zine created by Miranda July called Joanie4Jackie. Her movies have all been made on Super 8. The Troublemakers premiered in 1990 and proved influential. Her next film was The Yo-Yo Gang, released in 1992, a 30 minute 'exploitation' movie about girl gangs that has gained cult film status. The film features a number of zine editors, such as Donna Dresch, Deke Nihilson, Bruce LaBruce, and the members of G.B.'s band Fifth Column. Her latest production is "The Lollipop Generation", a feature film that, like her previous movies, stars many zine editors including Jena von Brucker, Vaginal Davis, Joel Gibb, Jen Smith, Johnny Noxzema, Scott Treleaven, Anonymous Boy, Gary Fembot and Ian Philips.
After the demise of J.D.s in 1991, G.B., along with Jena von Brucker, Caroline Azar, Johnny Noxzema and Rex released the often contentious zine Double Bill, referred to as an 'anti-zine' or, more frequently, a 'hate zine' (as opposed to 'fanzine'), a new category in the self publishing world. Five issues were produced between 1991 and 2001. The editors contributed to the zine Girl Germs. As well, G.B. and Jena were interviewed by Alarm Clock, and the zine was written about in The Village Voice, among other publications.
G.B. is well-known for her drawings, which first came to attention through J.D.s. In 1996, a gallery in New York released the book G.B. Jones, containing drawings and other artwork from J.D.s and Double Bill by G.B., with commentary by Dodie Bellamy, Kevin Killian, Dennis Cooper and others. Although readily available in the U.S. and Europe, copies were seized at the Canadian border and it was pronounced "Banned In Canada".
Her work has been printed in a wide variety of mediums including books, comic anthologies, magazines, posters, t-shirts, record, cassette and CD covers and most especially in zines, and has been shown in galleries and museums in Europe, Canada and the U.S. She was interviewed and featured in the book DIY: The Rise Of Lo-Fi Culture, released in 2005.
Her work can be seen in the pages of the zines she has contributed to, such as F.O.D.! Maggotzine, Girl Germs, Sugar Needle and This Is The Salivation Army, or been featured in, such as Femme Flicke, from throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia.
Publications
- Cinematic folds: the furling and unfurling of images, edited by Firoza Elavia, Pleasure Done, 2008, ISBN 9780968211540
- The Book of Boy Trouble Vol 2, edited by Robert Kirby and David Kelly, Green Candy Press, 2008
- Juicy Mother 2: How They Met, edited by Jennifer Camper, Manic D Press, 2007 ISBN 978-1-933149-10-2
- The Salivation Army Black Book by Scott Treleaven, Printed Matter/Art Metropole; 2006
- Juicy Mother, edited by Jennifer Camper, Soft Skull Press; 2005 ISBN 19-932366-70-0
- Boy Trouble, edited by Robert Kirby and David Kelly, Boy Trouble Books; 2004 ISBN 0-9748855-0-9
- What's Wrong? Explicit Graphic Interpretations Against Censorship, edited by R. Fisher, Arsenal Pulp Press; 2002 ISBN 1-55152-136-9
- Dangerous Drawings, edited by Andrea Juno, Juno Books; 1997 ISBN 0-9651042-8-1
- G.B. Jones, edited by Steve LaFreniere, Feature Publications; 1996
- Discontents, edited by Dennis Cooper, Amethyst Press; 1992
- Double Bill, editors Caroline Azar, Jena von Brucker, G.B. Jones, Johnny Noxzema, Rex; 1 - 5, 1991 - 2001
- J.D.s, editors G.B. Jones and Bruce LaBruce; 1 - 8. 1985 - 1991
Films
- The Lollipop Generation, 2008
- The Yo-Yo Gang, 1992
- The Troublemakers, 1990
