Interview with Keith Coleman, May 6, 2013

Interview Summary

Keith Coleman (also known as "Dr. Smallhead") talks about his interest in British invasion bands like The Beatles and how that led to his interest in punk music. He talks about living near the University of Kentucky campus and how he saw people from the punk scene in his neighborhood which led him to the clubs like Halle Lou that were hosting punk shows. Coleman talks about how he initially started Lexington Lost magazine by focusing on larger acts signed to Capitol Records before changing to focus on the local Lexington punk scene. He talks about teaming up with artist Bill Widener to create the magazines. He describes several specific covers, how they printed and put together the magazine, and the mission of the magazine. He talks about some of the bands he filmed and interviewed. Coleman talks about the booking agents at Café LMNOP, Club Au Go Go, Halle Lou, ReBop, and other Lexington venues and names some of the bands they booked. He talks about the mixed crowds at the shows and how the different communities got along with one another. Coleman talks about one of the drag queens who hung out at Café LMNOP and how straight men from the "redneck" bar next door would often flirt with him, not knowing that he was a man in drag. He talks about how Bradley Picklesimer would warn Coleman and some of his friends when this occurred to prepare them to protect the drag queens and other patrons in case of a fight at the bar. He talks about Bradley Picklesimer as a local celebrity. Coleman talks about how his work on the Lexington Lost magazine led to his acceptance in the punk community, despite being older than most of the other participants. Coleman talks about the closing of Café LMNOP and the other venues where the punk bands began playing in Lexington. He talks about the changes occurring in the punk scene as it began to end, saying that the shows began to become more dangerous.

Interview Keyword

Café LMNOP Bradley Picklesimer Club Au Go Go Punk shows Punk scene Dr. Smallhead Drag queens. Local bands Halle Lou Self-published works Fanzines Zines Magazines Lexington Lost

Interview LC Subject

Bands (Music) Bars (Drinking establishments) Gay bars Lexington (Ky.) Musical groups. Nightclubs Punk culture. Punk rock music. Punk rock musicians. Punk rock music--Philosophy and aesthetics.

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.