Before music discovery became a daily scroll, independent magazines offered a way into scenes you might otherwise have missed. Lime Lizard was one of those publications.
Founded by journalist Britt Collins in 1989, the magazine gave emerging writers and photographers room to find their own voice. Its pages featured bands such as Nirvana and the Stone Roses, alongside established artists including the Cure and R.E.M.
Now, a proposed book, Alt X: The Indie Anarchy of Lime Lizard Magazine and ’90s Music Culture, aims to revisit that history. Drawing on the original archive, it combines photography and magazine layouts with new interviews exploring the publication and the alternative music culture around it.
The team has launched a crowdfunder with an £11,000 target to help get the book into print. The campaign operates on an all-or-nothing basis, with a deadline of 15 November 2026.
Contributor Penny Lapenna brought the project to Involving Music’s attention while arranging a Swervedriver interview at The Fleece in Bristol. We helped connect Penny with photographer Caitlyn, who has confirmed her involvement.
For anyone who remembers discovering music through independent print, Alt X offers a chance to revisit those pages. For younger readers, it opens a window onto a period when a small publication could help shape how people heard and understood a band.
Find out more about Alt X and support the crowdfunder.
