In 1979, Bruce Pavitt moved to Olympia, WA, and began programming a show called "Subterranean Pop" on local community radio station KAOS-FM. Inspired by Olympia s guide to independent music, "OP Magazine, " Pavitt launched a fanzine version of "Subterranean Pop, " focusing on music with a punk, new wave, and experimental bent. Calvin Johnson of K Records joined the fanzine s staff in 1980, beginning with the second issue.
Driven by the power of independent thinking, the Sub Pop zine s particular field of interest was artists from the Midwest and Northwest. Punk and new wave fans in major...