Toxic Shock Records Assassin of Mediocrity

<p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Toxic Shock Records Assassin of Mediocrity: A Story of Love Loss and Loud Music by Bill Sassenberger.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>This is a story of a lifetime spent in the trenches of the mercantile class. Yes it's been said before but punk rock did change our lives. You're about to read a patchwork of triumphant bittersweet and sometimes painful memories. From 1981 until 2014 my wife Julianna and I owned and operated a totally independent record shop called Toxic Shock. Our mission was to support independent music and the culture it came from. To that end we refused to sell major label releases and preferred to promote the outsiders in the music industry.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>We were lucky to have been in the right place at the right time as punk was spreading to the suburbs and beyond. We also ran an independent record label through much of this period working with some pretty diverse characters. As with many do it yourself ventures and personal relationships we had our share of ups and downs. The record store supported us financially up until the mid 1990s when taking on a part-time job in the real world became a necessity.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>In December of 2011 my wife had a major stroke. This single event dramatically changed our lives and Julianna did her best to recover from its devastating effects. We had a shop in downtown Tucson for 23 years at that point. That finally came to an end as our landlord wanted his building back and the majority of my time needed to be devoted as Julianna's primary caregiver. Challenging times indeed but not the first one.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>We had a pretty long run-eight years in Pomona California a short venture in New Orleans then another 26 years as Toxic Ranch here in Tucson. It was one wild ride so buckle up and thank you for reading our life story!</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>A brick and mortar affirmation of punk's relevance and importance. Mick Rhodes Claremont Courier</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Through a combination of rare photographs gig flyers oral history and prose Toxic Shock Records chronicles the life of Bill and Julianna decidedly taking the road less traveled. Extending a stiff little finger at the mainstream they founded a record store mail-order enterprise and record label during the heady days of punk rock that grew to become a refuge for misfits and lovers of the underground. Tucson Sentinel</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>This is the story of unflagging love-for music for a partnership forged in passion and steel for a life chosen not imposed. Their love story intertwines with the history of punk rock and the musical revolution that was spawned from that in a book that will expand minds and break hearts. Janet Brown.</span></p>