Fairport Fanatics most definitely morphed into Dirty Linen, with TJ handing over the reins to Paul Hartman at the time of the name change. TJ sent me all the FF's and we're still in touch to this day. He didn't have the time or inclination to turn it into the professional magazine it became (but is now RIP).
Interesting. I love the fact that information about an old friend here in Baltimore Maryland USA comes by way of Australia to England back here to Baltimore. I could have just called him and asked!
Or, from Wikipedia:
"Dirty Linen originated in 1983 as a publication titled Fairport Fanatics, a fan magazine for the British band Fairport Convention created by T.J. McGrath of Fairfield, Connecticut. In 1987 Paul Hartman took over as editor and publisher, renamed the magazine Dirty Linen and expanded its scope to cover genres of rooted music from many countries and cultures.
Now based in Baltimore, Maryland, the magazine grew with direction from Hartman and his wife, Susan (who also served as co-editor of the magazine for many years). The photocopied fanzine became a glossy color publication in the early 1990s.[2] Dirty Linen began international distribution and gained sales in North American chains such as Borders Books & Music, Barnes & Noble, and Chapters.
In September 2007, Dirty Linen announced a merger with Visionation, Inc., publishers of Blues Revue and the e-zines BluesWax and FolkWax. The merger was greeted enthusiasticly by both parties who announced plans for new projects for Dirty Linen such as the inclusion of a sampler CD for subscribers[3], and planned growth for all four of Visionation's roots music publications, including entry into radio and cable markets and sponsorship of music festivals.
In April 2010, Paul and Sue Hartman left Dirty Linen and Visionation. Dirty Linen cancelled their March/April and May/June issues."
God Bless the Interweb!
