Next time you walk into your local newsagent just have a look at how many crappy magazines there are crammed on all those busy little shelves. And let’s be honest, most of them were more useful as trees – and probably better looking as well. So when we were sent a copy of a new magazine called ‘Head Full of Snakes’ we were initially sceptical, to say the least. Until about 10 seconds after we opened up the envelope and pulled out a magazine that didn’t feel like the usual glossy motorcycle mag we’ve come to expect. This felt more like something that was made in the 60’s or 70’s. It felt handmade. It felt like an old friend; the way a motorcycle magazine should be. Not completely filled with advertising. Not overly polished or slick, but instead a solid collection of great photographs and honest stories. You can almost smell the passion and sweat that went into it. The magazine is the brainchild of motorcycle nuts and graphic designers Luke Wood and Stuart Geddes. Here’s how Stuart describes his magazine…

“In some ways it’s really a straight-up motorcycle magazine. To be more precise it’s a bit of a mongrel, probably something between a magazine and a fanzine. It’s totally ‘home made’, which I guess makes it a fanzine of sorts but it’s more ambitious in scope than your average ‘zine. And there’s a lot of written content, and it’s quite light on your usual ‘bike-porn’ glossy colour pictures. There’s some discussion of art and design in there, and a sound work by Paul Elliman. So actually in other ways it’s nothing like a straight-up motorcycle magazine.”

Whatever you call this magazine, it’s a great read and worth every cent of the $15. You can buy it through their website or at some local shops like Modern Motor Cycle Company in Melbourne. If you’re wondering where ‘head full of snakes’ comes from, it means that you have baggage or you’re crazy. Or you’re crazy enough to think you can create a fresh new 108 page motorcycle magazine. As the late Steve Jobs once said “Here’s to the crazy ones”. Here here.