Let It All Fall: Underground Music and the Culture of Rebellion in Newfoundland, 1977–95

by Mike Heffernan (Editor)

Incorporating elements of creative nonfiction and oral history,  Let It All Underground Music and the Culture of Rebellion in Newfoundland, 1977–95  is a collection of interview-based first-person monologues that describe the experiences of a generation of independent musicians, artists, and activists.
Beginning in the late 1970s, a new raw sound began to emerge from the basements and garages of St. John’s which, by the mid-’90s, had grown into a vibrant community. With few resources, dozens of bands produced a staggering amount of music.
Let It All Fall  traces how underground youth culture challenged social and economic inequity, as well as cultural norms, during one of the most turbulent times in Newfoundland history.  

296 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2023

About the author

Born in the historic harbour city of St. John's, Newfoundland, Mike Heffernan was trained as a historical researcher at Memorial University. He now edits fiction in a variety of genres. Rig: An Oral History of the Ocean Ranger Disaster is his first non-fiction book.

Reviews

[Stephanie Fleming]

I moved away in the early 90s and reading this book was like stepping back into time. I was surprised how emotional the discussions of Fred made me. My mom would joke that she always remembers me being on the phone with him and coming upstairs for a coffee or water when Fred was in the middle of a monologue and he'd never notice I'd left.

[Gerrod Harris]

It is easy to forget that punk and alternative music are universal and can exist outside of the expected hubs that are Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, and London. Heffernan's examination of such in '70s, '80s, and 90's Newfoundland is a testament to this idea. Through his extensive documentation of the growing alternative community of St. John's, Heffernan has delivered a fun and important primary source of Newfoundland music and culture that strays from the expected.