Keeping It Fucking Real: An Interview with Chris Wynne of In Effect Hardcore
By Staff | December 5, 2025
Logo by Shawn Dickinson
Chris Wynne is the founder of In Effect, a publication dedicated to the hardcore music scene, which originated as a fanzine in 1988. The publication, described by one review as "the Bible of NYHC", initially concentrated on New York Hardcore (NYHC) bands, utilizing a hands-on, DIY cut and paste method for its initial issues. After a hiatus between 1989 and 1993, the zine ran continuously until 1999 with its final printed edition, Issue #12, boasting over 130 pages and a print run of 10,000 copies. The zine’s contents, including interviews and reviews, are now collected in a book published by Shining Life Press.
Following a long break that Chris Wynne initially thought was permanent, he launched the In Effect Hardcore website in February 2012, adapting the publication to a digital format. The website mirrors the original fanzine's content by featuring band interviews, record/show reviews, and scene news. Wynne’s motivation for running In Effect Hardcore stems from a genuine love for the music, operating it as a hobby without financial gain, which affords him the freedom to cover bands he feels are under-appreciated. This authentic approach is encapsulated in the publication's motto: "Keeping it fucking real dude".
Welcome! Can you give us some insight into the history of In Effect the fanzine as well and then the In Effect Hardcore website?
Chris Wynne, In Effect Hardcore: Sure, thanks for having me on here. In Effect started as a fanzine in 1988. The first issue was put together on a typewriter and used the DIY cut and paste fanzine methods of production. Very time consuming and archaic if you put it up against how you could do this today. The first issue had only 50 copies printed by my friends' father on the down low at his job. The second issue had 200 copies printed at a local print shop and after that each issue expanded in page count and how many I printed with the final issue (issue #12) having over 130 pages with 10,000 copies printed. We had a hiatus between like '89 and '93 when CBGB's hardcore matinees took a break due to violence at many of the shows but when we started back up in the '93 time frame we ran continuously through 1999. There was a ton of work and hustle put into it as the zines were sold at shows, record stores, trades (with other zines and bands) and some distribution through hardcore avenues. The zine itself covered primarily NYHC bands but in the later issues we had some bands from out of the NY area get interviewed as well. One of the best compliments the zine ever got was from a review in another fanzine that called In Effect "the Bible of NYHC". After that 12th issue I was very burnt out on the whole process and decided to end things. Between the time the last issue came out and the formation of the website (debut February 2012) In Effect was on what I thought was a permanent hiatus. I saw a commercial though one day about a webserver that said they were "as easy to use as Facebook" and I started doing research to see how easy it actually was. I toyed with names for the website that didn't include the words In Effect as I wasn't sure how "into it" I would be and wasn't sure if people would care 13 years later. On the advice of some friends I went with In Effect although In Effect dot com was taken so I threw Hardcore in there as well to create www.ineffecthardcore.com
I was very surprised at the volume the socials and the site itself were getting early on which gave me more motivation to try and put out more content. February 12th of 2026 will be our 14th anniversary and aside from some webserver issues in '24 that sidelined the site for a few months we have run continuously throughout. The website material mirrors the content from the original fanzine with band interviews, record and show reviews, scene news, photos and more. The fact that I am not selling anything and am completely digital makes it easier to put content out at a much faster rate. I generally have an update of some kind at least once a week. As the original fanzine grew in size the amount of time to put it together and then distribute it to all the usual places was putting me in situations where issues were coming out maybe at twice a year. Having a "blog" is not as cool as having a physical product that you can hold in your hands but the reach now is light years ahead of what it was back in the day. When it comes down to it though In Effect is fun to do but is not my occupation or the way I put food on the table so a website I now am. For those interested in old issues of the In Effect Fanzine a publishing company that goes by the name of Shining Life Press put all of the old In Effect issues out as a 700 plus page book a couple of years ago and they still have copies. You can find their info below.
l-r: Freddy Alva from New Breed, Gavin Brown from In Effect and Chris Wynne
What was the very first hardcore show you attended, and how did that experience immediately hook you/influence your decision to write about the scene?
Myself and my friends were deeply into thrash metal before we found hardcore and made a quick transition once we found hardcore. We had been to a couple of mixed bills at the old L'Amour club in Brooklyn where hardcore bands often opened for metal acts but none of them were full on hardcore shows. I recall my first CBGB hardcore matinee being Trip 6, NY Hoods, Nausea opening for Agnostic Front. It was on July 19th, 1987 and I know this cause I just looked it up on an old article I did. I was definitely not influenced by this show to start a zine. I was not yet immersed in the culture. That first show for me was sort of like the equivalent of keep your mouth shut and try not to get killed. The way I remember that day was we were these skinny kids going to hang out with people who looked like monsters. The grime of the Bowery, people with pit bulls frothing at the mouth, a men's homeless shelter above the venue with many of the occupants looking to grab some change off of you. We had gone into some shady situations to see bands play previous to this but this was different in that it seemed like everyone knew each other and we were the fresh meat. Intimidating to say the least but somehow welcoming at the same time.
Who were the key early bands or figures that defined the ethos of hardcore for you, and how do you feel their legacy holds up today?
Key bands that I liked early on were many of the legendary NYHC bands. Cro-Mags, Leeway, Token Entry, Sick Of It All, Breakdown, Agnostic Front, Crumbsuckers and many more are names that immediately come to mind but it's not limited to just those names. I used to write to bands often asking if they had merch for sale and this is probably part of the spark that led me to wanting to do something in the fanzine realm as these bands would usually write something back to you... coupled with the fact that I am generally an inquisitive type of person. I remember ordering a shirt from Token Entry and there being an issue where they ran out of my size or something like that. They were playing a CBGB matinee not too long after and their guitarist did the right thing by asking me to meet him at the merch area and giving me a shirt, apologizing for whatever the issue was and also giving me a Token Entry painters cap which they were selling. I thought that him throwing in the hat as a thank you was pretty cool. The day after that first CBGB matinee I went to I saw the guitarist for the NY Hoods on the train and it was probably then that it started to sink in that all these people in these bands were just regular dudes like myself and my friends. Before finding thrash metal we were going to see bands like Iron Maiden, Kiss, and Judas Priest at huge venues like Madison Square Garden. I could never imagine seeing those band members on the train the next day on their way to work so something clicked for me seeing that NY Hoods dude on that train the day after seeing them play. As far as how some of these bands' legacy goes... it's a case by case assessment. Some of these people have passed on, some are still delivering and some have made questionable decisions where the admiration or respect for them has diminished.
How do you think the New York scene differs from the scene in other cities?
I have lived in NY my whole life. NYC and Long Island are where I have attended the majority of my shows. What I can say about this this area is that the people and bands are diverse and that's one of our biggest strengths. If you have a scene where the demographic is all the same and they all champion one type of hardcore/punk the chances are everything is going to look and sound the same over time. I love mixed bills, suburban kids forming bands with kids from the inner city, punk leaning kids making bands with people who lean more metal. I would assume all the major US cities have similar stories. I saw a documentary a few years ago that covered all these DIY backyard punk shows in LA and the authenticity and drive from the people involved got me amped from a do it yourself standpoint.
What is one lesser-known hardcore release or band (past or present) that you think every fan of the genre must listen to, and why?
I started In Effect in part because my friends' band Fit Of Anger... I felt like they were really good but were not getting show offers or love from the scene. I worked on a zine called New Breed before starting In Effect and one of the first ideas I had for my debut issue of In Effect was giving Fit Of Anger some coverage. I can ramble off dozens of band names and releases past and present that fall into a similar category. I love to cover bands that may fall into the under-appreciated category. In any kind of music "who you know" can play a bigger factor than the music you put out. One of my specialties or things I love to key on is finding bands who are putting out good music but may not be getting the love from the general public. On the In Effect Hardcore website there is a section called Fresh Blood where I do shorter interviews with newer bands that often fall into this category. Good Teal out of New Jersey are a current name that I am really high on who were recently featured.
What is the biggest difference between the hardcore scene you first joined and the scene today, particularly in terms of accessibility, diversity, and online presence?
Looking back, the scene then was a more rough and tumble crowd. Not that there aren't people aren't like that now but it seemed like there were more characters who were simply "out there" and wild. Put a bunch of those types in a room together and add some super aggressive music and bad things are going to happen. Younger people today are less into personal interactions. I see this in my workplace and I see it in the music scene as well. I see it everywhere. It's partially a product of how we as a society interact with each other without interacting face to face. Texts, emails, etc. I have had situations where I have had to drop things at a persons (band members and others) address and they are home but won't come to the door. Kind of like as I am driving away you then see the door opening and them taking in what I just dropped off. Not saying that makes them bad people. I just remember that if I saw ANYONE on the bus, train... in the street wearing a band shirt that was hardcore... that you would go up to them and start a conversation. Accessibility wise it seems like bands these days are more inclined to hang out backstage and not mingle in the crowd and I am not a fan of that but many of these same bands will hit me back if I send them a DM on their socials which I guess is a shift that is a sign of the times as well. Thinking back some of my early "big interviews" that I was able to get was through simply walking up to Walter Schreifels from Gorilla Biscuits and Mark Ryan from Supertouch outside of CBGB's and just saying "want to do an interview for my zine?" Not saying that can't be done today but it's less likely with how venues treat the bands and the bands accepting that more special "green room" type of treatment. To me... bands should be out there in the audience singing along or at least checking out all the openers. Along the way things became less personal which kind of sucks.
Hardcore has always been rooted in DIY ethics. What does 'DIY' practically mean for you in 2025, considering modern technology and distribution?
Being authentic and in touch with the people you are creating your music for is big for me. Coming out and mingling with the crowd/audience at a show goes a long way too. Be a little visible at the merch table and slap some hands if need be. Hang out outside in between bands and shoot the shit with your fans. DIY obviously stands for "do it yourself" and in 2025 with more streaming music and less physical stuff to "put out" a band's presence goes a long way in the authenticity department. Not every "back in the day" band actually made their own shirts... sure many folded the inserts to their records and some screen printed their own shirts but DIY essentially comes down to being as hands on as you can possibly be.
Wynne with The Count
Describe the best experience you’ve had in a pit or at a show. And the worst!
Crown Of Thornz played a show once at the Roxy in Huntington, Long Island (probably in the mid-90's) and in between songs Ezec gave In Effect a shout out as he pointed directly at me and it felt like the entire crowd clapped or showed appreciation. Was pretty cool and spontaneous as I didn't expect it. I am not one for the spotlight so I am sure I turned beet red. Worst pit experiences include jumping off that same Roxy stage (which was about 4 feet high)... I got some air under me but realized as I was coming down that it was a pocket mostly of girls and they all sort of stepped out of the way and I landed directly on my ass bone. That shit hurt for a long time. Another time at Coney Island High I got tossed directly towards Kevin from Bulldoze who was a very big man... as I was about to hit into him he grabbed me by the head and spun me directly into the floor. At a No Redeeming Social Value show at CBGB's I ran from behind the drums, grabbed Dean their singer (who was wearing a fur coat that I think he grabbed from his mom's closet) and tumbled with him into the uneven wood floor down below. I was drinking and didn't realize I had ripped my thumbnail completely off until I was having dinner a few hours later. Had to get a shot for that as it was pretty fucked up looking and infected. Was also in a pit once at a biker club in Brooklyn where one of the members drove his Harley in circles right in the middle of the dance floor as the band played.
What is the most common misconception people have about the hardcore punk scene, and what is your message to someone who is curious but might not know where to start?
A lot of the people at the shows might look crazy but can be some of the nicest most genuine people you will ever meet. Don't judge a book by its cover. As someone with no tattoos and a fairly "normal" look I can say that I feel 1000% normal talking/interacting and being friends with people who might be covered from head to toe in piercings or tats or look like they just escaped a maximum security prison. If you are new virtually everything you need to know about a band is on their social media... and 95% of the bands have some kind of presence there. Research bands you like, if they are playing near you go to their show, maybe buy a shirt or their music. If you see them walking around say hey, whats up, good set. For people in areas that don't see a lot of shows try DM-ing or e-mailing the bands and tell them you are into them or that they should come play your area. Some will respond, some might not, don't take it personal if they don't.
In your opinion, is it more important for hardcore music to be a reflection of current social/political issues or to be a form of pure escapism/aggression release?
I hate politics and the majority of the left and right extremists who think they know it all so I will go with escapism and aggression!!! Fuck your political opinions LOL!
If you could choose one key tenet or motto that defines the ethos of In Effect Hardcore, what would it be?
Keeping it fucking real dude. I do this because I LOVE this music. I don't make a dime doing what I am doing and that is something that I say with a ton of pride. I cover a lot of bands that may feel like that they aren't getting the love and I feel like I am a vehicle to getting some of those bands the attention that they deserve. I used to contribute to a magazine out of the UK that had financial backing where they had to produce certain numbers each issue to continue to get that financial backing and thinking about having a situation like that with In Effect is the most unappealing thought. Having no masters and just doing whatever I want with In Effect is very liberating and something that just feels right.
How do you approach the idea of 'selling out' or mainstream success in a genre built on being anti-establishment?
I personally don't chase mainstream success and treat In Effect sort of like a hobby. So the idea of me personally selling out with this website is kinda like from the land of make believe because even if I wanted to cash in there probably wouldn't be much in the way of monetary gain. The bands we cover are not mainstream bands and as stated earlier financial gains are not my motivation. With all that said today is December 3rd and we just came out of the Black Friday shopping frenzy weekend. If you are shooting me up with truth serum though I gotta say that the majority of the Black Friday sales put out by bands and labels are pretty cringe with how they operate like they are Macy's or Target. Lol. Just do it on another day and call it something else!
Wynne in the CBGB days
What advice would you give to a brand new band trying to make their mark on the hardcore scene right now?
Get your boots on the ground. Go to shows you are not playing. Hand out flyers that your band has a demo on Bandcamp, an Instagram page, or is looking for shows. Doing everything from behind your phone or desk on your PC is soooooo much damn easier... yes... but that face to face interaction is gonna get you further along because people remember talking to you or seeing you at a show. Also to not rush your music out to just get it out there! Put it out when you as a unit think you are the second coming of the Bad Brains! Some sarcasm there but I hope you get the point. I have seen bands that have been together only a few months put out great debut releases but in most cases its better to have your shit locked down, tight and ready to have people chase YOU for shows.
What current trends in the scene—musical, political, or social—are you most optimistic about, and which ones give you the most concern?
Maybe it's trivial but I like how a lot of bands are using link trees on their socials to connect people to all their shit and not just a couple of avenues. Some bands will have their releases on like a dozen different platforms and that's pretty cool. Those same bands often will have links to interviews they have done, all their videos, merch and sometimes more. I am sure it takes some time to set up but as a fan I appreciate that time and effort. There is also a promoter on Long Island named Jon Scanlon who books under the Miles To Go name... He has done a bunch of shows where he will showcase newer bands and have like a 10 band bill but the catch is he gives them all like 15 minutes to play. It's something that I only really see him doing in this area and I like it a lot. 15 minutes gives me enough of a preview where I know that I want to hear more (next time) or to avoid!
If you could put together a dream lineup (past or present) for a fictional 'Hardcore Punk Day Festival', who would headline and why?
Without a lot of deep thought I would say Bad Brains in their heyday. They are a band that everyone across punk/hardcore circles seems to universally love. Caught them at The Ritz in NYC when "I Against I" came out and they were great and another time around 2008 where HR seemed a bit off. Would have loved to see them prior to "I Against I" and always wondered what the true response to "I Against I" was from people who had been seeing them since the cassette and "Rock For Light" era. I absolutely loved and still love "I Against I" but it is so damn different than their previous stuff and my guess is the older heads probably hated it! Haha. Seems like you may want a full lineup from me here so let's give you some openers with Minor Threat, Poison Idea, Suicidal Tendencies, Sick Of It All, Leeway and the Crumbsuckers but let’s not forget that more modern day hardcore can absolutely hang with the old-school so let's get Trapped Under Ice, End It, The Rival Mob, Restraining Order, Ekulu and Combust mixed in here as well.
What is the next immediate goal for In Effect Hardcore, and how can the community best support that endeavor?
Rarely are there immediate goals for In Effect. The website is sort of like a living journal of what I come across in my life. I follow a lot of bands on social media and In Effect is sort of a reactionary tool that is there to "report" on scene happenings whether it be a cool new record that just came out, a show that was attended or something attached to the culture. About a year back I teamed up with my friends Holly and Johnny from Outsider Magazine and helped start a weekly radio show called Bring The Noise which is hosted on an internet radio station WXAX out of the Hudson Valley of NY. WXAX is primarily a metal station but every Wednesday from 10am till noon and again from 10pm till Midnight Eastern Time (US) we get a two hour slot where we play what I think is an awesome mix of old and new hardcore and punk rock. I lean more towards the hardcore side of things and my partners are well versed in the punk stuff BUT we all are fans of everything. We have a theme song written by Johnny's band Trouble Bound and within each week's show we will have talking parts mixed in where we talk about scene news/shows and more so it is more than just a straight playlist. I tune in most Wednesday's and really can geek out about how amazing hardcore and punk can be when presented as single songs like a big ass compilation. We repeat it each week and never go dry with new material as both myself and Outsider are continuously sent new music by bands and labels. We are currently only on during those time periods so there is no playback at this time. If you are available during the times I mentioned come check us out.
Anyone you'd like to thank?
You! Thanks for thinking of me to do this (editor’s note: our pleasure).
Links
Website: https://www.ineffecthardcore.com
Radio show: https://live365.com/station/WXAX-a74990
Bring The Noise IG page https://www.instagram.com/bringthenoiseradio/
In Effect IG https://www.instagram.com/ineffecthc/
Outsider Magazine https://www.instagram.com/outsidermagazine/