Broadcast on Resonance FM (award-winning radio station), ode to Omladinski Program in the guise of a remix of Laibach's Mashina B by Bosnian-born, London-based hot DJ/Producer Erol Sabadosh, entitled Mashina O and special video clip to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the now ‘legendary’ Omladinski Program Radio Sarajevo (1987 – 1992). 

Omladinski Program is one of the movements that challenged the status quo documented in the book. Laibach, the seminal band (intrinsic part of the seminal movement Neue Slowenische Kunst) and contemporaries of Omladinski, were promoted by this radio station and reached audiences in Yugoslavia owing to that endorsement - as no mainstream promotion was given to this band considered dissident by the establishment.

Podcast of the Resonance FM show:

http://www.mixcloud.com/TheFirstToKnow/25th-anniversary-of-omladinski-program-radio-sarajevo-1987-1992-on-resonance-fm-clearspot-942012/

Mashina O, Erol Sabadosh Remix:
https://soundcloud.com/erolsabadosh/mashina-o-erol-sabadosh

Video parody The Philistine/Seljačina: 

... the soundtrack of which was recorded by the hugely successful comedians Top Lista Nadrealista especially for Omladinski back in the day. The video clip was filmed to accompany the soundtrack and mark the 25th anniversary featuring some of the original Omladinski team and guest appearances by comedian/actor Zenit Đozić and Saša Losić, frontman of Plavi Orkestar, one of the most successful rock bands from the former Yugoslavia (still popular across the region today):

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=377804035586574 

To mark this anniversary, there was also the birthday party TFTK X Rough Trade held at, you guessed it, Rough Trade East, and a presentation at the first Symposium on the history of design in the Balkans, co-organised by Parsons, NYC and Izmir University of Economics, held in Izmir. Lida presented a paper on Omladinski and the Sarajevo 80s scene - and the role of design. Proceedings from Balkan Locus Focus are available on request.

Photo albums from The First To Know Gatherings, the curated event off-shoot of The First to Know (unpredictable, in perpetual move but always capturing the zeitgeist). For more information, visit www.tftk.info, option ‘Trailblazing’. Here are some examples of TFTK Gatherings:

The First to Know exquisite cocktail reception launch, Shoreditch, east London (where else?)

…the hottest party, queue round the block, (even highlighted as the party in Paris social networks!), everyone who was someone was there:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.137912766272808.27256.137851689612249&type=1

TFTK X TPS

… as Time Out said, “may sound like an obscure algebraic formula” but it is “much more fun”. Time Out selection of 'places to be' while Run Riot was spreading the buzz on FB (post 30/3/2012):

http://now-here-this.timeout.com/2012/03/31/the-peoples-supermarket-host-a-pop-up-party/

Pics from event:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=330885823642167&set=a.141373435926741.29028.137851689612249&type=3&theater

TFTK X FFC

... “superb”

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.472714319459316.115984.137851689612249&type=3

TFTK X KTZ
... hot, buzzing party, Paris Fashion Week
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.502339909830090.1073741825.137851689612249&type=1

Select independent bookshops stocking The First to Know: Artwords, the Book Hive, Clerkenwell Tales, Foyles, London Review Bookshop, Magma, Muswell Hill Bookshop, Rough Trade, Stoke Newington Bookshop and more as well as book retailers online, including Amazon. Also sold in select concept stores and boutiques, such as Fat Faced Cat retro and vintage and Labour of Love. (Note: Preview copies at colette in Paris have now sold out). More updated information on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-First-To-Know/137851689612249

The First to Know is available at Rough Trade

I am really happy that Rough Trade is stocking my book. Rough Trade needs no introduction.... but if unfamiliar, your research starts here: http://www.roughtrade.com/

Rough Trade East is located in Dray Walk, off Brick Lane, T + 44 (0) 20 73 92 77 88.

The book now has a Facebook page (to coincide with the launch) - as soon as I figure out how to connect with website, the little Facebook "like" and "logo" will appear, till then, this is the link - see book relevant stuff and the featured characters in real time...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-First-To-Know/137851689612249

So, the big event finally took place last night in Shoreditch Studios; the opportunity to “officially” celebrate the release of The First to Know with friends, many of whom inspired the story, and to introduce the book to new people. The book truly came to life as many of the “Protagonists” graced the launch with their presence.

Thank you to all who came. It was a full house. For those of you who couldn’t attend, we missed you.

(I finally joined Facebook, just now, more photos are there... I'll do a sing and dance about Facebook later - in fact I am even on Twitter but didn't figure out why as yet!)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-First-To-Know/137851689612249

Big thanks to Jerry Bouthier who has been a great support ever since the book was just an idea. Between his meetings with the global fashion elite, what with being one of the most sought after DJs, he always finds time for friends. Thanks to Namalee Bolle and her band Namazonia for letting us have an exclusive peep at their new material in true first to know style (watch this space!). Thank you to ABSOLUT, Little Beauty and Dr Hauschka.

For those who wondered, yes, Namalee’s spectacular outfit was by Basso and Brooke and, predictably, mine was Ashish (forthcoming summer). One half of Basso and Brooke was on the guestlist last night (Chris!). Ashish is still away prepping for February so unfortunately couldn’t be with us.

Once again, big thank you to everyone for their support!

Francesca Forcolini’s Labour of Love is one of London’s most exquisite independent boutiques. In the chapter “New Mavericks”, The First to Know documents the rise of an alternative type of shopping environment and experience. Labour of Love is an example of “fusion boutiques”, which together with “concept stores”, such as colette (below), created a new trend that went on to influence the mainstream retail sector. Pop in to Labour of Love to have a browse. This is currently the only place where you can get signed copies of The First to Know or even order a personalised signed copy for yourself or a dear one who has a similar mindset as us and will appreciate the labour of love. Former Location: 193 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1RQ. (Labour of Love is now online).

Other than via the website, I am pleased to say that The First to Know is now exclusively sold chez colette, boutique 213 rue Saint Honoré, Paris.

Ado (from p 359) is the first to know

Fresh off the press, before even the website was running or any promotional activity was in place, I took a few copies of the book to Sarajevo (and a break that involved nothing to do with books or publishing other than reading Millennium 2). We had a little toast with the few dear friends who were in town. They're all guys from the "Bosnian" sections of the book and many of them mates from Omladinski Program. Naturally, Ado from p 359 who knows everything before anyone else was there...