A Message To You started as a ska fanzine back in -91 by Stefan Widell and Leif Bard. The idea was born in the winter of -90 at Anders Halvardsson´s (who now works with A.M.T.Y.) ska club "Intensified".

The first issue was released in due time to the Hultsfredsfestival -91. The first two issues were in A4 format and very professional in style and design, and therefore too expensive to print, and the result of that was that there was only two issues in the two years after that. -92 sees A.M.T.Y. doing another great effort, and brings the German band The Lodgers from Stuttgart to Sweden to do two gigs, one in Stockholm and one in Uppsala.
During that time Maria Matsson and Håkan Nyström were co-workers.
After the second issue of the paper, Stefan is the only one left, and the paper meets an undestined future.

The three following issues is made by photocopying only. Rikard Schaffer, who has helped with the photocopies, joins, and brings new life to A.M.T.Y. in -94.

Issue six, that hits the streets in the autumn of -94, becomes a fresh start for A.M.T.Y. Except for the fact that you can now buy records from us via postal order, we are also appearing with merchandise on a regular basis on the club Uptown Skankin´.

There are five more issues released, up to no. 12, before Henrik Bjurgård, who has been of great help with the club merchandising, among other things, joins up with the team in -97. The strength is renewed, and the first mailorderlist, which deserved to be called just that, is released. And another co-worker, Anders Halvardsson, joins just in time to contribute to issue 14, and he's also the one who takes A.M.T.Y. into cyberspace. This proves to be a step in the right direction, because the earlier problem of getting outside Stockholm, is nowhere to be found.

And today, A.M.T.Y. receives e-mails daily from ska interested people all around the world.

A Message To You Postal Order was there from the very beginning, in the first issue, but with one record only.

In issue six there was a total of 22 titles. The stock was to grow bigger on a very small scale, until issue 12, when we choose to put more effort into it.
We made a separate issue of it, and that's how it looks until today.

At the moment, we can offer around 4-500 different titles. In the beginning there was just ska- and reggae records, but today there's much more around the ska and skinhead culture. The musical styles have been complemented with oi! and punk, and there's more to come.

To offer quality and quick delivery has always been our motto!

Issue 2. Came one year later. It included Bim Skala Bim, Busters, Coffin Nails, Mr. Review, The Lodgers and an interview with the legendary Thomas Gylling. Also included in this first issue was an interview with Dr. Rude of Mr. Review, done by Anders Halvardsson.

Issue 3-5. Was only issued as a small newsflash, because of economical reasons, and because of the fact that Stefan was alone at that time. It was a tough job, but someone has to fly the flag.

Issue 6. A new fresh wind and Rikard becomes a regular co-writer. In the summer of -94, we go to Berlin and a Potsdam that haven't been rebuilt after the reunion between east and West Germany. A worn out city, but a skafest with loads of stars, including the legends Derrick Morgan and The Skatalites. This is the first time that we meet up with DR. Ring-Ding & The Senior All Stars, no doubt the best German ska band today. Issue 6 also included Stiff Breeze, who were playing regularly in Stockholm and the suburbs, Álaska and the skahistory of Stockholm pt.1.

Issue 7. We are able to meet parts of The Specials during their stay in Sweden, with gigs in Stockholm and Lund. A new Swedish skaband takes form, Liberator. During this time, the Swedish skascene grow big and gets some media attention. Bands like Tic Tox, Girlsmen and Chickenpox are gigging throughout the country. And also, our first and only internetcoverage.

Issue 8. The skahistory of Stockholm pt.2., which is the last, is out. Tic Tox shows their true face and a Liberator gig are reviewed for the first time.

Issue 9. The frontc over is printed with offset print for the first time, to make it look better. Bad Manners, Chickenpox and Bullshit are interviewed for the first time and punk has made it's first appearance in the zine.

Issue 10. We are able to meet the biggest of them all, The Skatalites, for an interview. Nonsens, the only skaband with Swedish lyrics, after Reinholds, are interviewed after a gig. The band was split after that gig, but we still got the demo.

Issue 11. Issue 11 is a special edition, it's A.M.T.Y.´s five-year celebration, and it's being celebrated by giving away a free poster of Mr. Review with every copy sold. The Irish band Gangsters are interviewed, and Mr. Review as well, after one of the best gigs we've ever seen, in Lubeck.

Issue 12. We are in Potsdam again, a town that has really changed since our last visit. This years bands are Hepcat, Pioneers and Mr. Review. Our first interview with an American band is made, The Toasters.

Issue 13. There's a new Swedish band, The Skalatones. Pauline Black of The Selecter is interviewed, and we go to Skasplash -96 in Lund, and sees Skatalites, Laurel Aitken and House of Rhythm. Most of the present A.M.T.Y. members see the whole gig…

Issue 14. We are interviewing Laurel Aitken and Crooked Beat. A big coverage of The Ten Commandments Of Ska in Brixton is made, where most of the Stockholm skascene has gone to party together. On the last day, Anders and Henrik are sitting in a pub, and not feeling very well, so to speak, when a group of Swedish teenage girls enter, but quickly leaves after having stated the fact that the guests are all "old English drunks"…

Issue 15. We're having a closer look upon the Swiss skascene, with bands like Kalles Kaviar, Peacocks and Les Congelateurs. Scofflaws, Hotknives and Dr. Ring-Ding are interviewed as well.

Issue 16/17. A special issue about Judge Dread. The paper is made in A4 and completely printed in glossy paper. A very appreciated issue about the legend Judge Dread.

Issue 18, The Xplosions, Hepcat, Intensified.

Issue 19. Repeaters, Clockwork Crew, Sean Flowerdew.

Issue 20. Topcats, The Xplosions, Special Guests.

A Message To You have always tried to arrange gigs. But it has not always been so easy.

Our first attempt, the German band The Lodgers back in -92 was a brilliant gig but a economical disaster.
Our next band was Stiff Breeze in -94. Two years later, in the winter of -96, The Skalatones, Crooked Beat and Stiff Breeze plays on our five year celebration.

1998 sees our biggest success so far, Judge Dread are flown in from London. We manage to the sell out the classical venue Lorry, for a fantastic gig.
Crooked Beat plays both support and backing band for the very much-missed legend.
The next day, we are in Gothenburg, and repeating the success.

In the autumn of -98 we started our club in the function room at the pub Läckerbiten in Stockholm, and since then we are running it about every two weeks. In the winter of -99 we start up with the gigs again, this time at the venue Tre Backar. The Repeaters from Västerås played 2/12, Crooked Beat 17/12, Dim´s Rebellion 5/1, Doub O` Rella 20/1 and the Cigarres 9/3. After that, we had the club at Fenix a couple of times in April 2000, but it didn t work out well at all between us and the owner of the place, so we quit. Instead, we continued at Tre Backar, with Ichmet Bricket, who was being replaced by The Repeaters at the last minute, because one of the bandmembers fell of his bike the night before the gig. 30/11 2000 is a night we´ll remember. We were supposed to host the releaseparty and gig for the new record on our label, with The Skalatones, and a re-start of the c lub. This time we started up at Muhren, but the owner withdrew the arrangement, as he was threatened by so-called "anti-racists". Clever guys! We opened up two weeks later (14/12) at Muhren with the Stockholmbased band Krabb, who made a brilliant show. And two weeks after that, Crooked Beat made a sort of a "comeback" in front of a crowded audience. We have the club at Muhren 11/1 2001, but the turn-up was so low, that we realize that we can't do that, so hereafter, we only host gigs at that place. More bad luck. The Negatives was supposed to play Tre Backar 25/1, but they got ill, so it was cancelled. 8/2 sees The Repeaters at Muhren again, for a major success! The day after we go with the band to Copenhagen where they play the opening act for The Special Guests from Berlin. 30/3 BabyHeads from Bollnäs made their first gig outside their hometown as a release party in Stockholm at Tre Backar. Our next gig was a mini Ska festival that we arranged at Muhren (Stockholm) with the bands Magadogs, Krabb and Skalatones. This was the first time amty heard Magadogs and we liked it so much that it all ended up in a record deal. This turned out to be the last concert with Skalatones. 19/8 we are having a concert with CDS from Lysekil (on Swedens west coast) A good concert with the youngest Ska band in Sweden with members between 14 - 16 years old. 2/11 2001, Record release party and AMTY´s 10 year anniverseary gig with The Liptones, Magadogs & Clockwork Crew.

The record company is the thing that we have done the least with, with only one release so far, the self titled CD EP Crooked Beat. It was released 6/6-99 at Mosebacke, with a party and the band on stage. The record have been widely spread around the world, and we have swapped and sold it with/to other distributors and companies around the world. The records can be obtained in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland, USA, Canada, Japan… We host the releaseparty for The Repeaters in their hometown Västerås 16/9. The gig was a success, and the 7" "District 723 35" is out. The record has been doing very well, and at the moment, there's only a few copies left. But it can be bought in the major parts of the world. The Skalatones was the band after that on our label. 30/11 was supposed to be the releaseparty, but, as mentioned before, that was cancelled. "Y2K Ska", which by the way is their five year jubilee record, is printed on white vinyl, and is a limited edition of 500 copies only. Next two releases are The Xplosions cd “A little way different” and Magadogs 3 track 7” vinyl “Gimmie some more”. Both out autumn 2001.

To be continued!