The Punk subculture in the 1970’s had a distinctive attitude and style. Such elements as fetish clothing, ripped and torn items a radical rejection of conformity, DIY ethic, not selling out and were against mainstream culture. The punk aesthetic was influenced by the music and graphic design was found on record sleeves, publicity, posters and in ‘zines’.
One of the first and most famous music fan zines was Sniffin’ Glue, started in 1976 by Mark Perry after hearing and seeing US punk band, the Ramones. In fact the name is derived from their song "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue." NME acclaimed Sniffin' Glue as "the nastiest, healthiest and funniest piece of press in the history of rock'n'roll habits" a true account of the early days of Brit punk rock.
Sniffin’ Glue pioneered the DIY punk ethic. The publication was roughly put together with found material, collage, photocopies, hand written and drawn graphics. Sniffin’ Glue contributed to the distinctive punk graphic design style in the UK. Initially issues only sold 50 copies but circulation soon increased up to 15000 but fearing absorption into the mainstream music press, Perry ceased publication after one year.
One issue in 1977 famously included drawings of three chord shapes, captioned, "this is a chord, this is another, this is a third. Now form a band".
http://www.markperry.freeuk.com/index.htm
2 comments:
jaymi -thanks for the great info on the sniffin glue... That sounded look a cool time to be alive and the zine sounded like FUN... Paula
great post. Punk zine in ny was started by John Holmstrom, Ged Dunn, and Legs McNeil, who published the first issue in January of 1976.
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