Sniffin’ Glue and Other Rock’n’roll Habits

Mark Perry

★★★★

Omnibus Press £20

ISBN 978191541223 224 pages First punk fanzine’s 2009 compendium back in print Following in the DIY footsteps of the UK’S first serious music monthly Zigzag, Deptford’s Mark Perry was propelled into starting Sniffin’ Glue by the seismic arrival of the Ramones’ debut album and their London debut in 1976. As he says in his introduction, he was in the right place at the right time, reporting on Brit-punk from the frontline as bands formed, the scene accelerated and kids like Shane Mcgowan followed his xeroxed example starting ‘zines. After witnessing the Sex Pistols that September, Perry gave up his banking job and Sniffin’ Glue became punk rock’s ultrahip barometer, adding more pages, photos and Danny Baker to his original template.

Conducting The Clash’s first interview affirmed punk’s massive socio-cultural relevance for Perry and his readers, once-powerful music papers now suddenly followers. The Glue set up office at Rough Trade’s original premises then Miles Copeland’s office at Oxford Circus, where Perry started Step Forward Records. By September 1977, punk had become a copycat trend and, not wishing to lose its spark, Perry finished Sniffin’ Glue, declaring his future with the last issue’s Alternative TV flexidisc. Punk’s crucial first months are all here (along with issue 12’s pin-up of this writer, now editing Zigzag and feeling the strain). Kris Needs