In the
early years of this rise of the Punk Subculture, between 1970 and 1980, the
subculture spread itself in a very limited number of manners. In fact, in could
be narrowed to a handful of manners. Literature, art, music or movies, the
sources marketing were limited in types and in range. Today I am describing how
the culture used to spread its events in the form of magazine literature.
In the mid
1970’s Punk followers felt a need to present the events taking place in the
heart of the evolving subculture. Hence the birth of the so-called Punkzines. These
Magazines often rudimentarily built and carrying immense information about the spreading
of the punk cultural universe was the meeting point to some of the most
fabulous punk pieces of literature that can be found out there. The level of
energy put in each interview, the effort carried in each article was so intense
that it lead the readers to bring out their libertine spirit and start
spreading the words. Soon every Punk emerging scene around the world started
having their own Zine to present interviews with bands, news and touring dates.
Among these
vehicles of sub cultural development you can name a few that benchmarked the
history of the Punk Literature. The first to appear was Punk, a magazine created in the mid 1970s writing about the New
York music scene. MaximumRocknRoll
and Profane Existence also coined a
political framed cultural development. Sniffin’
Glue, Gadgie and Burnt Offering
spread the word in the UK scene. Cometbus was also one of the most important Zines
in the USA scene along with Flipside,
Search and Destroy and Slash.
Some also important zines but not so well known were Absolutely Zippo, HeartattaCK, Suburban Voice, or even Chainsaw.
Worth
taking a brief look at these Zines once you get a chance and realize how ethically
Do It Yourself they can be not only because the means of publishing were really
homemade but also because its power impelled punkers to either start a band,
become a music journalist or helped define the emerging evolution of the
culture.
