# Los Angeles Punk Zines: Slash, Flipside and the LA Scene

> How Slash and Flipside documented the late-1970s and 1980s Los Angeles punk scene, from photocopied reviews to the bands and venues they covered.

- Source: https://menvafan.net/bocker/flipside-slash-and-la-zines/
- Section: Punk Library
- Language: en
- Published: 2026-10-17
- Updated: 2026-10-17

**In short:** Slash and Flipside were two of the key Los Angeles punk zines of the late 1970s and 1980s. Slash, one of the early Los Angeles punk zines, mixed art and reportage and gave early coverage to bands like X and The Germs, while Flipside, started in 1977, grew into a long-running, review-heavy zine that documented the scene from the inside.

Slash and Flipside were two of the most important zines to document the Los Angeles punk scene of the late 1970s and 1980s. Slash brought a graphic-design sensibility and early coverage of bands like X and The Germs, while Flipside, started in 1977, grew into a long-running, review-heavy publication that felt like a conversation among scenesters. Together they provide a partial but vivid record of a fertile and chaotic period in American punk.

## What was Slash magazine?

Slash was a Los Angeles punk zine founded in 1976 by Steve Samiof and Melanie Nissen. It developed into a professionally printed magazine with striking layouts and photography. The editorial approach mixed serious music writing with art and humour, and it gave early exposure to bands that would become emblematic of the LA scene.

The zine covered acts from the LA punk scene. It also documented the venues and personalities around them. Slash's run eventually came to an end, but its influence outlasted it; back issues are now collected and studied as artefacts of the era.

For a broader look at how punk zines are put together, see our guide [How to make a punk zine: paste, photocopy, fold, trade](/bocker/how-to-make-a-zine/).

## When did Flipside start, and who made it?

Flipside was one of the early US punk zines. It was started by a group of Whittier High School friends, including editor and publisher Al Kowalewski and later co-editor Hudley "Hud" Flipside, and initially appeared as a photocopied zine. Over time it became one of the longest-running punk zines in the US, known for its extensive review sections and scene reports.

Flipside's early issues captured the raw energy of the LA scene, with interviews and reviews. The zine also documented the shift from the first wave of LA punk to hardcore, and it maintained a distinctly informal, insider tone. 

## How did Slash and Flipside differ in approach?

| Aspect | Slash | Flipside |
|--------|-------|----------|
| Founded | early US punk zine | early US punk zine |
| Format | Professionally printed magazine with art direction | Photocopied zine that later improved production |
| Focus | Music writing, art, photography | Reviews, scene reports, interviews |
| Key bands covered | X, The Germs, The Weirdos | Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Fear |
| Legacy | Influential design and early documentation | Longevity and extensive review archive |

Slash had a more curated, art-school feel, while Flipside was more haphazard and fan-driven. Both were essential reading for anyone trying to understand what was happening in LA punk.

## What bands and venues did they document?

The LA punk scene of the late 1970s centred on venues like the Masque and the Canterbury. Slash and Flipside both covered these spaces and the bands that played there.

- **The Masque** – a key venue for early LA punk.
- **X** – a key LA punk band.
- **The Germs** – a key LA punk band.
- **Black Flag** – a key band as hardcore emerged.
- **Circle Jerks** – a band of the era.

These zines also documented the broader DIY culture of the time, including flyers, fashion and the politics of the scene. For more on the visual side, see [Paste, Copy, Repeat: A Short History of Punk Flyer Art](/annat/punk-flyer-art/).

## Why do these zines still matter?

Slash and Flipside are valuable because they were produced by people inside the scene, not by outside observers. They captured the voices, arguments and enthusiasms of the time in a way that later histories often smooth over. They also show how punk spread through networks of zines, mail and word of mouth.

Their influence can be seen in later zines like Maximum Rocknroll, which took the review-heavy format and ran with it. For more on that, see [Maximum Rocknroll: the zine that mapped punk](/bocker/maximum-rocknroll-history/).

The DIY ethos of these zines also connects to other aspects of punk culture, from making your own clothes to starting a label. If you're interested in the latter, our guide [Starting a small DIY punk label: tapes, vinyl and distro trades](/Musik/how-to-start-a-diy-label/) covers the basics.

## How can I read Slash and Flipside today?

Original copies are scarce and collectors' items, but some issues have been reprinted or archived online. Flipside issues occasionally surface on auction sites. University libraries and punk archives may hold copies.

For those interested in the broader context of punk zines, our list [Ten Essential Books About Punk](/bocker/essential-punk-books/) includes titles that discuss the role of zines. And if you want to make your own, the guide linked above is a good place to start.

Slash and Flipside were not the only zines documenting LA punk – others like *We Got Power* and *Ripper* also played a part – but they remain among the most cited and studied. Their pages offer a window into a scene that was constantly changing, arguing with itself and creating something new.

## FAQ

### What was Slash magazine?

Slash was a Los Angeles punk zine founded in 1976 by Steve Samiof and Melanie Nissen. It combined music writing with striking graphic design and covered the emerging LA punk scene, including bands like X, The Germs and The Weirdos.

### When did Flipside start?

Flipside was one of the early punk zines from the United States. It ran for decades and became known for its extensive reviews and scene reports.

### Did Slash and Flipside cover the same bands?

They overlapped in covering LA punk bands like X and The Germs, but their approaches differed. Slash was more art-directed and magazine-like, while Flipside was more informal and focused on reviews and scene news.

### Are Slash and Flipside still published?

Slash's run eventually came to an end. Flipside continued in various forms for many years, which ran until 2002.