# Sniffin' Glue and the first punk zines, 1976–77 > How Mark Perry's Sniffin' Glue and the first punk zines of 1976–77 spread the DIY message: three chords, form a band, photocopy and trade. - Source: https://menvafan.net/bocker/sniffin-glue-and-early-punk-zines/ - Section: Punk Library - Language: en - Published: 2026-10-17 - Updated: 2026-10-17 **In short:** Sniffin' Glue was a photocopied punk zine started by Mark Perry in London in 1976. Along with other early zines like Sideburns and Ripped & Torn it spread punk's DIY ethos across the UK — the famous 'now form a band' chord diagram, often credited to Sniffin' Glue, actually appeared in Sideburns in 1977. Sniffin' Glue was a punk zine started in London in 1976 by Mark Perry, who had been inspired by a Ramones gig. Produced on a photocopier and sold at gigs and record shops, it ran for about a year until 1977. Along with other early zines it helped spread punk's do-it-yourself approach beyond the handful of people who saw the first shows. ## What was Sniffin' Glue? Sniffin' Glue was a fanzine – a small, self-published magazine, usually photocopied and stapled – founded by Mark Perry in London in 1976. Perry had seen the Ramones at the Roundhouse on 4 July 1976 and was inspired to start his own publication. Initial issues sold only 50 copies. Later issues grew in size and ambition, featuring photographs and information about the people in the scene, as well as reviews and scene reports. Contributors included Danny Baker, who later became a well-known journalist. The zine's design was deliberately rough: typewritten text, hand-drawn headlines, and photocopied photos. That look became a template for punk zines everywhere. ## Did Sniffin' Glue say "here's three chords, now form a band"? Not quite — this is one of punk's most repeated misattributions. The drawing of three chord shapes captioned "This is a chord, this is another, this is a third. Now form a band" appeared in Sideburns, a small zine, in January 1977 ([see Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sniffin%27_Glue)). Over the years it became attached to Sniffin' Glue, the better-known title. The mix-up is understandable: Sniffin' Glue preached the same idea in every issue. You didn't need to be a virtuoso to start a band or a zine — punk scenes in New York and London had already embraced amateurism, and Perry's zine was its loudest cheerleader for participation over passive consumption. ## How did early zines spread punk? Before the internet, zines were one of the few ways for isolated fans to find out about new bands, records, and gigs. They were cheap to produce (photocopying was widely available), easy to mail, and could be traded hand-to-hand at shows. In the UK in 1976–77, a network of zines sprang up: - **Sniffin' Glue** (London) – the most famous, but not the only one. - **Sideburns** – a small zine that in January 1977 printed the famous three-chord drawing. - **Ripped & Torn** (London) – another early punk zine. - In the US, **Punk** magazine (New York, founded 1975) and **Search & Destroy** (San Francisco) played similar roles. These zines helped create a sense of a shared culture, even if the scenes were small and local. Zines also acted as a distribution network for records and demos. A good review in a zine could shift a few copies of a self-released single, and zine editors often traded their publications with each other, building an international web of correspondence. ## What did Sniffin' Glue look like and how was it made? Sniffin' Glue was made using a typewriter, felt-tip pens, scissors, glue, and a photocopier. Initial issues sold only 50 copies, but circulation soon increased to 15,000. It was sold at gigs and in a few sympathetic record shops, and also by mail order. The aesthetic was deliberately crude: wonky layouts, handwritten corrections, and a mix of enthusiasm and irreverence. That look was copied by many other zines, and it still defines the visual language of punk publishing. For a practical guide to making your own, see [How to make a punk zine: paste, photocopy, fold, trade](/bocker/how-to-make-a-zine/). ## Why did Sniffin' Glue stop? Mark Perry ended Sniffin' Glue in 1977. He went on to form the band Alternative TV, whose first release was the flexi disc 'Love Lies Limp' included with the final issue of Sniffin' Glue. Fearing absorption into the mainstream music press, Perry ceased publication in 1977. The zine's influence far outlasted its short run. It has been reprinted in book form (Sniffin' Glue: The Essential Punk Accessory, 2000) and is regularly cited in histories of punk. Its DIY ethos fed into later zines like [Maximum Rocknroll](/bocker/maximum-rocknroll-history/) and [Profane Existence](/bocker/profane-existence-zine/), and into the wider independent music network. ## What was the legacy of the first punk zines? The first wave of punk zines demonstrated that publishing was not just for professionals. They encouraged readers to start bands, put on gigs, and make their own publications. That ethos spread beyond punk: the same photocopier-and-staples approach was used by indie, riot grrrl, and hardcore scenes for decades. In the UK, zines like Sniffin' Glue helped turn punk from a London-centric novelty into a national (and eventually international) movement. They also provided a template for later DIY media, from [punk flyer art](/annat/punk-flyer-art/) to early punk websites. The "now form a band" message — whichever zine printed it — remains a rallying cry for anyone who has ever picked up an instrument with more enthusiasm than skill. For more on the wider punk context, see our [beginner's field guide](/annat/punk-faq/) and [Ten Essential Books About Punk](/bocker/essential-punk-books/). ## FAQ ### Who started Sniffin' Glue? Mark Perry started Sniffin' Glue in London in 1976 after attending the Ramones concert on 4 July 1976 at the Roundhouse. Contributors included Danny Baker, who later became a well-known journalist. ### Did Sniffin' Glue print 'here's three chords, now form a band'? No — it is often credited to Sniffin' Glue, but the drawing of three chord shapes captioned 'This is a chord, this is another, this is a third. Now form a band' appeared in the zine Sideburns in January 1977. It still sums up the DIY attitude Sniffin' Glue shared. ### How many issues of Sniffin' Glue were made? It was released for about a year, from 1976 to 1977. Initial issues sold only 50 copies, but circulation soon increased to 15,000. ### What were other early punk zines? Sideburns (Scotland), Ripped & Torn, Bondage, and in the US, Punk magazine (New York) and Search & Destroy (San Francisco). These zines documented and promoted the emerging punk scenes.