Mark Perry

Mark Perry back in 1976

Mark Perry was the publisher of the first UK punk zine Sniffin' Glue. Perry started his zine in July of 1976 after finding inspiration listening to the Ramones, then seeing them live (the title of his zine was derived from a Ramones song). Within a few months of his first issue, Perry quit his job as a bank clerk to do his zine, which became an essential part of the growing UK punk scene. As the most visible punk writer in the UK's exploding punk scene, Perry became somewhat of a spokesperson to the mainstream press and was frequently interviewed about punk rock.

In 1977 Perry and Miles Copeland formed began the record label Step Forward. They released early records by bands like the Fall, the Cortinas, Sham 69, and Chelsea.

In March 1977 Perry and friends formed the band Alternative TV (with Perry on vocals and guitar). ATV's first show was the Nottingham Punk Festival in May 1977. The band's first single, "Love Lies Limp," was a free flexi disc that was given away with the final issue of Sniffin' Glue zine (#12) on August 1977.

Perry got back into writing in 1996, providing the text for Erica Echenberg's photo book, "And God Created Punk" (published by Virgin). In 2000, Sanctuary Books published "Sniffin' Glue: The Essential Punk Accessory," which compiled all the issues of his original punk zine, along with newer writing and photos. Today Mark Perry still performs and releases music with Alternative TV.