Punk (magazine)


Punk was a music magazine and fanzine created by cartoonist John Holmstrom, publisher Ged Dunn, and "resident punk" Legs McNeil in 1975. Its use of the term "punk rock", coined by writers for Creem magazine a few years earlier to describe the simplistic and crude style of 60's Garage rock bands, further popularized the term. The founders were influenced by their affection for comic books and the music of The Stooges, the New York Dolls, and The Dictators. Holmstrom later called it "the print version of The Ramones". It was also the first publication to popularize the CBGB scene.
Punk published 15 issues between 1976 and 1979, as well as a special issue in 1981, a 25th anniversary special in 2001 and 3 final issues in 2007.
Punk was a vehicle for examining the underground music scene in New York, and primarily for punk rock as found in clubs like CBGB, Zeppz, and Max's Kansas City. It mixed Mad Magazine-style cartooning by Holmstrom, Bobby London and a young Peter Bagge with the more straightforward pop journalism of the kind found in Creem. It also provided an outlet for female writers, artists and photographers who had been shut out of a male-dominated underground publishing scene.
Punk magazine was home to writers Mary Harron, Steve Taylor, Lester Bangs, Pam Brown, artists Buz Vaultz, Anya Phillips, and Screaming Mad George, and photographers Bob Gruen, Barak Berkowitz, Roberta Bayley and David Godlis. After Dunn left in early 1977 and McNeil quit shortly afterwards, Bruce Carleton, Ken Weiner, and Elin Wilder, one of few African Americans involved in the early CBGB/punk rock scene, were added to the staff.

Issues

A complete list of issues
VolumeNumberTitleCoverDate
11Lou ReedLou ReedJanuary 1976
12Patti SmithThe Two Faces of Patti SmithMarch 1976
13The RamonesJoey RamoneApril 1976
14Iggy PopThe Incredible IggyJuly 1976
15The MonkeesMicky Dolenz chases JaneAugust 1976
16The Legend of Nick DetroitDebbie Harry, Judy LaPilusa and Richard HellOctober 1976
17Patti SmithRock'n'roll PattiFebruary 1977
18The Sex PistolsThe Sex PistolsMarch 1977
110BlondieDebbie Harry onstage!Summer 1977
111The DictatorsHandsome Dick Manitoba of the DictatorsOctober/November 1977
112Robert GordonRobert Gordon is Red Hot!January 1978
114The Sex PistolsJohnny Rotten and Sid Vicious puppets: Live and in concert!May/June 1978
115Mutant Monster Beach PartyThe movie poster for Mutant Monster Beach PartyJuly/August 1978
116Disco ManiacDisco sucks!March/April 1979
117The ClashThe Clash in a clashMay/June 1979
Special1 The Official FilmbookJohnny, Sid, Steve and Paul.April 1981
20Special 25th Anniversary IssueWinter 2001
119Johnny Heff and The BullysJohnny Heff and The BullysWinter 2007
120Sid + NancySid + NancySummer 2007
121A Tribute to CBGBFall 2007

There were no issues 9, 13 or 18