Page "Fanzine" Paragraph 36

Many of the punk zines were printed in small quantities and promoted the local scene.

Each copy however, was shared by up to 30 people who would pass it on from friend to friend.

They were often cheaply photocopied and many never survived beyond a few issues.

Their greatest contribution was in promoting punk music, clothing and lifestyle in their local communities.

Punk bands and independent labels often sent records to the zines for review and many of the people who started the zines became critical connections for punk bands on tour.

Mark Wilkins, the promotion director for punk / thrash label Mystic Records, had over 450 U. S. fanzines and 150 foreign fanzines he promoted to regularly.

He and Mystic Records owner Doug Moody edited The Mystic News Newsletter which was published quarterly and went into every promo package to fanzines.

Wilkins also published the highly successful Los Angeles punk humor zine Wild Times and when he ran out of funding for the zine syndicated some of the humorous material to over 100 U. S. fanzines under the name of Mystic Mark.