The Zips

The Zips

The Zips are a Glasgow punk group active from 1978 to the present. The band forms around Jonzip on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Jimbo MacKellar on guitar, Phil Volume on bass and vocals, and Joe Drummer on drums and vocals.

Career

The group begins in the late 1970s at punk’s peak, then splits up in the 1980s as ska and New Romantic music rise in prominence. It later reforms in the 2000s after interest in its back catalogue grows in Europe through bootlegs. Its style is described as socio-political proto-punk, and it keeps a strong presence on Scotland’s live circuit with a reputation for energetic performances.

Releases and recordings

The Zips release a debut single, The Zips EP, which receives extensive airplay on the John Peel Show and later becomes a sought-after punk collectable. The single is listed among the top 100 most collectable punk singles in Record Collector. The band also records two tracks for Binliner Records’ Bored Teenagers Vol. 2, three CD EPs on its own Tenement Toons label, a download single for the Make Poverty History campaign through Oxfam’s Bignoisemusic site, and tracks for several compilation CDs.

The group’s debut album, Guitars4Hire, appears in 2006, long after its first single. It later issues the 30 Years of Punk Rock EP as part of its release history.

Other notes

The Zips are associated with local radio and have links with other musicians, including a mention of Kate Nash. The band uses the phrase “4 guys, 3 chords, 2 minute buzzbombs” to describe its approach.