Smegma the Magazine (1978-1981)

Smegma the Magzine was published in New York City betwen 1978 and 1981).
It is archived at the Museum of Modern Art in the permanent library collection.

As the punk music scene exploded, this New York City publication burst onto the local art world seeming to express the same creative, anarchic, playful energy in print.

While it certainly would be listed among the very first montage-style punkzines, it’s creativity, innovation and scope went far beyond the others – with artwork contributions including original drawings by Tuli Kupferberg (of the Fugs), an exclusive interview with Lance Loud (star of the first reality tv show “An American Family”) poetry, and works by many know and unknown artists – including many Correspondence/Mail artists such as Buster Cleveland, John Evans, E.F.Higgins III, and many others.

The third issue included a 2-sided flexidisc recording, an audio montage called “Hot Dog, You Bet!“, which was voted as a favorite in November 1980 by music critic Lester Bangs in the Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll.

The first issue was printed in a limited edition of only 500 (now very rare), the others in editions of 1000.