Mark Perry

Born in London, England, Mark Perry stood among the earliest observers of the rising tide of British punk. Employed as a bank clerk and spurred by the Ramones, he launched the Sniffin’ Glue (And Other Rock ‘N’ Roll Habits) fanzine during the middle of 1976. After quitting his position and adopting the shortened name Mark P., he joined south London associates including Danny Baker to serve as informal spokesmen for the punk movement. Although Sniffin’ Glue ceased publication in August 1977, Perry had already begun overseeing multiple record labels while forming a new group alongside Alex Ferguson called Alternative TV, the title denoting an alternative to television. Earlier he had performed in the trio the New Beatles together with Steve Walsh and Tyrone Thomas. The band’s name was soon trimmed to ATV to avoid persistent mispronunciations and misspellings. Its debut offering appeared as a flexi-disc on the Sniffin’ Glue imprint; the recording later received a reissue through Deptford Fun City, the label Perry established in partnership with Miles Copeland. ATV issued several albums on DFC before the group adopted the name the Good Missionaries in 1979. Following the release of their sole album Fire From Heaven, Perry departed and subsequently recorded under the names the Reflection and the Door And The Window as well as under his own name. Only two singles from 1980 carry his direct credit, though additional tracks surfaced on assorted compilations. ATV regrouped in 1981 to produce Strange Kicks before dissolving once more. That same year Perry’s album Snappy Turns also emerged. The band reconvened a second time in 1984, beginning with a performance at the Euston Tavern in Kings Cross; this incarnation persisted for roughly twelve months. After a brief separation the musicians reunited and continued until 1987. In later years Perry participated in Baby Ice Dog before reviving ATV in 1995.