BORN, GLASGOW, 1978:

John McNeill (lead vocals/guitar) Brian Jackson (lead guitar)
Joe Jaconelli (drums/backing vocals) Phil Mullen (bass/backing vocals)

In 1978 John and Brian recruited Joe and Phil, and launched The Zips onto the New Wave. They released their debut single, The Zips EP, in April 1979, a favourite of Radio Clyde, and the late-John Peel on Radio One. The 500 copies swiftly sold out, and it was followed by a new single, Radioactivity, on their own Tenement Toons label, in April 1980. Despite extensive airplay, support slots with, amongst others, Glen Matlock and Cockney Rejects, and exposure at CND/Anti Nuke rallies, it did not match the success of the EP. The band were now caught between two movements, New Wave and Ska, and the cracks began to show. The last gig was on 11th December 1980, and Brian emigrated to Oz in 1981. Then there was silence, until….

REBORN, GLASGOW, 2001:
John McNeill (vocals/guitar) Joe Jaconelli (drums/vocals) Phil Mullen (bass/vocals)
John McMahon 2001-03 Brian Kerr 2003-05 Jimbo MacKellar (loud guitar)

Following European bootleg interest in The Zips back catalogue, Detour Records included two tracks on a compilation, Bored Teenagers Vol2, released, Spring 2002.
The Zips re-formed, with John McMahon replacing Brian Jackson, for a Detour Records showcase, at The Garage, in London, March 2002.
A host of gigs later, including the 2003 Wicker Man Festival, with The Damned and UK Subs, and the release of a 5 track cd, the Hotwired ep, on Tenement Toons, Fire Exit guitarist, Brian Kerr, replaced John McMahon.
July 2004 saw the release of the Dumbstruck ep, and a promo tour, starting at King Tuts, Glasgow, and finishing up at The Wasted Festival in Morecambe.
Dumbstruck and Hotwired still sell at gigs, local record stores, and via their website, which has resulted in copies being shipped off to Tokyo. The vintage tracks are still being requested for Punk compilations, in the UK, the States, and Japan. Whilst, I’m In Love, a song on the first EP, featured in the Art Of Love exhibition, in London, February 2005.
The Zips are confirmed to appear at the two major festivals in 2005, Wasted, in May, and the Wicker Man, in July. They support Spear Of Destiny at King Tuts, in June, and all other gigs can be viewed on the website.
With recently-recruited guitarist, Jimbo MacKellar, replacing Brian Kerr, The Zips are ready, willing and able, to unleash their own energetic brand of socio-politico-proto-punk, and are finding an ever-increasing audience, only too keen to listen.
Silence is no longer an option.