Which band released the 1977 EP Spiral Scratch?

Buzzcocks released the 1977 EP Spiral Scratch.

Spiral Scratch was recorded by the Manchester band Buzzcocks and released independently on New Hormones, the label founded by the group and manager Richard Boon. It is widely regarded as one of the first independently released punk records in the United Kingdom.

The four-track EP included “Boredom,” “Time’s Up,” “Fascination,” and “What Do I Get?” The original pressing was funded by borrowing money from friends and was manufactured in a small quantity, but demand quickly exceeded expectations. Its success demonstrated that punk groups could release records without relying on a major label.

The EP is sometimes confused with Buzzcocks’ later debut album, Another Music in a Different Kitchen, released in 1978. Spiral Scratch came first and is specifically an EP, not a full-length studio album. It also helped inspire the independent-label culture that became central to British alternative music.