Savage Pencil, the alter ego of Edwin Pouncey, captured the punk rock spirit of Britain in the late Seventies through his comics and music journalism. Growing up in Leeds, Pouncey was immersed in American pop culture, discovering comics like Marvel's and EC’s Tales From The Crypt through his parents’ newsagent shop. By the late Sixties, he was inspired by underground comics and the music of Zappa and Beefheart, fueling his desire to become a cartoonist. His move to London in 1971 deepened this interest, especially after discovering the underground comics scene through publications like Zap Comics.
In 1976, while studying at the Royal College of Art, Pouncey witnessed the early days of punk at the 100 Club, where he saw the Sex Pistols perform. This experience sparked the creation of his Savage Pencil persona, a visual representation of punk’s raw energy. By 1977, Pouncey’s comics were featured in Sounds, where he coined the "Rock’n’Roll Zoo" strip, offering a scathing, irreverent commentary on the music industry.
Throughout his career, Pouncey’s work evolved, tackling topics from punk to experimental music, with his comics taking on a more surreal, improvisational style. His contributions also extended beyond comics, designing album covers for bands like Sonic Youth and Big Black and producing unique compilations as a record collector and DJ. Despite his varied pursuits, Pouncey’s enduring passion for drawing remains at the core of his creative identity, now expanding into etching. The two personas of Edwin Pouncey and Savage Pencil coexist, each fueling the other’s creative energy.
