The magazine was noted for its interviews, articles, innovative "rock family trees" by Frame, and support for American songwriters such as Michael Nesmith, Mickey Newbury, Gene Clark, etc.

After dying a first time, the magazine was taken over by Tony Stratton Smith, founder of Charisma Records,[2] and became a regular monthly from January 1974 with even some colour inside.

Appointed as editor in August 1977, a major revolution was led by Kris Needs which saw ZigZag going through a third period where the magazine was totally devoted to punk.

Around this time Pete Frame distanced himself and published the first book of his famous series of 'rock trees' tracing changing personnel line-ups in the rock music world.

Late 70s, ZigZag poll introduced Ian Dury, Buzzcocks, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Blondie, and minor artists such as Patrick Fitzgerald and Gruppo Sportivo.

Jim Maguire, who had been business manager of ZigZag in the 1970s, persuaded Richard Desmond (Northern & Shell) to sell him the title.