Zipper,
first published in 1976, emerged as England’s leading male pin-up magazine.
Publisher Alex J. McKenna produced 116 issues between 1976 and 1995. The magazine was called
Alex McKenna’s Zipper
for the first 59 issues. Because the law in the United Kingdom restricted the production and distribution of adult material, McKenna and his colleagues worked under the constant threat of police raids, confiscation of materials, and even imprisonment.
Zipper
showcased the work of British photographers such as John Anthony, Mike Arlen, Mason West, and McKenna himself. The 1980s beefcake look promoted by
Zipper
was Firrell's visual inspiration for the majority of the artworks in the
Five Decades of Pride
series.