Hannett's production work began with the animation film soundtrack "All Kinds of Heroes", written by Steve Hopkins (with whom Hannett later worked again). By this time, he also began to mix live sound at pub gigs. Other early production works included Greasy Bear material, Belt & Braces Road Show Band's eponymous album in 1975 and five songs from Pete Farrow's repertoire recorded at Pennine Studios, Oldham, later included on Farrow's compilation album "Who Says There's No Beach in Stockport". He attracted more musical attention in 1977, when, as Martin Zero, he produced the first independent punk record, Buzzcocks' "Spiral Scratch" EP. Under the same moniker he produced early records by punk poet John Cooper Clarke, whose Salford monotone was complemented by drum machines, simple synthesiser motifs and Hannett's bass playing. Jilted John's first single (Jilted John) was Hannett's first hit single.