Rolling Stone

This article is about the magazine. For the band, seethe Rolling Stones.For the proverb, seea rolling stone gathers no moss.For other uses, seeRolling Stone (disambiguation).

Rolling Stone

The cover of the 1,000th edition ofRolling Stone,May 18 – June 1, 2006
Editor	Noah Shachtman
Categories	Popular culture
Frequency	Monthly
Publisher	Brian Szejka
Total circulation (June 2023)	423,377
Founder	Jann Wenner Ralph J. Gleason
First issue	November 9, 1967(1967-11-09)
Company	Penske Media Corporation
Country	United States
Based in	475Fifth Avenue,10th Floor,New York City,U.S.
Language	English
Website	rollingstone
ISSN	0035-791X
OCLC	969027590

Rolling Stoneis an American monthlymagazinethat focuses onmusic,politics,andpopular culture.It was founded inSan Francisco, Californiain 1967 byJann Wennerand the music criticRalph J. Gleason.

The magazine was first known for its coverage ofrock musicand political reporting byHunter S. Thompson.In the 1990s, the magazine broadened and shifted its focus to a younger readership interested in youth-oriented television shows, film actors, and popular music.It has since returned to its traditional mix of content, including music, entertainment, and politics.

The first magazine was released in 1967 and featuredJohn Lennonon the cover, and was then published every two weeks. It is known for provocativephotographyand its cover photos, featuring musicians, politicians, athletes, and actors. In addition to its print version in theUnited States,it publishes content through Rollingstone and numerous international editions.

The magazine experienced a rapid rise during the 1970s, followed by a sharp decline into irrelevance and financial turmoil in the 21st century;leading Jann Wenner to sell 49 percent of the magazine toBandLab Technologiesin 2016 and 51 percent toPenske Media Corporation(PMC) in 2017.PMC eventually acquired the 49 percent stake from BandLab Technologies in 2019, giving it full ownership of the magazine.

History

1967–1979: Founding and early history

Rolling Stonewas founded inSan Franciscoin 1967 byJann WennerandRalph J. Gleason.To pay for the setup costs, Wenner borrowed $7,500 from his family and the parents of his soon-to-be wife, Jane Schindelheim.The first issue was released on November 9, 1967, and featuredJohn Lennonin costume for the filmHow I Won the Waron the cover. It was in newspaper format with a lead article on theMonterey International Pop Festival.The cover price was 25¢ (equivalent to $2.27 in 2023) and it was published bi-weekly.

In the first issue,Wenner explained that the title of the magazine came from the old saying "A rolling stone gathers no moss." He also mentioned the 1950 blues song "Rollin' Stone",recorded byMuddy Waters,The Rolling Stonesband, andBob Dylan's 1965 hit single "Like a Rolling Stone".Some authors have attributed the name solely to Dylan's hit single:" At [Ralph] Gleason's suggestion, Wenner named his magazine after aBob Dylansong. "

Rolling Stoneinitially identified with and reported thehippiecountercultureofthe era.

You're probably wondering what we're trying to do. It's hard to say: sort of a magazine and sort of a newspaper. The name of it isRolling Stonewhich comes from an old saying, "A rolling stone gathers no moss." Muddy Waters used the name for a song he wrote. The Rolling Stones took their name from Muddy's song.Like a Rolling Stonewas the title of Bob Dylan's first rock and roll record. We have begun a new publication reflecting what we see are the changes in rock and roll and the changes related to rock and roll.

However, it distanced itself from the underground newspapers of the time, such asBerkeley Barb,embracing more traditional journalistic standards and avoiding the radical politics of theunderground press.In the first edition, Wenner wrote thatRolling Stone"is not just about the music, but about the things and attitudes that music embraces".In a 2017 article celebrating the publication's 50th anniversary,Rolling Stone'sDavid Brownestated that the magazine's name was a nod to the Rolling Stones in an addition to "Rollin' Stone" and "Like a Rolling Stone".

The magazine's long-running slogan, "All the news that fits", was provided by early contributor, manager and sometime editorSusan Lydon.She lifted it from an April Fools issue of theColumbia Daily Spectatorwhich posted "All the news that fits we print", a parody ofThe New York Times'slogan, "All the News That's Fit to Print".The first appearance of the rubric was in 1969.

In the 1970s,Rolling Stonebegan to make a mark with its political coverage, with the likes ofgonzojournalistHunter S. Thompsonwriting for the magazine's political section. Thompson first published his most famous work,Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,within the pages ofRolling Stone,where he remained a contributing editor until his death in 2005.In the 1970s, the magazine also helped launch the careers of many prominent authors, includingCameron Crowe,Lester Bangs,Joe Klein,Joe Eszterhas,Ben Fong-Torres,Patti SmithandP. J. O'Rourke.It was at this point that the magazine ran some of its most famous stories. The January 21, 1970, issue covered theAltamont Free Concertand thekilling of Meredith Hunter,which won aSpecialized Journalismaward at theNational Magazine Awardsin 1971.Later in 1970,Rolling Stonepublished a 30,000-word feature onCharles MansonbyDavid Daltonand David Felton, including their interview of Manson when he was in the L.A. County Jail awaiting trial, which wonRolling Stoneits first National Magazine Award.Four years later, they also covered thePatty Hearstabduction odyssey. One interviewer, speaking for many of his peers, said that he bought his first copy of the magazine upon initial arrival on his college campus, describing it as a "rite of passage".

In 1972, Wenner assignedTom Wolfeto cover the launch ofNASA's last Moon mission,Apollo 17.He published a four-part series in 1973 titled "Post-Orbital Remorse", about the depression that some astronauts experienced after having been in space. After the series, Wolfe began researching the whole of the space program, in what became a seven-year project from which he took time to writeThe Painted Word,a book on art, and to completeMauve Gloves & Madmen, Clutter & Vine,a collection of shorter piecesand eventuallyThe Right Stuff.

The magazine began running the photographs ofAnnie Leibovitzin 1970. In 1973, she became its chief photographer, and her images appeared on more than 140 covers.

Rolling Stonerecruited writers from smaller music magazines, includingPaul NelsonfromSing Out!,who became record reviews editor from 1978 to 1983, andDave MarshfromCreem.

In 1977, the magazine moved its headquarters fromSan FranciscotoNew York City.EditorJann Wennersaid San Francisco had become "a cultural backwater".

1980–1999: Change to entertainment magazine

Kurt LoderjoinedRolling Stonein May 1979 and spent nine years there, including as editor.Timothy Whitejoined as a writer fromCrawdaddyandDavid FrickefromMusician.Tom Wolfe wrote to Wenner to propose an idea drawn fromCharles DickensandWilliam Makepeace Thackeray:to serialize a novel. Wenner offered Wolfe around $200,000 to serialize his work.The frequent deadline pressure gave Wolfe the motivation he had sought, and from July 1984 to August 1985, he published a new installment in each biweekly issue ofRolling Stone.Later Wolfe was unhappy with his "very public first draft"and thoroughly revised his work, even changing his protagonist, Sherman McCoy, and published it asThe Bonfire of the Vanitiesin 1987.

Rolling Stonewas known for its musical coverage and for Thompson's political reporting and in 1985, they hired an advertising agency to refocus its image under the series "Perception/Reality" comparing Sixties symbols to those of the Eighties, which led to an increase in advertising revenue and pages.It also shifted to more of an entertainment magazine in the 1980s. It still had music as the main topic but began to increase its coverage of celebrities, films, and pop culture. It also began releasing its annual "Hot Issue".In the 1990s, the magazine changed its format to appeal to a younger readership interested in youth-oriented television shows, film actors, and popular music. This led to criticism that the magazine was emphasizing style over substance.

2000–2015: Expansion of readership

Rolling Stonecover from 2004

After years of declining readership, the magazine experienced a major resurgence of interest and relevance with the work of two young journalists in the late 2000s,Michael HastingsandMatt Taibbi.Rob Sheffieldalso joined fromSpin.In 2005,Dana Leslie Fields,former publisher ofRolling Stone,who had worked at the magazine for 17 years, was an inaugural inductee into the Magazine Hall of Fame.In 2009, Taibbi unleashed an acclaimed series of scathing reports on the financial meltdown of the time. He famously describedGoldman Sachsas "a greatvampire squid".

In December 2009, theLos Angeles Timesreported that the owners ofRolling Stonemagazine planned to open aRolling Stonerestaurant in theHollywood & Highland CenterinHollywoodin the spring of 2010.The expectation was that the restaurant could become the first of a national chain if it was successful.As of November 2010, the "soft opening" of the restaurant was planned for December 2010.In 2011, the restaurant was open for lunch and dinner as well as a full night club downstairs on the weekends.The restaurant closed in February 2013.

Bigger headlines came at the end of June 2010.Rolling Stonecaused a controversy in theWhite Houseby publishing in the July issue an article by journalistMichael Hastingsentitled "The Runaway General",quoting criticism by GeneralStanley A. McChrystal,commander of theInternational Security Assistance Forceand U.S. Forces-Afghanistan commander, about Vice PresidentJoe Bidenand other Administration members of the White House. McChrystal resigned from his position shortly after his statements went public.In 2010, Taibbi documented illegal and fraudulent actions by banks in the foreclosure courts, after traveling toJacksonville,Florida and sitting in on hearings in the courtroom. His article, "Invasion of the Home Snatchers", also documented attempts by the judge to intimidate a homeowner fighting foreclosure and the attorney Taibbi accompanied into the court.

In January 2012, the magazine ran exclusive excerpts from Hastings' book just prior to publication.The book,The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan,provided a much more expansive look at McChrystal and the culture of senior American military and how they become embroiled in such wars. The book reachedAmazon's bestseller list in the first 48 hours of release, and it received generally favorable reviews.Salon'sGlenn Greenwalddescribed it as "superb", "brave" and "eye-opening".In 2012, Taibbi, through his coverage of theLibor scandal,emerged as an expert on that topic, which led to media appearances outsideRolling Stone.On November 9, 2012, the magazine published its first Spanish-language section on Latino music and culture, in the issue dated November 22.

2016–present: New ownership

In September 2016,Advertising Agereported that Wenner was in the process of selling a 49% stake of the magazine to a company from Singapore calledBandLab Technologies.The new investor had no direct involvement in the editorial content of the magazine.

In September 2017, Wenner Media announced that the remaining 51% ofRolling Stonemagazine was up for sale.In December 2017,Penske Mediaacquired the remaining stake from Wenner Media.It became a monthly magazine from the July 2018 issue. On January 31, 2019, Penske acquired BandLab's 49% stake inRolling Stone,gaining full ownership of the magazine.

In January 2021, a Chinese edition of the magazine was launched,while in September 2021,Rolling Stonelaunched a dedicated UK edition in conjunction withAttitude magazinepublisher Stream Publishing.The new BritishRolling Stonelaunched into a marketplace which already featured titles likeMojoand BandLab Technologies's monthly music magazineUncut.The first issue had a choice of three cover stars (including music acts Bastille and Sam Fender, as well asNo Time To Dieactor Lashana Lynch), with the magazine due to be a bi-monthly publication.

In February 2022, Rolling Stone announced the acquisition ofLife Is Beautiful,saying, "Live events are an integral part of Rolling Stone's future."

In 2023Rolling Stonewas nominated for its first-everEmmy awardin the "Outstanding Interactive Media" category for its investigation into "The DJ and the War Crimes".The piece also won aNational Magazine Awardfor digital designand an Overseas Press Club Award.In December 2023Rolling Stonecollected five National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards,four Front Page Awards,and a Deadline Club award.

Covers

See also:List of people on the United States cover of Rolling Stone

Some artists have been featured on the cover many times, and some of these pictures went on to become iconic.The Beatles,for example, have appeared on the cover more than 30 times, either individually or as a band.The magazine is known for provocative photography and has featured musicians and celebrities on the cover throughout its history.Vanity Faircalled the January 22, 1981, cover featuring John Lennon andYoko Onothe "GreatestRolling StoneCover Ever ".

The first ten issues featured, in order of appearance:

1. John Lennon
2. Tina Turner
3. The Beatles
4. Jimi Hendrix,DonovanandOtis Redding
5. Jim Morrison
6. Janis Joplin
7. Jimi Hendrix
8. Monterey International Pop Festival
9. John Lennon andPaul McCartney
10. Eric Clapton

The magazine spent $1 million (equivalent to $1.51 million in 2023) on the 3-Dhologramcover of the special 1,000th issue (May 18, 2006) displaying multiple celebrities and other personalities.

Print format

The printed format has gone through several changes. The first publications, in 1967 to 1972, were in foldedtabloid newspaper format,with no staples, only black ink text, and a single color highlight that changed each edition. From 1973 onwards, editions were produced on a four-color press with a different newsprint paper size. In 1979, the bar code appeared. In 1980, it became a gloss-paper, large-format (10 × 12 inch) magazine. Editions switched to the standard 8 × 11 inch magazine size starting with the issue dated October 30, 2008.Starting with the new monthly July 2018 issue, it returned to the previous 10 × 12 inch large format.

Website

The publication's site at one time had an extensive message-board forum. By the late 1990s, this had developed into a thriving community, with many regular members and contributors worldwide. However, the site was also plagued with numerousInternet trolls,who vandalized the forum substantially.The magazine abruptly deleted the forum in May 2004, then began a new, much more limited message board community on their site in late 2005, only to remove it again in 2006. In March 2008, the website started a new message board section once again, then deleted it in April 2010.

Rolling Stonedevotes one of its table of contents pages to promoting material currently appearing on its website, listing detailed links to the items.

On April 19, 2010, the website underwent a redesign and began featuring the complete archives ofRolling Stone.The archive was first launched under a for-pay model, but has since transitioned to a free-with-print-subscription model.In the spring of 2012,Rolling Stonelaunched afederated searchfeature, which searches both the website and the archive.

The website has become an interactive source of biographical information on music artists in addition to historical rankings from the magazine. Users can cross-reference lists and they are also provided with historical insights. For example, one group that is listed on bothRolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All TimeandRolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All TimeisToots and the Maytals,with biographical details fromRolling Stonethat explain how Toots and the Maytals coined the term "reggae"in their song"Do the Reggay".For biographical information on all artists, the website contains a directory listed Alpha betically.

Glixel

In May 2016, Wenner Media announced plans to create a separate online publication dedicated to the coverage of video games and video game culture.Gus Wenner,Jann Wenner's son and head of digital for the publication at the time, toldThe New York Timesthat "gaming is today what rock 'n' roll was whenRolling Stonewas founded ".Glixelwas originally hosted onRolling Stone's website and transitioned to its own domain by October 2016. Stories fromGlixelare included on theRolling Stonewebsite, while writers forRolling Stonewere also able to contribute toGlixel.The site was headed by John Davison, and its offices were located in San Francisco.Rolling Stoneclosed down the offices in June 2017 and fired the entire staff, citing the difficulties of working with the remote site from their main New York office.Brian Crecente,founder ofKotakuand co-founder ofPolygon,was hired as editorial director and runs the site from the main New York office.Following the sale ofRolling Stone's assets toPenske Media Corporation,theGlixelcontent was merged into the routine publishing ofVariety,with Crecente remaining as editorial director.

Political alignment

In 2017, Graham Ruddick ofThe GuardiandescribedRolling Stoneas a "rock'n'roll magazine turnedliberalcheerleader ".Bruce Schulmanwrote inThe Washington PostthatRolling Stonehas "routinely support[ed] liberal candidates and causes" since the 1990s.

Conservative columnistJonah Goldbergstated in 2008 thatRolling Stonehad "essentially become the house organ of theDemocratic National Committee".Rolling Stoneeditor Jann Wenner has made all of his political donations toDemocratsand has conducted high-profile interviews for the magazine with PresidentsBill ClintonandBarack Obama.Rolling Stoneendorsed Democratic candidateHillary Clintonin the run-up for the2016 U.S. presidential election.

Rolling Stonehas criticizedRepublicanPresidentsGeorge W. BushandDonald Trump.In 2006, it described Bush as the "worst president in history".The magazine featured Canadian prime ministerJustin Trudeauon its August 2017 cover with the headline "Why can't he be our president?"

Criticism and controversies

One major criticism ofRolling Stoneinvolves its generational bias toward the 1960s and 1970s. One critic referred to theRolling Stonelist of the "500 Greatest Songs" as an example of "unrepentantrockistfogeyism ".In further response to this issue, rock criticJim DeRogatis,a formerRolling Stoneeditor, published a thorough critique of the magazine's lists in a book calledKill Your Idols: A New Generation of Rock Writers Reconsiders the Classics,which featured differing opinions from many younger critics.

Rolling Stonemagazine has been criticized for reconsidering many classic albums that it had previously dismissed, and for frequent use of the 3.5-star rating. For example,Led Zeppelinwas largely written off byRolling Stonemagazine critics during the band's most active years in the 1970s, but by 2006, acover storyon the band honored them as "the Heaviest Band of All Time".A critic forSlatemagazine described a conference at which 1984'sThe Rolling Stone Record Guidewas scrutinized. As he described it, "The guide virtually ignored hip-hop and ruthlessly panned heavy metal, the two genres that within a few years would dominate the pop charts. In an auditorium packed with music journalists, you could detect more than a few anxious titters: How many of us will want our record reviews read back to us 20 years hence?"

The hiring of formerFHMeditor Ed Needham further enraged critics who alleged thatRolling Stonehad lost its credibility.

The 2003 "Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time" article, which named only two female musicians, resulted inVenus Zineanswering with their own list, entitled "The Greatest Female Guitarists of All Time".

Rolling Stone's film critic,Peter Travers,has been criticized for his high number of repetitively usedblurbs.

TheEnglish Wikipediacommunity has determined thatRolling Stoneshould be avoided as a source on "politically and societally sensitive issues".

Homosexual HIV story

In 2003, the article "Bug Chasers: The men who long to be HIV+"claimed that homosexuals who intentionally sought to be infected withHIVaccounted for 25% of new cases each year. However, the article's cited physicians later denied making such statements.

Anti-vaccine article

In 2005, the article "Deadly Immunity"by anti-vaccine activistRobert F. Kennedy Jr.attracted criticism for quoting material out of context, andRolling Stoneeventually amended the story with corrections in response to these and other criticisms.

Tsarnaev cover

The August 2013Rolling Stonecover, featuring then-accused (later convicted)Boston Marathon bomberDzhokhar Tsarnaev,drew widespread criticism that the magazine was "glamorizing terrorism" and that the cover was a "slap in the face to the great city ofBoston".The online edition of the article was accompanied by a short editorial stating that the story "falls within the traditions of journalism andRolling Stone's long-standing commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage of the most important political and cultural issues of our day ".The controversial cover photograph that was used byRolling Stonehad previously featured on the front page ofThe New York Timeson May 5, 2013.

In response to the outcry, New England–basedCVS PharmacyandTedeschi Food Shopsbanned their stores from carrying the issue.Also refusing to sell the issue wereWalgreens;Rite-AidandKmart;Roche Bros.andStop & Shop;H-E-BandWalmart;7-Eleven;Hy-Vee,Rutter's Farm,andUnited Supermarkets;Cumberland FarmsandMarket Basket;andShaw's.

Boston mayorThomas Meninosent a letter toRolling StonepublisherJann Wenner,calling the cover "ill-conceived, at best... [it] reaffirms a message that destruction gains fame for killers and their 'causes'." Menino also wrote, "To respond to you in anger is to feed into your obvious market strategy", and that Wenner could have written about the survivors or the people who came to help after the bombings instead. In conclusion he wrote, "The survivors of the Boston Marathon deserveRolling Stonecover stories, though I no longer feel thatRolling Stonedeserves them. "

Defamatory false rape story and lawsuit

Main article:A Rape on Campus

In the issue dated November 19, 2014, the story "A Rape on Campus" was run about an allegedgang rapeon the campus of theUniversity of Virginia.Separate inquiries byPhi Kappa Psi,the fraternity accused byRolling Stoneof facilitating the alleged rape, andThe Washington Postrevealed major errors, omissions and discrepancies in the story.ReporterSabrina Erdely's story was subject to intense media criticism.The Washington PostandBoston Heraldissued calls for magazine staff involved in the report to be fired.Rolling Stonesubsequently issued three apologies for the story.

On December 5, 2014,Rolling Stone's managing editor, Will Dana, apologized for notfact-checkingthe story.Rolling Stonecommissioned an outside investigation of the story and its problems by the dean of theColumbia School of Journalism.The report uncovered journalistic failure in the UVA story and institutional problems with reporting atRolling Stone.Rolling Stoneretracted the story on April 5, 2015.On April 6, 2015, following the investigation and retraction of the story, Phi Kappa Psi announced plans to pursue all available legal action againstRolling Stone,including claims of defamation.

On May 12, 2015, UVA associate dean Nicole Eramo, chief administrator for handling sexual assault issues at the school, filed a $7.5 million defamation lawsuit in Charlottesville Circuit Court againstRolling Stoneand Erdely, claiming damage to her reputation and emotional distress. Said the filing, "Rolling Stoneand Erdely's highly defamatory and false statements about Dean Eramo were not the result of an innocent mistake. They were the result of a wanton journalist who was more concerned with writing an article that fulfilled her preconceived narrative about the victimization of women on American college campuses, and a malicious publisher who was more concerned about selling magazines to boost the economic bottom line for its faltering magazine, than they were about discovering the truth or actual facts. "On November 4, 2016, after 20 hours of deliberation,a jury consisting of eight women and two men foundRolling Stone,the magazine's publisher and Erdely liable for defaming Eramo, and awarded Eramo $3 million.

On July 29, 2015, three graduates of the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi filed a lawsuit againstRolling Stone,its publisher Wenner Media, and a journalist for defamation and infliction of emotional distress.The same day, and just months after the controversy began,The New York Timesreported that managing editor Will Dana was departing the magazine with his last date recorded as August 7, 2015.On November 9, 2015, the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity filed suit for $25 million for damages to its reputation caused by the magazine's publication of this story, "with reckless disregard for the truth".Rolling Stonepaid the fraternity $1.65 million to settle the suit out of court.

Ethics controversy over El Chapo interview

In 2016,Rolling StonecommissionedSean Pennto write a feature onJoaquín "El Chapo" Guzmánin what was billed as a landmark story and Guzmán's first-ever interview. Penn met Guzmán, then wanted by Mexican and U.S. authorities, at a jungle hideout for an interview, the interview agreed to by Guzmán on the condition he have final editorial control over the article.Upon publication, the article – characterized by theAssociated Pressas "long and rambling" – was extensively mocked by social media users and prompted a discussion about the magazine's ethical standards.Andrew Seaman, chairman of the ethics committee of the Society of Professional Journalists, called the decision to allow a source pre-approval of an article "inexcusable" while thePoynter Institute's chief ethicist Kelly McBride opined that the article evidenced several failures of editorial control byRolling Stone.In an interview withNPR,Alfredo Corchado, a formerMexico Citybureau chief for theDallas Morning News,said that pre-approval rights meant the story was not real journalism: "It's business, it's Hollywood. It's more in the lines of what a public relations firm would do."

Questions also arose as to whether lax security procedures by the magazine helped authorities track and capture Guzmán, who was arrested several days after the interview was conducted.Meanwhile,Kate del Castillo,who arranged the meeting, said that she had to flee the country after the article's publication and charged that Penn had "used me as a bait, and then he never protected me. And risked my life and my parents' life and my sister's life and everybody surrounding me".

Penn later said his article "had failed", noting that discussion about the ethics of the story overshadowed the actual report.

False ivermectin story

In September 2021,Rolling Stonepicked up a story published byOklahomanews outletKFORwhich claimed that so many people had been hospitalized due toivermectinoverdoses in Oklahoma that there was no room inintensive care unitsfor other patients, including those with gunshot wounds.However, an Oklahoma hospital said in a statement that there was no shortage of beds due to ivermectin overdoses,and the doctor who had been interviewed by KFOR had not said that ivermectin cases were crowding out other patients, but the initial story and subsequent coverage had linked separate comments about ivermectin overdoses and scarce beds.CNNfact-checkerDaniel Dalestated thatRolling Stonehad "[run] an adaptation of the KFOR story without appearing to do sufficient research to make sure the local report was sound".Rolling Stonesubsequently added an editor's note which retracted the core point of its story.

Kyle SmithofNational Reviewwrote thatRolling Stone's correction "is so humiliating, it's a wonder the place doesn't shut its doors immediately, liquidate all assets, and deny that it ever existed."Robby SoaveofReasonwrote that the correct story "was somethingRolling Stonecould have figured out on its own had the magazine bothered to contact any hospitals in Oklahoma, but alas. "Alex Shephard ofThe New Republicwrote: "Formainstreamand, particularly,liberalmedia this should be a stark reminder of the value of due diligence and checking sources. At the very least, make a phone call. "

James Gordon Meek child pornography case

On January 31, 2023,ABC NewsreporterJames Gordon Meekwas arrested by the FBI and charged with transporting child pornography.Rolling Stoneinitially broke the story, but did not mention the child sexual abuse images that led to the investigation, which were known to the reporters, instead suggesting that Meek had been "targeted" by the US government for his reporting on national security issues, writing that "Meek appears to be on the wrong side of the national-security apparatus".In the following months, it was revealed thatRolling StoneeditorNoah Shachtman,who personally knows Meek and is considered friendly with him, had the story rewritten before publication to exclude all mentions of the child sexual abuse material, without the original journalist Tatiana Siegel's knowledge.

In popular culture

George Harrison's 1975 song "This Guitar (Can't Keep from Crying)",a lyrical sequel to his Beatles track"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"(1968), references the magazine in its second verse:" Learned to get up when I fall / Can even climbRolling Stonewalls ". The song was written in response to some highly unfavorable reviews fromRolling Stoneand other publications forHarrison's 1974 North American tourand theDark Horsealbum.

The 2000 filmAlmost Famouscenters on a teenage journalist writing for the magazine in the early 1970s while covering the fictional band Stillwater. The film was directed byCameron Croweand based on his own experiences as a young journalist for the magazine in the same time period.

"The Cover of Rolling Stone"is a song written byShel Silversteinand first recorded by American rock groupDr. Hook & the Medicine Show.The song satirizes success in the music business; the song's narrator laments that his band, despite having the superficial attributes of a successful rock star (including drug usage, "teenage groupies, who'll do anything we say", and a frenetic guitar solo), has been unable to "get their pictures on the cover of theRolling Stone".

The title track ofPink Floyd's albumThe Final Cutfeatures the line, "Would you sell your story toRolling Stone?"

The trackBaker Street MuseonJethro Tull's albumMinstrel in the Galleryincludes the line"I have no time for Time Magazine or Rolling Stone".

Charlie Robison's 1998 song of lost love "Sunset Boulevard" name drops the magazine with the line, "Well, I wish I had my picture on the Rolling stone today".

InStephen King's novelFirestarter,the protagonists decide to tell their story toRolling Stone.

InJoni Mitchell's song "California", the magazine is referenced in the line, "ReadingRolling StonereadingVogue".

In May 2022, anoff-Broadwayplay adapted from the "A Rape on Campus" article controversy and resulting legal battles titledRetractionpremiered in New York City at Theatre Four atTheatre Row.

International editions

Publisher Steve DeLuca said the international editions typically include 50 to 80 percent of the American version of the magazine, translated in their own languages, and supplemented with local content.SincePMCtook over full ownership of the title,Rolling Stoneis published in 15 territories around the world, with the introduction ofRolling Stone UKin September 2021 the latest to be launched.

• Argentina– Published byLa Naciónsince April 1998.This edition also circulates inBolivia,ParaguayandUruguay.In 2007 it celebrated its ninth year by publishingRolling Stone Argentina's The 100 Greatest Albums of National Rock.
• Australia–Rolling Stone Australiabegan as a supplement in 1969 inRevolutionmagazine. It became a full title in 1971 published by Phillip Frazer. It was published by Silvertongues from 1974 to 1987 and bynextmediaPty Ltd, Sydney until 2008. Notable editors and contributors include Phillip Frazer, Alistair Jones, Paul and Jane Gardiner,Toby Creswell,Clinton Walkerand Kathy Bail. It was the longest running international edition but closed in January 2018.Rolling Stone Australiarelaunched in 2020.
• China– The originalRolling Stonefor mainland China was published by the One Media Group of Hong Kong.The magazine was in Chinese with translated articles and local content. It halted publication after one year.From January 2021, a new Chinese-languageRolling Stonemagazine started to be published in China.
• Colombia– Edited inBogotáfor Colombia,Ecuador,Perú,PanamaandVenezuela,since 1991.
• Croatia– Published from 2013to 2015 by S3 Mediji. This edition also circulates inBosnia and Herzegovina,North Macedonia,Montenegro,SerbiaandSlovenia.
• France– Went through multiple breaks and phases published by different companies. Initially launched in 1988.
• Germany– Published since 1994 byAxel Springer AG.
• India– Launched in March 2008 by MW.Com, publisher ofMan's World.
• Italy– Published since 1980. After ceasing publication in 1982, it was relaunched in November 2003, first by IXO Publishing, and then by Editrice Quadratum until April 2014. The magazine is currently published by Luciano Bernardini de Pace Editore. It ceased print edition in 2019, moving online.
• Japan– Launched in March 2007 by International Luxury Media. Published by atomixmedia Inc.(Kabushiki gaisha アトミックスメディア,KKatomikkusumedia)since 2011.
• Korea– Launched in 2020, under a license agreement withPenske Media Corporation.
• Mexico– Published byPRISAfrom November 2002to May 2009.Published from June 2009 by Editorial Televisa (subsidiary ofTelevisa) under license.
• Middle East– Published inDubaiby HGW Media since November 2010.
• Philippines– Launching in November 2024, under Modern Media Group.
• South Africa– Published since November 2011 by 3i Publishing.
• Turkey– Published since June 2006 by GD Gazete Dergi.
• United Kingdom– Published under the titleFriends of Rolling Stone,later shortened toFriendsand eventuallyFrendz,from 1969 to 1972.In September 2021, issue 001 of the bi-monthly 180-page British edition, priced at £6.95, was published under the titleRolling Stone UK,where it joined the American edition ofRolling Stoneon the shelves of British newsagents.

Defunct

• Brazil– Published in Brazil from October 2006 to May 2018 by Spring Comunicações,and currently owned by Grupo Perfil.In 1972, a pirated Brazilian edition ofRolling Stonewas created; this pirated edition was not officially recognized by the American publication.
• Bulgaria– Published inBulgariafrom November 2009 to August 2011 by Sivir Publications.
• Chile– Published from May 2003 to December 2005 by Edu Comunicaciones, and from January 2006 to December 2011 byEl Mercurio.
• Indonesia– Published from June 2005 to January 2018 by PT a&e Media.
• Russia– Published from 2004 until 2022 by Motor Media.
• Spain– Published by PROGRESA (subsidiary ofPRISA) inMadridfrom 1999 to 2015.

See also

• TheRolling StoneInterview
• Counterculture of the 1960s
• Rolling Stonecharts
• List of underground newspapers of the 1960s counterculture

Sources

• Green, Robin(August 21, 2018).The Only Girl: My Life and Times on the Masthead of Rolling Stone.Little, Brown.ISBN978-0-316-44005-9.The Only Girl (book)
• Hagan, Joe (October 24, 2017).Sticky Fingers: The Life and Times of Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine.Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.ISBN978-1-101-87438-7.
• Macadams, Lewis (October 2007).Jann Wenner and His Times.Random House.ISBN978-0-224-07349-3.
• Ragen, Brian Abel (2002).Tom Wolfe: A Critical Companion.Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press.ISBN0-313-31383-0.
• Wenner, Jann S. (September 13, 2022).Like a Rolling Stone: A Memoir.Little, Brown.ISBN978-0-316-41539-2.

Further reading

• Ember, Sydney (September 17, 2017)."Rolling Stone, Once a Counterculture Bible, Will Be Put Up for Sale".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.
• Bashe, Patricia R.; George-Warren, Holly; Pareles, Jon, eds. (2005) [1983].The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll.New York: Fireside.ISBN0-7432-9201-4.
• Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004) [1979, 1983, 1992].The New Rolling Stone Album Guide.New York: Simon & Schuster.ISBN0-7432-0169-8.
• Miller, Jim (1980) [1976].The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll.New York: Random House.ISBN0-394-51322-3.
• Rolling Stone Cover to Cover – the First 40 Years: Searchable Digital Archive-Every Page, Every Issue.Renton, WA: Bondi Digital Pub. 2007.ISBN978-0-9795261-0-7.
• Swenson, John (1985).The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide.New York: Rolling Stone.ISBN0-394-72643-X.

External links

• Official website
• Glixel ArchivedDecember 31, 2016, at theWayback Machine