Background

The magazine was a departure from the mainstream and its writing style unique with its own opinion described as almost partisan.^[5] The magazine was first published in 1970. It was created by Greg Shaw and his wife. The magazine chronicled bands that Shaw deemed worthy of covering. And he did it passionately.^[6] Shaw made it known too that the magazine was not going to cater to nostalgia or be an info receptacle for fanatical collectors of obscure out of print records.^[7]

A significant number of writers who wrote for the magazine went on to greater things.^[6] Two journalists who had their careers launched via the magazine were Lester Bangs and Greil Marcus.^[8]

Staff

Ken Barnes who wrote articles like "10 Greatest Power Pop Songs" for Best Classic Bands, and other publications such as Fusion and Phonograph Record was once co-editor for the magazine.^[9] Jay Kinney who was a key man in the underground comics movement in the late 1960s, served as art director for the magazine.^[10]

Greg Shaw

Shaw was one of the first and best-known rock fanzine editors. Active in science fiction fandom as a young man, he became familiar with fanzines. Shaw founded one of the earliest rock fanzines, the mimeographed Mojo Navigator and Rock 'n Roll News in 1966.