Glass reviews 50 Years of Rolling Stone magazine

RARELY has a magazine so devoted to popular culture achieved as seminal a level of influence as Rolling Stone. In its 50 years, it has variously segued from being a beacon of music coverage to a powerhouse in investigative journalism and then a showcase of youth screen culture before returning to its current mix of music, politics and commentary.

Book cover – 50 years of Rolling Stone

This book looks at Rolling Stone magazine through these transitions – from the late 1960s when it was founded — with iconic coverage of Woodstock and its countercultures — to the politically charged 1970s — with writing from Hunter S Thompson and other writers of the generation including Patti Smith and P J O’Rourke. Whilst the ensuing decades saw a shift towards popular entertainment and a younger audience, this resulted in a decline that led to a return to its roots of music and politics.

Photograph of Tina Turner – Rolling Stone Magazine

Much of their current success now rests on their original strengths: consistently powerful photography — from the likes of Seliger, Leibovitz, Ritts amongst others — and bold, critical writing — recently from Matt Taibbi and Mark Hastings. Although recently rocked by a controversial false assault article, its place in history as one of the great cultural magazines looks set to remain and this selection of its best articles and images reminds us why.

Photography of Michael Jackson – Rolling Stone Magazine