IT had seemed that the predominance of the internet in the early noughties marked the end of music publications in print and paper form. But some specialised publications such as Metal Edge are resisting.
Readers can now once more pick up this 100% rock magazine, following more than a decade of its not appearing, having stopped publishing in 2009.
Metal Edge was first published by Sterling Publishing in 1985 under the editorship of Gerri Miller. The magazine quickly became known to music lovers for its interviews and, especially, its photography of rock greats like Metallica, Van Halen, Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe.
In 2007, trock publication was bought by the Zenbu Media group, along with specialist magazine Metal Maniacs. Two years later, both titles stopped publishing due to the economic crisis that print media was experiencing at the time.
But those days seem to be behind us: Richard Bienstock, editor-in-chief of Metal Edge, announced the magazine's return in a letter to music fans. They can now read Metal Edge exclusively online, and find the interviews and features that made the magazine famous in the '80s and '90s.
"Back in the day, Metal Edge's mix of exclusive artist interviews, onstage, backstage, in-the-studio and behind-the-scenes reporting, up-to-the-minute news and high-quality photography helped to define the look, sound and feel of heavy music," wrote Richard Bienstock on the Metal Edge website.
"Now, that distinctive voice and perspective is back, as we proudly present to you the brand-new Metal Edge."
The return of classic titles
The editor-in-chief mentioned the possibility of publishing, in the future, special and collector's editions of Metal Edge. The magazine has already posted an exclusive feature with Nikki Sixx and has created a special Archive section.
There are interviews with Bret Michaels of Poison, Alice Cooper, James Hetfield of Metallica and Michael Monroe, the leader of the band Hanoi Rocks.
Metal Edge is not the only magazine to rise from the ashes in recent years. The Face returned to newsstands in September 2019, after a 15-year absence. At the time, the British publication decided to put Rosalia, Tyler the Creator, Harry Styles and Dua Lipa on the cover of this first new issue.
Particularly fashionable during the '80s, The Face helped launch the careers of model Kate Moss, photographer Juergen Teller and the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen. It stopped publishing its print edition in 2004.
The editors of Q have also decided to resurrect that British music magazine as a newsletter. Music lovers can subscribe to it on the Substack platform and discover, every week, interviews with musicians like Miles Kane and Elvis Costello. – ETX Daily Up, January 29, 2022
