Creem Magazine is back. After an 8-year hiatus, the classic rock rag that launched the career of editor/author/Springsteen-worshipper Dave Marsh, elevated Lester Bangs to rockcrit boddhisatva status, and introduced Americans to the Velvet Underground and the Stooges is online and ready to roll the presses once more. Will they give a much-needed kick in the ass to a moribund field of journalism?
http://www.creemmedia.com
Creem -- 1968-88 and 1990-94
This legendary rock publication was founded and published by Barry Kramer in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. Creem set out to cover the music and cultural scene with style and distinction. It succeeded. Creem certainly had the cream of the country's rock writers: Robert Christgau (who pioneered rating records with A to F ratings, like school report cards), Greil Marcus and Dave Marsh (respected authors, both of Rolling Stone fame), and of course probably the funniest and most prolific rock 'n' roll writer of our time, the late Lester Bangs (if you haven't read his collection of writings, Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung, you really should). With all this talent under one banner, Creem really covered the cultural bases. It did in-depth articles on the hottest bands, and star interviews, of course. But there were also penetrating book reviews, record reviews, movie reviews, and "think" pieces. In its later years, two of the more fun features were the one-page Creem profile and Creem Dream. Up and coming artists done in a fun tongue-in-cheek (ripoff of liquor ads) style, including the legendary Boy-Howdy trademark Barry Kramer published Creem until his death in 1981. Kramer had a real sense of humor, and the magazine reported that it killed him. Allegedly, he died in a car with a friend from over inhalation of nitrous oxide (laughing gas). In 1982, it was sold to another company in Los Angeles. It continued to be a fine magazine, , but was never quite the same again. In 1988, Creem ceased publication. It was revived for about 18 months by a new company, Alternative Media, in August of 1990. Over the years, Creem put out scores of special issues and spinoffs, including: Creem Close-Up, Creem Presents, Creem Special Edition, and Creem Rock Shots.
Creem -- 1968-88 and 1990-94