New York rocker 1976–1984

This iconic punk rock and new wave magazine was published in 57 issues between 1976 and 1984. Edited first by Alan Betrock and later by Andy Schwartz, New York rocker’s circulation peaked at about 35,000 copies a month. Early front pages highlighted local New York rock acts, but later front covers, many featuring photographs by Laura Levine, testify to a stylistic and geographic eclecticism: The Clash, Bow Wow Wow, The Go Gos, jazz guitarist James Blood Ulmer, Tina Weymouth of the Talking Heads, and legendary DJ Grandmaster Flash. An article on the music scene of Athens, Georgia, featured R.E.M. before the band had even released a single. The New York-based power pop group The dB's recorded several demos in the zine’s offices and paid tribute through their song, I read New York rocker.