Page 14 - aruba-today-20220819

A14 PEOPLE & ARTS
Friday 19 august 2022
Rock mag Creem attempts comeback after more than 30 years

By DAVID BAUDER to Creem. It’s almost like 1982, is no longer around,
NEW YORK (AP) — Creem, it was predetermined in a there are many new voices
which billed itself as “Amer- way that I couldn’t fight it.” important to the current
ica’s only rock ‘n’ roll mag- Kramer regained control scene, some working on fo-
azine” during two decades of Creem, although it took rums like Substack, he said.
of existence that ended in several years. It helps that The first issue’s mix of ar-
1989, is being revived next he’s an intellectual prop- ticles speaks to Creem’s
month. erty attorney. intended breadth. For nos-
The return is a remarkable Now he’s chairman, again, talgists, there’s an excerpt
story of persistence by and has put together a of a never-published book
J.J. Kramer, who was be- plan for the revival along on the Who, a reevaluation
queathed the magazine with John Martin, a former of a 1972 rock album put
at age 4 upon the death Vice publisher who is CEO out by the Osmonds and a
of his father, founder Barry of Creem Entertainment. revival of the “Stars’ Cars”
Kramer. It will reappear dur- The idea is to make Creem feature with Slash and his
ing far different times, with the centerpiece of a me- wheels. There are stories
a marketing plan that the dia company that includes on newer artists of various
late writer Lester Bangs or podcasts, merchandise popularity levels like Mac
makers of the fake “Boy and branded entertain- DeMarco and Amyl and
Howdy” beer could hardly ment. the Sniffers and personali-
conceive of. “Why is there not a Creem- ties from rap and R&B like Lil
The first new issue, a glossy This image shows the September 2022 issue of Creem. fest?” Martin asked. “That’s Aaron and KeiyaA.
quarterly, is due out in Sep- Associated Press something that sounds like Samir Husni, founder and
tember and only available it should exist and it will ex- director of the Magazine
to people who spend $79 and its reviews could be Kramer’s death from a drug ist.” Media Center, said he’s
for a subscription. nasty along with sexist overdose in 1981 marked Yet it’s not the 1970s any- already paid for a sub-
Founded in Detroit, Creem and profane. Bangs was the beginning of the end. more. Rock ‘n’ roll is no lon- scription and is impressed
was the impish, slightly rude the toughest, and his feud His son was named in the ger as influential in culture by the new business plan.
younger brother of Rolling with Lou Reed was leg- magazine’s masthead as as it once was; popular Plenty of people remember
Stone. The name was an in- endary. Creem poked fun a preschool “chairman of music is dominated by rap Creem fondly and would
tentional misspelling of the at a stuffy Dewar’s scotch the board.” Barry Kramer’s and pop. The music press be curious about a reboot,
rock band Cream, one of profiles ad campaign by widow, Connie, as publish- is as diffuse as music itself. he said.
the first editor’s favorites. picturing artists holding er and acting on her son’s The well-made rock ‘n’ roll “They are looking for cus-
Though known best for Mo- beer cans emblazoned behalf because he was a glossies on the market, like tomers who count, instead
town soul, Detroit was also with a “Boy Howdy” logo minor, sold the bankrupt Mojo or Uncut, are British- of counting customers,”
a rock ‘n’ roll hotbed with drawn by cartoonist Rob- publication in 1985. Creem based. Husni said.
artists like MC5, Iggy Pop, ert Crumb. In a 2019 docu- ceased publishing four Kramer and Martin believe That said, magazine reviv-
Alice Cooper, Mitch Ryder mentary about the maga- years later. there’s still room for a publi- als are more likely to fail
and Bob Seger. Hard rock- zine, former R.E.M. singer With all the bravado of a cation that pulls rock ‘n’ roll then succeed, he said. A
ing bands, and then the Michael Stipe recalled first 9-year-old, J.J. Kramer re- fans together, from people brand may have value,
onslaught of punk, provid- seeing Creem while in high members telling his mother who like HAIM to fans of but not if people think time
ed the magazine’s back- school detention, realizing he would get it back some Metallica. The world also has passed it by. Husni said
bone in its 1970s heyday. that he’d found the perfect day. needs people who can Creem may have to rethink
Creem was an incubator gang of misfits. “I’ve really spent most of write about the genre with its plans not to offer the
of writing talent like Dave “Buying Creem was a little my adult life trying to get to attitude, Martin said. magazine on newsstands
Marsh, Robert Christgau, bit like buying Playboy,” this point,” he told The Asso- “When was the last time or in bookstores.
Lisa Robinson, Cameron actor Jeff Daniels said in ciated Press in advance of you laughed when you The revival has been drain-
Crowe and Greil Marcus. the documentary. “You the revival. “It’s something I read about music?” Martin ing physically, emotionally
Rock stars weren’t put didn’t want your parents felt like I had to do. There’s said. and mentally, Kramer said.
on a pedestal in Creem, seeing either one of them.” a magnet that draws me While Bangs, who died in q

CNN cancels ‘Reliable Sources,’ host Stelter leaving network

NEW YORK (AP) — CNN has get of the CNN’s conserva- grateful for his nine years
canceled its weekly “Reli- tive critics. at CNN, proud of the show
able Sources” show on the Stelter came to CNN from and thankful to its viewers.
media, and said Thursday The New York Times, where “It was a rare privilege to
that its host, Brian Stelter, is he was a media writer. lead a weekly show fo-
leaving the network. “He departs CNN as an im- cused on the press at a
The show will have its last peccable broadcaster,” time when it has never
broadcast this Sunday. said Amy Entelis, execu- been more consequen-
CNN has been looking to tive vice president of talent tial,” he said.
cut costs but also to put and content development “I’ll have more to say on
forth a less opinionated at CNN. Sunday.”
product. “We are proud of what The “Reliable Sources”
Stelter has written a book, Brian and his team ac- newsletter, a daily com-
“Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox complished over the years, pendium of the media’s
News and the Dangerous and we’re confident their big stories, will continue
Brian Stelter attends the 15th annual CNN Heroes All-Star Tribute Distortion of Truth” and impact and influence will and will be led by CNN se-
in New York on Dec. 12, 2021. been critical of Fox News, long outlive the show.” nior media reporter Oliver
Associated Press making him a frequent tar- Stelter said that he was Darcy.q