Gear (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Gear was an English language
lad's mag published by Bob Guccione, Jr.
in the United Kingdom
devoted chiefly to revealing pictorials of popular singers, B-movie actress
es, and models
, along with articles on gadgets, cars, fashion, guy tales of sex, and sports.
Gear debuted in September 1998, with actress Peta Wilson
on the cover. The magazine established itself with several publishing stunts such as publishing a nude photo of Women's football
celebrity Brandi Chastain
.
When Gear featured a nude pictorial of actress Jessica Biel
, who posed while appearing on the family drama 7th Heaven
and was then 17 years old, actor Stephen Collins who played her father on the show, described the pictures as "child pornography
". Others praised it as a brave move.
Guccione described his vision for the magazine as being a successor to the likes of Esquire
and GQ and to produce a literate magazine that includes quality journalism alongside articles on celebrities and fashion. Advertisers viewed the magazine as being more like Maxim
, Stuff
, or FHM
, forcing it into the category of Lads mags. Efforts were made to change the magazine's perceived image as a lads mag and instead of scantily clad female celebrities to present different cover images, including notable actors such as Elijah Wood
and Christian Slater
.
Gear closed its doors in 2003 with the intention of relaunching at a later date, hoping to break out of the lads mag category as Details
had done.
The magazine was described as similar to Spin
also founded by Bob Guccione, Jr.
, and was praised for attempts to achieve the same kind of serious journalism.
Ann Gerhart of The Washington Post
described the magazine derisively as "the frat boy's Esquire".
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
lad's mag published by Bob Guccione, Jr.
Bob Guccione, Jr.
Robert Charles Guccione, Jr. is the eldest son of Penthouse founder Bob Guccione. He is best known for founding music magazine Spin.-Publishing career:...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
devoted chiefly to revealing pictorials of popular singers, B-movie actress
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
es, and models
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, along with articles on gadgets, cars, fashion, guy tales of sex, and sports.
Gear debuted in September 1998, with actress Peta Wilson
Peta Wilson
Peta Gia Wilson is an Australian actress and model. She is best known as Nikita in the television series La Femme Nikita.-Early life:...
on the cover. The magazine established itself with several publishing stunts such as publishing a nude photo of Women's football
Women's football (soccer)
Women's association football has been played for many decades, but was associated with charity games and physical exercise in the past before the breakthrough of organized women's association football came in the 1970s. Before the 1970s, football was basically seen as a men's game...
celebrity Brandi Chastain
Brandi Chastain
Brandi Denise Chastain is a professional American soccer defender and midfielder who plays for the team California Storm of Women's Premier Soccer League and is a former member of the United States women's national soccer team....
.
When Gear featured a nude pictorial of actress Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel
Jessica Claire Biel is an American actress, model, and occasional singer. Biel is known for her television role as Mary Camden in the long-running family-drama series 7th Heaven...
, who posed while appearing on the family drama 7th Heaven
7th Heaven
7th Heaven is an American family drama television series, created and produced by Brenda Hampton. The series premiered on August 26, 1996, on the WB, the first time that the network aired Monday night programming, and was originally broadcast from August 26, 1996 to May 13, 2007...
and was then 17 years old, actor Stephen Collins who played her father on the show, described the pictures as "child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
". Others praised it as a brave move.
Guccione described his vision for the magazine as being a successor to the likes of Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
and GQ and to produce a literate magazine that includes quality journalism alongside articles on celebrities and fashion. Advertisers viewed the magazine as being more like Maxim
Maxim (magazine)
Maxim is an international men's magazine based in the United Kingdom and known for its pictorials featuring popular actresses, singers, and female models, sometimes pictured dressed, often pictured scantily dressed but not fully nude....
, Stuff
Stuff (magazine)
Stuff is a men's magazine featuring reviews of consumer electronics, and other articles of interest to a predominantly male audience.- UK edition :...
, or FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
, forcing it into the category of Lads mags. Efforts were made to change the magazine's perceived image as a lads mag and instead of scantily clad female celebrities to present different cover images, including notable actors such as Elijah Wood
Elijah Wood
Elijah Jordan Wood is an American actor. He made his film debut with a minor part in Back to the Future Part II , then landed a succession of larger roles that made him a critically acclaimed child actor by age 9. He is best known for his high-profile role as Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson's...
and Christian Slater
Christian Slater
Christian Michael Leonard Slater is an American actor. He made his film debut with a small role in The Postman Always Rings Twice before playing a leading role in the 1985 film The Legend of Billie Jean...
.
Gear closed its doors in 2003 with the intention of relaunching at a later date, hoping to break out of the lads mag category as Details
Details (magazine)
Details is an American monthly men's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, founded in 1982. Though primarily a magazine devoted to fashion and lifestyle, Details also features reports on relevant social and political issues.-History:...
had done.
The magazine was described as similar to Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
also founded by Bob Guccione, Jr.
Bob Guccione, Jr.
Robert Charles Guccione, Jr. is the eldest son of Penthouse founder Bob Guccione. He is best known for founding music magazine Spin.-Publishing career:...
, and was praised for attempts to achieve the same kind of serious journalism.
Ann Gerhart of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
described the magazine derisively as "the frat boy's Esquire".