Maximum RocknRoll
Encyclopedia
Maximum rocknroll is a widely distributed, monthly not-for-profit fanzine based in San Francisco, USA. It features interviews, columns, and reviews from international contributors. Along with HeartattaCk and Punk Planet
—who ceased publishing in 2006 and 2007 respectively—Maximum RocknRoll is considered by many to be one of the most important presences in punk, not only because of its wide-ranging coverage, but because it has been a constant and ideologically influential presence in the ever-changing punk
community for three decades.
Maximum RocknRoll was an off-shoot of a Berkeley
punk radio show in the early 1980s, but it is in its zine
form that MRR exerted its greatest influence and became as close to an institution as punk ideology
allows. It was founded by Tim Yohannan
in 1982 as the newsprint booklet in Not So Quiet on the Western Front
, a compilation LP released on the then-Dead Kennedys
' label Alternative Tentacles
. The compilation included 47 Nevada
and Northern California
bands.
The first issues focused on more-local bands like musical and subcultural fixtures MDC
. The coverage soon expanded to the entire continent and, by issue five, cover stories included features on Brazilian and Dutch underground punk. In the '80s, MRR was one of the very few US fanzines that insisted on the international scope of the punk movement, and strove to cover scenes around the world. Today the zine
has surpassed its 300th issue, and continues to include international content and a strong political bent. As one of punk's largest zines, its reviews sections - MRR reviews records, demos and other fanzines - is one of the most comprehensive. It also reviews books, films, and videos.
s which fund most mainstream artists. Every month, MRR publishes many submission-based band interviews. In addition, scene reports from across the globe keep the worldwide punk scene connected.
MRR has always had a policy of not giving coverage to, nor accepting advertising from, bands that record on major labels; that policy was soon extended to bands that are "produced and distributed" by or otherwise a subsidiary of a major label. For many years the magazine turned a large profit, but much of that money was "invested" into community projects, the most notable of which was probably the "Gilman Street Project", which created 924 Gilman Street
, one of the world's most important and longest-lasting, punk rock clubs using a mostly volunteer staff (security are paid a percentage of each evening's door). MRR also directly sponsored The Epicenter Zone, a record store and show space in San Francisco. Furthermore, the zine gave thousands of dollars to other "projects" and clubs around the world.
Since Yohannan's 1998 death, the magazine has continued to operate on essentially the same economic principles. There have been eleven different content coordinators and two distribution coordinators in that time.
, Jeff Bale, Chris Bickel
, Jennifer Blowdryer, Anonymous Boy
, Mike Bullshit, Eugene Chadbourne
, Felix Havoc, Larry Livermore
, Kent McClard
, Nick Pell, Jack Rabid, Ben Weasel
, Matt Wobensmith
, Wells Tipley, George Tabb
, Jen Angel, and editor Tim Yohannan.
Its pages have served as the springboard for a wide variety of artists like Ted Rall
and Dan Henk
.
) has also been an argument used to criticize the zine, which has sometimes been referred to as the 'Bible' of punk. This criticism spawned the creation of Punk Planet
and HeartattaCk.
Musicians have also spoken out against the magazine. Jello Biafra
claimed the magazine's criticism of him inspired people to assault him at a 1994 performance at 924 Gilman Street
, though his assailants were not known to be affiliated with MRR in any way. He also claimed that their narrow definition of punk music amounts to a new form of political correctness. According to Biafra, "If 'Holiday in Cambodia
' were released today, it would be banned from Maximum Rock N'Roll for not sounding punk." Jared Swilley, bassist in Atlanta punk band Black Lips
, has criticized the magazine saying in an interview with Clash that it is the "most bullshit piece of fuck garbage poor excuse for a magazine ever. They’re like: ‘Oh, we want to keep everything ‘authentic’…’ And I’m like, fuck them! Don’t use a computer, don’t use a car, don’t drink Coca-Cola. Move to a field, grow your own food." The song "MRR" by Fifteen
criticizes Maximumrocknroll for petty articles and reviews and being "Big Brother's little brother".
Punk Planet
Punk Planet was a 16,000 print run punk zine, based in Chicago, Illinois, that focused most of its energy on looking at punk subculture rather than punk as simply another genre of music to which teenagers listen. In addition to covering music, Punk Planet also covered visual arts and a wide...
—who ceased publishing in 2006 and 2007 respectively—Maximum RocknRoll is considered by many to be one of the most important presences in punk, not only because of its wide-ranging coverage, but because it has been a constant and ideologically influential presence in the ever-changing punk
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
community for three decades.
Maximum RocknRoll was an off-shoot of a Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
punk radio show in the early 1980s, but it is in its zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
form that MRR exerted its greatest influence and became as close to an institution as punk ideology
Punk ideology
Punk ideologies are a group of varied social and political beliefs associated with the punk subculture. In its original incarnation, the punk subculture was primarily concerned with concepts such as rebellion, anti-authoritarianism, individualism, free thought and discontent...
allows. It was founded by Tim Yohannan
Tim Yohannan
Tim Yohannan, born August 15, 1945, died April 3, 1998 in San Francisco, California of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, was the founder of Maximum Rocknroll , a radio show and zine documenting the punk scene around the world...
in 1982 as the newsprint booklet in Not So Quiet on the Western Front
Not So Quiet on the Western Front
Not So Quiet on the Western Front is a classic hardcore compilation released in 1982 by Alternative Tentacles. It documented the northern California and Nevada punk scene...
, a compilation LP released on the then-Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
' label Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
. The compilation included 47 Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and Northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
bands.
The first issues focused on more-local bands like musical and subcultural fixtures MDC
MDC (band)
MDC is an American hardcore punk band formed in Austin, Texas in 1979. The band were subsequently based in San Francisco, California, and are currently based in Portland, Oregon. MDC originally formed as The Stains before changing their name...
. The coverage soon expanded to the entire continent and, by issue five, cover stories included features on Brazilian and Dutch underground punk. In the '80s, MRR was one of the very few US fanzines that insisted on the international scope of the punk movement, and strove to cover scenes around the world. Today the zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
has surpassed its 300th issue, and continues to include international content and a strong political bent. As one of punk's largest zines, its reviews sections - MRR reviews records, demos and other fanzines - is one of the most comprehensive. It also reviews books, films, and videos.
Ethics
MRR has a large and dedicated all-volunteer staff. MRR reinforces the values of the punk underground by remaining independent and not-for-profit in contrast to the small number of the major media conglomerateMedia conglomerate
A media conglomerate, media group or media institution is a company that owns large numbers of companies in various mass media such as television, radio, publishing, movies, and the Internet...
s which fund most mainstream artists. Every month, MRR publishes many submission-based band interviews. In addition, scene reports from across the globe keep the worldwide punk scene connected.
MRR has always had a policy of not giving coverage to, nor accepting advertising from, bands that record on major labels; that policy was soon extended to bands that are "produced and distributed" by or otherwise a subsidiary of a major label. For many years the magazine turned a large profit, but much of that money was "invested" into community projects, the most notable of which was probably the "Gilman Street Project", which created 924 Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street is an all-ages, not for profit, collectively organized music club usually referred to by its fans simply as "The Gilman." It is located in the West Berkeley area of Berkeley, California about a mile and a half west of the North Berkeley BART station and a quarter-mile west of San...
, one of the world's most important and longest-lasting, punk rock clubs using a mostly volunteer staff (security are paid a percentage of each evening's door). MRR also directly sponsored The Epicenter Zone, a record store and show space in San Francisco. Furthermore, the zine gave thousands of dollars to other "projects" and clubs around the world.
Since Yohannan's 1998 death, the magazine has continued to operate on essentially the same economic principles. There have been eleven different content coordinators and two distribution coordinators in that time.
Writers
Over its years of publishing, MRR has featured a number of prominent writers, musicians, and personalities as columnists, such as Mykel BoardMykel Board
Mykel Board is a regularly published journalist, especially well known for his articles in Maximumrocknroll....
, Jeff Bale, Chris Bickel
Chris Bickel
Chris Bickel most notably fronted the bands In/Humanity and Guyana Punch Line. Both bands could be considered to be Powerviolence and Hardcore punk, but Bickel jokingly described In/Humanity's music as Emo Violence and introduced the philosophy of Smashism with Guyana Punch Line. .In/Humanity...
, Jennifer Blowdryer, Anonymous Boy
Anonymous Boy
Anonymous Boy is the pen name of Tony Arena, an artist, writer and filmmaker who resides in New York City. Anonymous Boy is also the title of his self-published comics zine.- Comics and Artistic Work :...
, Mike Bullshit, Eugene Chadbourne
Eugene Chadbourne
Eugene Chadbourne is an American improvisor, guitarist and banjoist. Highly eclectic and unconventional, Chadbourne's most formative influence is free jazz. He has also been a reviewer for Allmusic and a contributor to Maximum RocknRoll.Chadbourne started out playing rock and roll guitar, but...
, Felix Havoc, Larry Livermore
Larry Livermore
Lawrence "Larry" Hayes , best known by the pseudonym Larry Livermore, is an American musician, record producer, and music journalist. He is best known as the co-founder of Lookout! Records.-Biography:...
, Kent McClard
Kent McClard
Kent McClard is a record label owner and zine publisher from Goleta, California. His work has been a prominent and influential presence in the DIY hardcore and punk scenes.-Ebullition Records:...
, Nick Pell, Jack Rabid, Ben Weasel
Ben Weasel
Ben Weasel is a punk rock musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of bands Screeching Weasel and The Riverdales...
, Matt Wobensmith
Outpunk
Outpunk enjoys the distinction of being the first record label entirely devoted to queer punk bands.The label was run out of San Francisco and began as an extension of Matt Wobensmith's fanzine, Outpunk. Outpunk ran for seven issues, from 1992 till 1997, with contributions from queer punks such as...
, Wells Tipley, George Tabb
George Tabb
George Tabb is a founding member and song writer in such punk bands as Roach Motel, Atoms for Peace, False Prophets, Letch Patrol, Gynocologists, Iron Prostate and Furious George....
, Jen Angel, and editor Tim Yohannan.
Its pages have served as the springboard for a wide variety of artists like Ted Rall
Ted Rall
Ted Rall is an American columnist, syndicated editorial cartoonist, and author. His political cartoons often appear in a multi-panel comic-strip format and frequently blend comic-strip and editorial-cartoon conventions. The cartoons appear in approximately 100 newspapers around the United States...
and Dan Henk
Dan Henk
Daniel Jonathan Henk is an American artist and writer, noted for his work in tattooing and painting. He has produced record-album covers, political cartoons, controversial articles, and a variety of other media....
.
Criticism
The fact that MRR has become so large has not been without controversy; the zine has many critics on a number of issues. Editorial policy has sometimes been accused as narrow-minded or even elitist, causing some labels to boycott advertising in the zine or sending releases for review. The fact that punk is often considered as a movement opposed to authority and large institutions (see punk ideologyPunk ideology
Punk ideologies are a group of varied social and political beliefs associated with the punk subculture. In its original incarnation, the punk subculture was primarily concerned with concepts such as rebellion, anti-authoritarianism, individualism, free thought and discontent...
) has also been an argument used to criticize the zine, which has sometimes been referred to as the 'Bible' of punk. This criticism spawned the creation of Punk Planet
Punk Planet
Punk Planet was a 16,000 print run punk zine, based in Chicago, Illinois, that focused most of its energy on looking at punk subculture rather than punk as simply another genre of music to which teenagers listen. In addition to covering music, Punk Planet also covered visual arts and a wide...
and HeartattaCk.
Musicians have also spoken out against the magazine. Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
claimed the magazine's criticism of him inspired people to assault him at a 1994 performance at 924 Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street is an all-ages, not for profit, collectively organized music club usually referred to by its fans simply as "The Gilman." It is located in the West Berkeley area of Berkeley, California about a mile and a half west of the North Berkeley BART station and a quarter-mile west of San...
, though his assailants were not known to be affiliated with MRR in any way. He also claimed that their narrow definition of punk music amounts to a new form of political correctness. According to Biafra, "If 'Holiday in Cambodia
Holiday in Cambodia
"Holiday in Cambodia" was the second single by the American punk band Dead Kennedys. The record was released in May 1980 on Alternative Tentacles with "Police Truck" as the b-side...
' were released today, it would be banned from Maximum Rock N'Roll for not sounding punk." Jared Swilley, bassist in Atlanta punk band Black Lips
Black Lips
Black Lips are a "Flower Punk" band from Atlanta, Georgia.-History:The band formed in 1999 in Dunwoody, Georgia after guitarist Cole Alexander and bassist Jared Swilley left the Renegades, and guitarist Ben Eberbaugh left the Reruns. Alexander and Swilley were known for their crude antics both...
, has criticized the magazine saying in an interview with Clash that it is the "most bullshit piece of fuck garbage poor excuse for a magazine ever. They’re like: ‘Oh, we want to keep everything ‘authentic’…’ And I’m like, fuck them! Don’t use a computer, don’t use a car, don’t drink Coca-Cola. Move to a field, grow your own food." The song "MRR" by Fifteen
Fifteen (band)
Fifteen was a punk rock band formed by Jeff Ott. Ott was the group's main songwriter and only consistent member. According to Ott, the band had a total of fifteen members by the time it finally disbanded in 2000: Jack Curran, Mikey Mischief, Mark Moreno, Jean Repetto, Lucky Dog, Chris Flanagan,...
criticizes Maximumrocknroll for petty articles and reviews and being "Big Brother's little brother".
External links
- maximumrocknroll.com - official website, includes the online version of MRR Radio.