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![]() Cover for the August/September 2014 issue featuring Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park | |
Editor in Chief | Brandon Geist |
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Categories | Music magazine |
Frequency | Bi-monthly |
Circulation | 100,000 |
Founder |
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First issue | Spring 2000 |
Company | Project M Group LLC |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Website | revolvermag |
ISSN | 1527-408X |
Revolver is an American heavy metal music and hard rock magazine, published by Project M Group. It was originally launched under Harris Publications in the spring of 2000 by Tom Beaujour and Brad Tolinski, who envisioned it as an American version of Mojo . After five issues, it was relaunched in late 2001 with a focus on heavy music. The magazine features both established acts and up-and-comers in heavy music.
Revolver was originally conceived by Tom Beaujour and Brad Tolinski, whom both had experience working for the Harris Publications magazine Guitar World . [1] Beaujour was hired by Tolinski as an intern at the magazine in 1993, later becoming its managing editor, before quitting on January 1, 1998, to pursue touring with a band he was in. [1] A year later, Beajour quit his band and was re-hired by Tolinski to do some freelancing work for Guitar World, at which point they began discussing the idea of Revolver magazine, which they envisioned it as an American version of Mojo . [1] Beaujour claimed that Harris Publications involvement in the magazine was "a legitimate reward" for Tolinski, as he had, by extension of turning Guitar World into a successful publication, "[taken] Harris from a ghetto place that did crossword puzzle books to a serious [business]." [1]
Revolver's first issue, featuring Jim Morrison on the cover, was published in the spring of 2000 with the tagline "The World's Most Wanted Music Magazine". [1] The original version of the magazine did not sell well, and was cancelled by Harris after the publication of its fifth issue in May/June 2001. [1] Beaujour and Tolinski later attributed a lack of direction, both editorially and with its writers, and the costs of its writers as contributing factors to the publication's initial downfall. [1] [2] Despite this, Harris liked the magazine's name and was reluctant to end its publication. The publisher suggested turning it into a quarterly classic rock magazine, to which Tolinski pushed for it going in a harder direction towards heavy metal, feeling it would be cheaper and have a more focused audience. [1] [2] Beaujour stated: "We talked about it a lot. Classic rock is starting to falter in the newsstand world. We learned that at Revolver and at Guitar World. So we decided to make it metal." [1] After agreeing its new direction, Tolinski departed the magazine and Beaujour moved from its executive editor to its editor-in-chief. [1]
The relaunched, metal-focused Revolver launched with its September/October 2001 issue featuring Slipknot on the cover, now bearing the tagline "The World's Loudest Rock Magazine". [1] According to Beaujor, "It sold. It sold well." [1] From 2001 until 2016, Pantera and Hellyeah drummer Vinnie Paul wrote an advice column in the magazine. [3] [4] [5] Lacuna Coil vocalist Cristina Scabbia began writing an advice column for the magazine from 2005 onwards, something she credited to Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe. [6] [7]
In March 2006, Harris sold the magazine to Future US, Inc. for US$4 million. [8] [9] At the point of sale, the magazine had gross profits of $500,000 from a turnover of $3.7 million. [8] [9] In 2012, Future plc sold Revolver to NewBay Media. [10] In May 2017, Revolver was bought by Project M Group LLC. [11] In the fall of that year, the magazine underwent a brand relaunch, including a redesigned print edition and website, intended to embody the art and culture of heavy music. [11]
The Epiphone Revolver Golden Gods Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony established in 2009 by Revolver magazine. [12] Originally called the Revolver Golden God Awards they went on hiatus in 2015 and came back in 2016. [13]
From 2006 until 2017, Revolver annually published a feature/issue/calendar of the "Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock" (known as "Hottest Chicks in Metal" until 2011). [14] [15] Conceived by then-Revolver editor-in-chief Tom Beaujour, the first edition of the feature (titled "The 13 Sexiest Chicks in Metal"), published in March 2006, became the second best-selling issue in the magazine's history behind their March 2005 Dimebag Darrell tribute issue. [14] It would serve as the inspiration for the "Hottest Chick in Metal" award at the Golden God Awards (until it was removed in 2011), [16] [17] [18] as well the "Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock Tour", from 2011 until 2015. [18] [19] The feature was last published in Revolver's April/May 2017 issue, [20] after which it was discontinued following the magazine's acquisition by Project M Group. [21] [22]
Because Revolver did not feature many female acts in their magazine outside of the feature (at the time), several publications and commentators perceived the feature as, and frequently criticized it for being, sexist in its portrayal of women in rock and metal. [14] [15] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] Metal Edge (2006) and Decibel (2012) produced their own one-off issues covering women in metal in response to the feature. [14] [28] In February 2010, Angela Gossow, then-vocalist of Arch Enemy and a former participant in the feature, criticized Revolver for featuring an image she did not want used in the 2010 "Hottest Chicks" feature, and called it "an embarrassment for female musicians, who actually are musicians." [29] Revolver argued that the "Hottest Chicks" feature was empowering to women; [28] in 2011, editor Brandon Geist responded to criticism of the feature by claiming that because the women who appeared in the feature did so voluntarily, critics were being "extremely condescending to the women involved to act as if YOU know better than they do what is right for THEM". [15] Kim Kelly, writing for The Atlantic , criticized Geist's response as avoiding and trivialising the problem addressed by his critics. [15]
Pantera is an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas, formed in 1981 by the Abbott brothers, and currently composed of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, and touring musicians Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante. The group's best-known lineup consisted of the Abbott brothers along with Brown and Anselmo, who joined in 1982 and 1986, respectively. The band is credited for developing and popularizing the subgenre of groove metal in the 1990s. Regarded as one of the most successful and influential bands in heavy metal history, Pantera has sold around 20 million records worldwide and has received four Grammy nominations.
Vulgar Display of Power is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Pantera. Released on February 25, 1992, through Atco Records, it was the band's second collaboration with producer Terry Date, after having worked with him on their breakthrough album Cowboys from Hell (1990).
Mudvayne is an American heavy metal band formed in Peoria, Illinois, in 1996. Known for their sonic experimentation, face and body paint, masks and uniforms, the band has sold over five million records worldwide. The group consists of guitarist Greg Tribbett, drummer Matthew McDonough, lead vocalist Chad Gray, and bassist Ryan Martinie. The band became popular in the late-1990s Peoria underground music scene, and they found success with the single "Dig" from their debut album L.D. 50 (2000). After releasing four more albums and touring relentlessly for nearly a decade, Mudvayne went on hiatus in 2010. They reunited in 2021 and continue to perform live.
Velvet Revolver was an American hard rock supergroup consisting of Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, alongside Dave Kushner formerly of punk band Wasted Youth, and Scott Weiland formerly of Stone Temple Pilots. The band formed in 2002 and was active until 2008, when Weiland left the band abruptly to rejoin Stone Temple Pilots.
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine for guitarists – and fans of guitar-based music and trends – that has been published since July 1980. Guitar World, the best-selling guitar magazine in the United States, contains original artist interviews and profiles, plus lessons/columns, gear reviews, news and exclusive tablature of three songs per issue. The magazine is published 13 times per year by Future plc. Damian Fanelli has been Guitar World's Editor-in-Chief since June 2018.
Halestorm is an American rock band from Red Lion, Pennsylvania, consisting of lead vocalist and guitarist Lzzy Hale, drummer Arejay Hale, guitarist Joe Hottinger, and bassist Josh Smith. Siblings Lzzy and Arejay founded the band in 1997. The group's self-titled debut album was released in 2009 through Atlantic Records.
Elizabeth Mae "Lzzy" Hale IV is an American musician. She serves as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of hard rock band Halestorm, which she co-founded with her brother Arejay Hale in 1997.
Vinnie Vincent Invasion is the first studio album by Vinnie Vincent Invasion, released in 1986 through Chrysalis Records.
Volbeat are a Danish rock band formed in Copenhagen in 2001. They play a fusion of rock and roll and heavy metal. Their current line-up consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Michael Poulsen, drummer Jon Larsen, and bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen. The band is signed to Dutch label Mascot Records and has released eight studio albums and one DVD. Their second album Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil received platinum status, and their 2010 release Beyond Hell/Above Heaven was subject to widespread international critical acclaim, receiving triple platinum in Denmark and Austria, double platinum in Sweden, platinum in Canada, 5x Gold in Germany, and gold in both Finland and the United States. Volbeat's most recent studio album, Servant of the Mind, was released in 2021.
Hellyeah, stylized as HELLYEAH, was an American heavy metal supergroup formed in Dallas, Texas, in 2006. The band's last lineup consisted of lead vocalist Chad Gray, guitarists Christian Brady and Tom Maxwell, bassist Kyle Sanders, and drummer Roy Mayorga. The idea to form a supergroup originated in 2000 on the Tattoo the Earth tour, although plans were constantly put on hold due to scheduling conflicts. The summer of 2006 allowed the band to take the project seriously and record its first album. Recorded at Chasin' Jason studio in Dimebag Darrell's backyard, their self-titled album entered the Billboard 200 at number 9, selling 45,000 copies. They went on to release five more studio albums between 2010 and 2019. As of 2021, the band is on hiatus.
In This Moment is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed by singer Maria Brink and guitarist Chris Howorth in 2005. They found drummer Jeff Fabb and started the band as Dying Star. Unhappy with their musical direction, they changed their name to In This Moment and gained two band members, guitarist Blake Bunzel and bassist Josh Newell. In 2005, bassist Newell left the band and was replaced by Jesse Landry.
Maria Brink is an American singer and songwriter, best known as the frontwoman of the metal band In This Moment. The band has gone on to release seven studio albums and receive four nominations, two from Alternative Press Music Awards, one from Grammy Awards, and one from Loudwire Music Awards.
The Agonist was a Canadian metalcore band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 2004. The last known lineup consisted of lead guitarist Danny Marino, bassist Chris Kells, drummer Simon Mckay, rhythm guitarist Pascal "Paco" Jobin and lead vocalist Vicky Psarakis, who joined in March 2014 following the departure of vocalist and founding member Alissa White-Gluz.
obZen is the sixth studio album by Swedish extreme metal band Meshuggah. It was released in Europe on 7 March 2008, and in North America on 11 March 2008 by Nuclear Blast. Tomas Haake made his return as a studio drummer for the record after the Drumkit from Hell drum software was used on Catch Thirtythree. It is also the first album on which bassist Dick Lovgren performs despite having been a member of the band since 2004; this is due to the bass having been digitally programmed on the previous album, Catch Thirtythree, and the bass having been performed by guitarist Fredrik Thordendal on the previous I EP. The release of the album was followed by their first world tour. A music video was filmed for a shorter version of the song "Bleed". A two-disc vinyl re-issue was released on 22 March 2019 through Nuclear Blast. A remastered version was released 31 March 2023 for the 15th anniversary through Atomic Fire.
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Cilver is a rock band from New York City. Originally formed as MeTalkPretty in 2006, the group changed their name in 2013. The band, fronted by Romanian immigrant Uliana Preotu, has enjoyed one hit single, I'm America, which charted in 2016.
Brad Tolinski was the editor-in-chief of Guitar World Magazine for 25 years (1989–2015). He also served as editorial director of NewBay Media's music division, which also includes Guitar Aficionado and Revolver magazines. He then moved to Harris Publications as the editorial director of special projects, and then became editorial director of special projects for AMG Parade in New York City. Currently he is the editor of Cannabliss, a new magazine focusing on health, wellness and cannabis published by Centennial Media.
Broken Crown Halo is the seventh studio album by Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil. It was released through Century Media Records on March 31, 2014 in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and on April 1 in North America. This is the last album to feature drummer Cristiano "Criz" Mozzati and guitarists Marco "Maus" Biazzi and Cristiano "Pizza" Migliore, who retired from the band in 2014, marking the end of the band's longest-standing line-up.
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