Rock 'N' Roll Comics

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Rock 'N' Roll Comics
RockNRollComics01.jpg
Rock 'N' Roll Comics #1, featuring Guns N' Roses (June 1989)
Publication information
Publisher Revolutionary Comics
ScheduleMonthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre Underground
Publication dateJune 1989 – November 1993
No. of issues63
Creative team
Written by Todd Loren, Dean Hsieh, Jay Allen Sanford, Robert V. Conte, Michael K. Willis
Artist(s)Lyndal Ferguson, Greg Fox, Stuart Immonen, Scott Jackson, Ken Landgraf, Larry Nadolsky, Blackwell, Johnny, Joe Paradise, Childish, Scott E. Pentzer
Editor(s) Todd Loren (issues #1–51)
Jay Allen Sanford (issues #52–65)

Rock 'N' Roll Comics was a comic book series published by Revolutionary Comics from 1989 to 1993. Revolutionary's flagship title, the series was notable for its unauthorized and unlicensed biographies of rock stars, [1] told in comic book form but well-researched and geared to adults, often with adult situations (nudity, drug use, violence, etc.). [2]

Contents

Some musicians featured in the comics, like Frank Zappa [3] and KISS, were supportive; while others, like the New Kids on the Block, considered the comic akin to a bootleg recording and sued the publisher. Publisher Todd Loren's legal victory in the U.S. District Court established that unauthorized comic book biographies were entitled to the same protections as other unauthorized biographies.

Rock 'N' Roll Comics originally contained straight biographies in comics form and Mad magazine-style parodies (all written by Loren). The parodies were dropped after about 18 issues. Early issues also featured the Loren/Larry Nadolsky character Stan Back in a series of humorous one-page strips. Loren wrote many of the early lead stories; Jay Allen Sanford took over as lead writer with issue #22. [2] The stories were illustrated by a grab-bag of artists without many other credits in the industry. [1]

The series sported cover slogans reading "Unauthorized and Proud of It" [3] or "100% Unauthorized Material". Rock 'N' Roll Comics was published in a typical 6½" × 9¾" comic book format. Issues were typically 32 pages in length, printed mostly in black-and-white with a color cover. Many covers were painted by Scott Jackson. The letters page — which often featured spirited editorials by Loren — was known as "Revolutionary Comments." Although the series is numbered through 65 issues, a total of 63 issues were released due to two issues, numbers 8 and 61, never being published due to legal challenges.

Publication history

Revolutionary Comics publisher Todd Loren was inspired to launch Rock 'N' Roll Comics in part by the success of an unauthorized Bruce Springsteen parody one-shot comic called Hey Boss (Visionary Graphics, 1986).[ citation needed ]

Hey Boss artist Larry Nadolsky was hired to draw the first issue of Rock 'N' Roll Comics, profiling Guns N' Roses. Upon the comic's release, cover-dated June 1989, Guns N' Roses lawyer Peter Paterno sent Revolutionary a cease and desist order. This was reported in a Rolling Stone story [4] that directly resulted in the entire 10,000-copy print run selling out in two weeks, thanks to buyers who thought Guns N' Roses would sue Revolutionary Comics out of existence. In actuality, no lawsuits were ever filed, and the comic went into multiple new printings, eventually totaling over 150,000 copies. [2]

Rock 'N' Roll Comics #3 and #4, on Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe, respectively (cover-dated Sept. 1989 and Oct. 1989), did result in legal challenges. Both bands had exclusive merchandising deals with Great Southern Productions/ [5] Winterland Productions, which threatened comics distributors over carrying the issues and got a court injunction prohibiting Revolutionary from distributing them. [6] This forced Revolutionary to build its own distribution network outside traditional comic shops, eventually getting them into music and gift retail outlets which had never carried comics before. This independence from the comic book marketplace served the company well, as sales continued to rise from issue to issue, with their Metallica comic going into multiple print runs totaling over 75,000 copies. [7]

Issue #8 (cover-dated Feb. 1990), featuring Skid Row, was never published, due to an injunction prompted by Great Southern. [3] It was skipped in number sequencing; issue #9 (Kiss) was cover-dated Mar. 1990.

Issue #12 (cover-dated June 1990), featuring New Kids on the Block, resulted in a number of legal battles. (see: Litigation, below) Ironically, this and the other lawsuits garnered Revolutionary worldwide press, eventually resulting in record-breaking sales for an indie comic publisher. [8]

Beginning with issue #19 (Public Enemy / 2 Live Crew), Rock 'N' Roll Comics was released on a biweekly basis [9] from Jan. 1991–Mar. 1992, comprising 25 total issues.

Issue #61 (cover-dated July 1993), scheduled to be about the band Yes, was never published, and ultimately was skipped in number sequencing.

The series' final issue, #65, on "Sci-Fi Space Rockers" (Pink Floyd, Genesis, Marillion, Hawkwind, and others) was cover-dated Nov. 1993.

Spin-off titles

The popularity of Rock 'N' Roll Comics led Revolutionary to publish other music titles, most notably Rock 'N' Roll Comics Magazine (a reprint title featuring stories from past issues of Rock 'N' Roll Comics), Hard Rock Comics (a title dedicated to hard rock, heavy metal, and punk bands), and Star Jam Comics (a title dedicated to pop acts as well as actors from the television show Beverly Hills, 90210 ). Additionally, Revolutionary published a line of Experience limited series focusing entirely on one band or musical artist. The titles were The Beatles Experience, The Elvis Presley Experience, The Led Zeppelin Experience, and The Pink Floyd Experience.

Bluewater Productions collections

In September 2009, 15 years after the demise of Revolutionary Comics, publisher Bluewater Productions announced it would be reprinting Revolutionary's line of music comics (including stories from Rock 'N' Roll Comics) in ten monthly volumes, averaging 250 pages each. [10] The first collections were The Beatles Experience and Hard Rock Heroes, released in early 2010.

Many of Revolutionary's original creators participated in updating and modernizing the contents of the musical comic bios. The reprints and updates were supervised by long-time Rock 'N' Roll Comics writer/editor Jay Allen Sanford. Ultimately, Bluewater released seven titles from 2010 to 2012: [11]

Two other projected volumes, Rock 'N' Roll Cartoon History: The Sixties; and Rock 'N' Roll Cartoon History: The Seventies, remain unpublished. [11]

Litigation

Rock 'N' Roll Comics #12 (cover-date June 1990), an unauthorized biography of New Kids on the Block, resulted in Revolutionary being sued again. [3] Publisher Loren claimed the First Amendment protected the journalistic rights of his "illustrated articles" and he took the matter to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.

Loren set up a 900 number, "Nuke the New Kids," to raise money for the company's defense ($10.00 per call, billed by phone company). In April 1990, U.S. District Judge John S. Rhoades declared that Rock 'N' Roll Comics #12 could legally be distributed because it is "part biography and part satire." The judge's twelve-page ruling stated that "bookstores are filled with biographies — both authorized and unauthorized — of public figures. And, while the subjects of such biographies may be offended by the publication of their life stories, they generally have no claim for trademark infringement."

Rhoades' ruling also stated "It appears that the First Amendment may trump any claim that the plaintiffs have for trademark infringement." The resultant order stated that Winterland Concessions Co. failed to show that the case met the standards required to issue a preliminary injunction. This dissolved the temporary restraining order prohibiting distribution. Nonetheless, the New Kids responded by filing suit for trademark infringement since their logo appeared in the comic. [12] A settlement between the New Kids and Revolutionary was reached in August 1990. It permanently enjoined Revolutionary from "advertising, manufacturing, distributing and/or selling or otherwise commercially exploiting any publication displaying the trademark and/or logo of the New Kids on the Block, either as a group or individually." Loren promptly reprinted the New Kids story in magazine format (Rock 'N' Roll Comics Magazine), without depicting the band's logo anywhere in the story.

Documentary film

In 2005, BulletProof Film released a documentary film titled Unauthorized and Proud of It: Todd Loren's Rock 'N' Roll Comics. The film features interviews with Loren's family, surviving "Revolutionaries," comic book colleagues, adversaries, supporters and past and present rock 'n' roll stars featured in Revolutionary's comics. Appearing in the film are Alice Cooper, publishers Gary Groth (Fantagraphics) and Denis Kitchen (Kitchen Sink Press), famed groupie Cynthia Plaster Caster, underground painter and RevCom cover artist Robert Williams (known for his controversial album art for the first Guns N' Roses LP), Jay Allen Sanford, Gene Simmons (audio only), and more.

The film also details the San Diego police department's investigation into Todd Loren's 1992 murder; interviews with Loren's coworkers and family members suggest that the police failed to follow up on all available leads. The film was released on DVD in April 2012 by Wild Eye Releasing, under the title Unauthorized: The Story of Rock 'N' Roll Comics. The DVD includes over two hours of bonus footage, interviews, news footage, and art galleries, and liner notes by long-time Rock 'N' Roll Comics writer-editor Jay Allen Sanford.

Issue guide

#Cover-dateSubjectCover artistWriterStory artistNotes
1July 1989 Guns N' Roses  ? Todd Loren Larry Nadolsky 7 printings; 7th printing is entirely new with new color artwork and a different cover
2Aug. 1989 Metallica Lyndal Ferguson Todd LorenLarry Nadolsky & Scott Goodell 6 printings; 6th printing is entirely different with new color artwork, a different cover and two new backup stories featuring Megadeth and Motorhead.
3Sept. 1989 Bon Jovi Lyndal FergusonTodd LorenLarry Nadolsky & Scott Goodell
4Oct. 1989 Mötley Crüe Lyndal FergusonTodd LorenLarry Nadolsky & Johnny Childish
5Nov. 1989 Def Leppard Lyndal FergusonTodd LorenLarry Nadolsky & Johnny Childish2 printings
6Dec. 1989 The Rolling Stones Scott Jackson Todd Loren Andy Kuhn
7Jan. 1990 The Who Tom Luth Todd Loren Tom Luth
8Feb. 1990 Skid Row N/ATodd Loren ?Prevented from being published by injunction from Great Southern Company; skipped in issue number sequencing
9Mar. 1990 Kiss Scott Jackson Robert V. Conte Greg Fox
10Apr. 1990 Whitesnake/
Warrant
Scott JacksonTodd Loren/
Dean Hsieh
Greg Fox/
Dave Garcia
11May 1990 Aerosmith Scott JacksonDean HsiehGreg Fox
12June 1990 New Kids on the Block Lyndal Ferguson & Greg FoxRobert V. Conte Mitch Waxman & Greg Fox2 printings
13July 1990 Led Zeppelin Scott Jackson Mary Kelleher Greg Fox
14Aug. 1990 Sex Pistols Scott JacksonTodd Loren Marc Erickson
15Sept. 1990 Poison Scott JacksonTodd LorenGreg Fox
16Oct. 1990 Van Halen Scott JacksonTodd LorenGreg Fox
17Nov. 1990 Madonna Rudy Baldacci Todd LorenGreg Fox
18Dec. 1990 Alice Cooper Scott Jackson Spike Steffenhagen Steve Goupil
19Jan. 1991 Public Enemy/
2 Live Crew
Stuart Immonen Todd LorenMarc Erickson/
Stuart Immonen
20Jan. 1991 Queensrÿche Scott Jackson Jay Allen Sanford Ken Landgraf
21Feb. 1991 Prince Scott JacksonTodd LorenStuart Immonen
22Feb. 1991 AC/DC Scott JacksonJay Allen Sanford Mike Sagara
23Mar. 1991 Living Colour Scott JacksonJay Allen SanfordGreg Fox
24Mar. 1991 Anthrax/
Faith No More
Scott JacksonSpike Steffenhagen/
Jay Allen Sanford
Stuart Immonen/
Larry Nadolsky
25Apr. 1991 ZZ Top/
Mojo Nixon
Scott JacksonJay Allen Sanford/
Todd Loren
Stuart Immonen/
Scott Jackson
The Mojo Nixon story was billed as the first authorized biography to appear in the series
26May 1991 The Doors Scott JacksonJay Allen SanfordGreg FoxThe Doors, part I
27June 1991The DoorsScott JacksonJay Allen SanfordGreg FoxThe Doors, part II
28June 1991 Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath Scott JacksonJay Allen SanfordMarc EricksonOzzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath, part I
29July 1991Ozzy Osbourne/Black SabbathScott JacksonJay Allen SanfordMarc EricksonOzzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath, part II
30July 1991 The Cure Scott JacksonJay Allen SanfordGreg Fox
31Aug. 1991 Vanilla Ice Scott JacksonJay Allen SanfordGreg Fox
32Aug. 1991 Frank Zappa Scott JacksonJay Allen Sanford Blackwell
33Sept. 1991Guns N' RosesScott JacksonJay Allen SanfordJohnny Childish & Mike SagaraBilled as "Guns N' Roses '91"
34Sept. 1991 The Black Crowes Scott JacksonJay Allen Sanford Scott E. Pentzer
35Oct. 1991 R.E.M. Earl Ferguson Jay Allen SanfordBlackwell
36Oct. 1991 Michael Jackson Stuart ImmonenJay Allen Sanford Chas Gillen
37Nov. 1991 Ice-T Scott E. PentzerJay Allen SanfordScott E. Pentzer & Stuart Immonen
38Nov. 1991 Rod Stewart Scott JacksonJay Allen Sanford Terry Dodson
39Dec. 1991New Kids on the Block Joe Paradise Jay Allen Sanford Marc Erickson Billed as "The Fall of the New Kids"
40Dec. 1991 N.W.A/Ice Cube Earl FergusonJay Allen SanfordJoe Paradise
41Jan. 1992 Paula Abdul Scott JacksonJay Allen Sanford Allen Darnell Salyer
42Jan. 1992MetallicaScott JacksonJay Allen SanfordScott E. Pentzerbilled as "Metallica II"
43Feb. 1992Guns N' RosesScott JacksonJay Allen Sanford Jim McWeeney billed as "Tales from the Tour"
44Feb. 1992 Scorpions Scott JacksonJay Allen Sanford Marshall Ross
45Mar. 1992 Grateful Dead Scott Jackson Heather Cheney & Jay Allen SanfordBlackwellbilled as "Grateful Dead (Part One: The Summer of Love)"
46Apr. 1992Grateful DeadScott JacksonHeather Cheney & Jay Allen SanfordBlackwellbilled as "Grateful Dead (Part Two: The

Seventies)"

47May 1992Grateful DeadScott JacksonJay Allen SanfordBlackwellGrateful Dead, part III
48June 1992 Queen Scott JacksonJay Allen SanfordBlackwell
49July 1992 Rush Scott JacksonJay Allen Sanford Terry Pallot
50Aug. 1992 Bob Dylan Scott JacksonJay Allen SanfordBlackwellBob Dylan, Part I
51Sept. 1992Bob DylanScott E. PentzerJay Allen SanfordBlackwellBob Dylan, Part II
52Oct. 1992Bob DylanScott E. PentzerJay Allen SanfordBlackwellBob Dylan, Part III
53Nov. 1992 Bruce Springsteen Scott JacksonJay Allen Sanford David Neer
54Dec. 1992 U2 Ken Meyer, Jr. Jay Allen Sanford & Michael K. Willis Dave Briggs & Tom Simmons U2, part I
55Jan. 1993U2Scott JacksonMichael K. WillisDave BriggsU2, part II
56Feb. 1993 David Bowie  ?Jay Allen SanfordGreg Fox
57Mar. 1993 Aerosmith  ?Michael K. WillisLarry Nadolskybilled as "Aerosmith II"
58Apr. 1993 Kate Bush Scott JacksonJay Allen SanfordMarshall Ross
59May 1993 Eric Clapton Scott JacksonMichael K. Willis Steven S. Crompton
60June 1993 Genesis Ken Meyer, Jr.Jay Allen SanfordGreg Fox
61July 1993 Yes N/A ? ?Never published due to injunction from Great Southern; skipped in issue number sequencing
62Aug. 1993 Elton John  ?Michael K. Willis ?
63Sept. 1993 Janis Joplin Pete Mullins  ? Randy Silverman & Bill Williams
64Oct. 199360s San FranciscoKen Meyer, Jr.Jay Allen SanfordBlackwell, Greg Fox, Scott E. Pentzer, Randy Silverman, Bill Williams
65Nov. 1993Sci-Fi Space RockersLyndal FergusonJay Allen Sanford, Spike SteffenhagenGreg Fox, Ken Landgraf, Terry Pallot, Marshall RossFeatured "Pink Floyd, Genesis, Marillion, Hawkwind, and more"

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References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Reed, Patrick A. "Pop Music Comics: The 90s, part one. Rock-It Comics, Revolutionary, Marvel Music, Grateful Dead Comix," Depth of Field magazine (November 10, 2011).
  2. 1 2 3 Peisneraug, David. "Part Ramones Biography, Part Dreamscape," New York Times (Aug. 8, 2013).
  3. 1 2 3 4 Herrmann, Brenda. "Rockin' Comics: Super Heroes Of Music Play An Exciting New Venue — the World Of Cartoons," Chicago Tribune (October 20, 1991).
  4. "New Kids vs. Revolutionary," Rolling Stone (Apr. 1992).
  5. "Retailing," Billboard (May 24, 1986), p. 2.
  6. "Rock 'N Roll Comics Distribution Interrupted," Comics Buyer's Guide, #829 (Oct. 6, 1989), p. 1, 28.
  7. Fogel's Underground Comix Price Guide, 2006.
  8. Sanford, Jay Allen. "New Kids on the Block versus Revolutionary Comics," San Diego Reader blog (Sept. 13, 2007).
  9. Loren, Todd. "Rock 'n' Roll Comics to Go Twice Monthly," "Revolutionary Comments" (letters page), Rock 'N' Roll Comics #17 (Nov. 1990).
  10. Parkin, J.K. "Don't call it a comeback: Bluewater to collect classic Rock 'N' Roll Comics," Comic Book Resources: Robot6 (September 10, 2009).
  11. 1 2 Sanford, Jay Allen, "No more Rock 'N' Roll Comics reprint editions from Bluewater Productions," San Diego Reader blog (March 23, 2013).
  12. "New Kids On The Block Sue Revolutionary," The Comics Journal #136 (July 1990), p. 17.

Sources consulted