Who was on the first Rolling Stone cover? This question often sparks curiosity among music enthusiasts and fans of the iconic magazine. The first issue of Rolling Stone, released on November 9, 1967, featured a striking image that would go on to define the magazine’s identity and influence the music industry for decades to come.
The first Rolling Stone cover showcased the faces of four members of the Grateful Dead, a legendary American rock band. The band members featured on the cover were Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Jerry Garcia, and Ron “Pigpen” McKernan. The image was taken by a photographer named Baron Wolman, who captured the band in a candid, relaxed pose against a backdrop of the Grateful Dead’s logo.
The choice of the Grateful Dead for the first cover was not a random decision. At the time, the band was gaining significant popularity, and their music was shaping the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Rolling Stone was founded by Jann Wenner and Ralph J. Gleason with the aim of covering rock music and the youth culture that embraced it. By featuring the Grateful Dead, Rolling Stone made a bold statement about its commitment to representing the spirit of the era.
The first Rolling Stone cover was a game-changer for the magazine. It set the tone for the publication’s distinctive style and approach to music journalism. The cover’s design, with its bold colors and minimalist layout, became an iconic image that fans and collectors have cherished for decades. Moreover, the cover helped establish Rolling Stone as a leading voice in the rock music world, influencing the way music was reported and discussed.
The Grateful Dead’s presence on the first Rolling Stone cover also had a lasting impact on the band itself. It helped to cement their status as one of the most influential bands in rock history. The cover image has been featured in numerous media outlets and has become a symbol of the 1960s counterculture movement.
In conclusion, the first Rolling Stone cover featured the Grateful Dead, a band that perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the era. This historic moment marked the beginning of Rolling Stone’s journey as a groundbreaking publication and solidified the Grateful Dead’s legacy as one of the most influential bands in rock history.
