Members of KISS, Metallica and many others will be appearing in a new movie that explores CREEM Magazine’s humble beginnings.
Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, Kiss members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett along with many others will be seen in the documentary Creem: America’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll Magazine when it opens in theaters this August.
Capturing the messy upheaval of the 1970’s just as rock was re-inventing itself, the film explores CREEM Magazine’s humble beginnings in post-riot Detroit, follows its upward trajectory from underground paper to national powerhouse, then bears witness to its imminent demise following the tragic and untimely deaths of its visionary publisher, Barry Kramer, and its most famous alum and genius clown prince, Lester Bangs, a year later. Fifty years after publishing its first issue, “America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine” remains a seditious spirit in music and culture.
Watch: “Creem: America’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll Magazine | Official Trailer”
CREEM was launched in Detroit in 1969 by Barry Kramer and Tony Reay, and became a leader in music journalism during the 1970’s, particularly when its staff included Lester Bangs.
The publication has long credited with coining the phrase “punk rock” and with exposing punk, New Wave and heavy metal to the public long before becoming mainstream. Despite enduring business problems since publication ceased in 1989, its reputation remains powerful.
The highly anticipated documentary features appearances from Alice Cooper, Cameron Crowe, Joan Jett, Wayne Kramer, Michael Stipe, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Thurston Moore, Peter Wolf and many more Creem contributors.
Creem: America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine is produced by JJ Kramer, the son of Creem co-founder and publisher Barry Kramer and Jaan Uhelszki who was part of the original magazine. The film was directed by Scott Crawford, who made Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, D.C., 1980-90.
You can find more information on the CREEM website.