Editing Creem

{{Short description|American music magazine}}
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{{multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=December 2018}}
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{{Infobox magazine
| title = CREEM
| logo = Creem logo.png
| image_file = Creem December 1977 Grace Slick.jpg
| image_caption = December 1977 cover featuring [[Grace Slick]]
| editor = 
| editor_title = 
| previous_editor = 
| staff_writer = 
| frequency =
| paid_circulation = 
| total_circulation = 
| category = [[Music magazine]]
| publisher = CREEM Magazine, LLC
| firstdate = {{start date|1969|3}}
| finaldate = 
| finalnumber = 
| country = United States
| based = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| website = https://www.creem.com/
| issn = 0011-1147
}}

'''''Creem''''' (often stylized in [[all caps]]) is an American rock [[music magazine]] and entertainment company, founded in [[Detroit]], whose initial print run lasted from 1969 to 1989. It was first published in March 1969 by Barry Kramer and founding editor Tony Reay. Influential critic [[Lester Bangs]] served as the magazine's editor from 1971 to 1976. It suspended production in 1989 but attained a short-lived renaissance in the early 1990s as a tabloid. In June 2022, ''Creem'' was relaunched as a digital archive, website, weekly newsletter, and quarterly print edition.<ref name=McCollum>{{cite news |first=Brian |last=McCollum |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/brian-mccollum/2022/06/01/creem-magazine-relaunch-rock-archives/9997059002/ |title=Creem magazine, Detroit-born rock bible, makes big return with digital archive, print edition |work=Detroit Free Press |date=June 1, 2022 |access-date=June 1, 2022}}</ref>

The magazine is noted for having been an early champion of various [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[punk rock]], [[new wave music|new wave]] and [[alternative rock|alternative]] bands, especially bands based in Detroit. The term "punk rock" was coined in the May 1971 issue of ''Creem,'' in [[Dave Marsh]]'s ''Looney Tunes'' column about [[? and the Mysterians]]. That same issue is sometimes credited with having originated the term "heavy metal" as well;<ref>{{cite web |title=CREEM AT 50: HOW GONZO ROCK MAGAZINE SPURRED HEAVY METAL'S POPULARITY |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/creem-50-how-gonzo-rock-magazine-spurred-heavy-metals-popularity |work=Revolver |date=October 12, 2020}}</ref> in fact, the term had been used earlier, though ''Creem'' did help to popularize the term throughout the 1970s.

==History==
In the winter of 1969, Barry Kramer owned the Detroit record store Full Circle, as well as Mixed Media, a head shop/bookstore, and was an unsuccessful concert promoter and band manager. After the local alternative paper rejected a concert review he had written, he decided to start publishing his own paper. Tony Reay, a clerk at Kramer's record store, became its first editor, and came up with its name, a tribute to his favorite band, [[Cream (band)|Cream]]. Charlie Auringer became the photo editor and designer, and [[Dave Marsh]] joined soon after at age 19. The first issue was distributed only in Detroit, as a tabloid-sized newspaper, but then a deal was struck with a distributor. Many copies were ordered by porn shops who were confused by the faintly suggestive title, and who displayed it next to the similarly sized [[Screw (magazine)|''Screw'' magazine]]. Richard "Ric" Siegel became circulation director, ''Creem'' become a glossy color magazine sized for newsstand distribution, and within two years had secured a national distribution deal.<ref name="SourCREEM1">{{cite news|last=Holdship|first=Bill|title=Sour CREEM The life, death and strange resurrection of America's only rock 'n' roll magazine|url=http://www2.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=12383|access-date=3 January 2013|newspaper=Metro Times (Detroit, MI)|date=January 16, 2008|archive-date=May 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521020607/http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=12383|url-status=dead}}</ref>

For the magazine's first two years, its offices were at 3729 Cass Avenue in Detroit. An armed robbery of the offices prompted Kramer to move the operation to a 120-acre farm in [[Walled Lake, Michigan]], at 13 Mile and Haggerty Roads. Just before the move, [[Lester Bangs]] was hired, originally to write a feature on [[Alice Cooper]]. He had been fired from the rival music magazine ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' by publisher [[Jann Wenner]] for "disrespecting musicians" after a particularly harsh review of the group [[Canned Heat]]. Bangs fell in love with Detroit, calling it "rock's only hope", and remained there for five years.<ref name=SourCREEM1 />

Many of the staff members lived in the Walled Lake farmhouse, where there were occasional physical altercations between writers. One day, Marsh, who objected to Bangs' poorly housebroken dog, placed the dog's dung on Bangs' typewriter. This resulted in a fistfight that gave Marsh a gash on his head. Eventually, the magazine was successful enough to move to editorial offices in downtown [[Birmingham, Michigan]]. In 1971, Bangs became editor,<ref>{{cite book|last=Harrington|first=Joe|title=Sonic cool : the life & death of rock 'n' roll|year=2002|publisher=Hal Leonard Corp.|location=Milwaukee, WI|isbn=0-634-02861-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/soniccoollifedea00harr/page/226 226]|edition=1st|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/soniccoollifedea00harr/page/226}}</ref> and in 1976 he left the magazine; he never wrote for it again. On January 29, 1981, Kramer died of an accidental overdose of [[nitrous oxide]]. A year later, on April 30, 1982, Bangs died in New York City of an accidental [[Darvon]] overdose.<ref name=SourCREEM1 />

The magazine's offices were geographically separated from most of the entertainment industry in the [[United States]], which was then primarily based in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] and [[New York City]]. It was known for its irreverent, deprecatory and humorous tone, and became famous for its comical photo captions, which poked fun at rock stars, the industry, and even the magazine itself. The magazine dubbed the tall Plexiglas pyramid that was presented to the winner of the annual [[American Music Award]] "the Object From Space", and said it was endowed with the power to force celebrities to look ridiculous while holding it.<ref name="Backstage">{{cite journal|title=Backstage - Where the stars tank up & let their images down|journal=CREEM|date=May 1985|page=66|url=http://creemusa.com/creem-magazines/creem-magazine-issues/1985-creem-magazine-issues/may-1985-creem-magazine-issue/|quote=Cory Hart watches amazededly as the Object forces Stephen Still and Cyndi Lauper to grin sheepishly for the rest of their lives beginning now!|access-date=3 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117225743/http://creemusa.com/creem-magazines/creem-magazine-issues/1985-creem-magazine-issues/may-1985-creem-magazine-issue/|archive-date=17 January 2013}}</ref> Because of the magazine's location, it  was among the first national publications to provide in-depth coverage of many popular Detroit-area artists, such as [[Bob Seger]], [[Mitch Ryder]], [[Alice Cooper]], [[The MC5]], [[The Stooges]], [[Iggy Pop]], and [[Parliament-Funkadelic]], as well as other Midwestern acts such as [[Raspberries (band)|Raspberries]] and [[Cheap Trick]].

==Influence==

By the mid-1970's ''Creem'' had a circulation of over 200,000, making it the second largest rock magazine after ''Rolling Stone''.<ref name=McCollum/> 
''Creem'' picked up on [[punk rock]] and [[New wave music|new wave]] movements early on. ''Creem'' gave exposure to artists like [[Lou Reed]], [[David Bowie]], [[Roxy Music]], [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]], and [[The New York Dolls]] before the mainstream press.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}  In the 1980s, it provided early coverage of upcoming rock bands such as [[R.E.M.]], [[The Replacements (band)|The Replacements]], [[The Smiths]], [[The Go-Go's]] and [[The Cure]]. It was also among the first to praise [[Heavy metal music|metal]] acts like [[Motörhead]], [[Judas Priest]], and [[Van Halen]].{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} It also focused on Detroit acts.<ref name=McCollum/>

[[Melvins]] guitarist [[Buzz Osborne|Roger "Buzz" Osborne]] taught [[Kurt Cobain]] about punk by loaning him records and old copies of ''Creem''.<ref name="DailyHerald">{{cite news|last=Guarino|first=Mark|title=Heavy heaven New Cobain bio sheds light on fallen hero.|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-79153994|access-date=|newspaper=Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)|via=|url-access=|date=October 12, 2001|quote=Soon band member Roger "Buzz" Osborne started Cobain's schooling, lending him records and old copies of the '70s rock magazine Creem."|archive-date=February 22, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210222111506/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-79153994|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Alice Cooper]] referenced the magazine in his song "Detroit City" – "But [[WRIF|the Riff]] kept a Rockin', the ''Creem'' kept a-talkin', and the streets still smokin' today".<ref>{{cite web|title=Alice Cooper – Detroit City|date=March 18, 2005 |url=http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858514758/|publisher=songmeanings.net|access-date=17 January 2013}}</ref> [[Thurston Moore]] of [[Sonic Youth]] said: "Having a certain sense of humor in the rock'n'roll culture – ''CREEM'' nailed it in a way that nobody else was. It informed a lot of people's sensibilities."<ref name="CREEMBook">{{cite book|last=Matheu|first=Robert|title=Creem : America's only rock 'n' roll magazine|year=2007|publisher=Collins|location=New York|isbn=9780061374562|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rw2h8HbxrvAC&pg=PA10|edition=1st|author2=Bowe, Brian J.}}</ref>

==Staff==
Publishers, editors and writers for ''Creem'' included  Barry Kramer, his partner (later his wife) Connie Warren Kramer, [[Lester Bangs]], Dave Marsh, Billy Altman, Bob Fleck, John Morthland, Ben Edmonds, [[Ed Ward (writer)|Ed Ward]], Richard Riegel, Ric Siegel, [[Robert Christgau]], [[Richard Meltzer]], [[Nick Tosches]], [[Greil Marcus]],<ref name="PopMatters">{{cite web|last=Cwik|first=Greg|title='Conversations with Greil Marcus' Are Not Conversations About Greil Marcus|url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/166442-conversations-with-greil-marcus-edited-by-joe-bonomo/|publisher=[[PopMatters]]|access-date=18 January 2013|date=15 January 2013|quote=Born in San Francisco in 1945, Marcus has spent nearly his entire life in the Frisco/Berkley/Oakland area, though he would write and edit for New York-centric publications Creem, Rolling Stone, and The Village Voice.}}</ref> [[Jeffrey Morgan (writer)|Jeffrey Morgan]], [[Lisa Robinson]], Richard C. Walls, [[Rob Tyner]], [[Patti Smith]],<ref name="PattiSmithNewYorker">{{cite magazine|last=DeLano|first=Sharon|title=The Torch Singer|url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2002/03/11/020311fa_fact_delano?currentPage=all|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=17 January 2013|quote=Smith had been writing pieces for Creem and other music magazines …}}</ref> [[Peter Laughner]], [[Cameron Crowe]], Trixie A. Balm (a.k.a. [[Nervus Rex|Lauren Agnelli]]), Laura Levine,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hirsch|first=Caroline|title=Laura Levine: New York Rocker|url=https://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/photobooth/2011/08/laura-levine.html#slide_ss_0=1|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=17 January 2013|date=August 2, 2011|quote=I worked for all of the usual suspects – Rolling Stone, Creem, Trouser Press, Spin, Sounds, the New York Times}}</ref> Judy Adams, [[Jaan Uhelszki]], [[Penny Valentine]], Susan Whitall, [[John "The Mad" Peck]], [[John Mendelsohn (musician)|John Mendelsohn]], [[Mike Gormley]], [[Sylvie Simmons]], Gregg Turner,<ref name="NightAfterNight">{{cite web|title=Night after Night: Jan. 10, 2013|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/music/article/Night-after-Night-Jan-10-2013-4180027.php|publisher=My SA|access-date=January 18, 2013|quote=Turner started his career in the '70s, writing for the Los Angeles proto-punk fanzine Back Door Man, moved on to the storied Creem magazine for more than a decade.}}</ref> [[Chuck Eddy]], Mark J. Norton, Alan Niester, [[Robert Duncan (writer)|Robert Duncan]], Alan Madlane (as Alan Madeleine), Judy Wieder, [[Colman Andrews]], Jim Esposito, Dave DiMartino, Bill Holdship and John Kordosh. These last three edited the final versions of ''Creem'' in the 1980s.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

The magazine moved its office to [[Los Angeles]] in January 1987. Holdship and Kordosh were both involved in ''Creem'''s move to Los Angeles after it was purchased by Arnold Levitt, but both had already left the magazine before its move to [[New York City]] after Levitt licensed the name to a publisher there, and its ultimate demise.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} Before licensing ''Creem'' to the New Yorkers, Levitt made Judy Wieder editor-in-chief of a heavy metal version of ''Creem'', called ''Creem Metal'', which was originally edited by DiMartino, Holdship and Kordosh and which sold well.{{cn|date=June 2023}} 

A young female audience-targeted spinoff, ''Creem Rock-Shots'', was also published, as were countless special editions throughout the 1980s. Former William Morris agent, musician and journalist Mark J. Petracca (aka [[Dusty Wright]]) became the editor during its New York residence over 1992–93. Chris Nadler was the last editor before the magazine was shut down. Steve Peters and David Sprague were the final members remaining in the original editorial chain that reached back to 1969.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

==Graphic design==
The ''Creem'' logo was designed by Bob Wilson, who also wrote a regular comic strip, "Mike and Barney". The "Mr. Dream Whip" and "Boy Howdy" icons were designed by underground cartoonist [[Robert Crumb]].<ref name=McCollum/> Both appeared on the cover of the second issue as a black and white drawing titled ''Detroit 1969''. For the December 1971 issue, Wilson colored the drawing, which appeared in every following issue in a ''Creem's Profiles'', a parody of the then-popular ''[[Dewar's| Dewar's Profiles]]'', featuring musicians and bands holding cans of "Boy Howdy" beer.<ref name="CreemBook">{{cite book | last=Matheu | first=Robert |author2=Brian J. Bowe | title = CREEM: America's Only Rock 'N' Roll Magazine | publisher = [[Harper-Collins|Collins Living]] |date=October 2007 | page = 166 | isbn = 978-0-06-137456-2}}</ref>

==Change of ownership and disputes==
Ownership of the magazine, trademark and intellectual property has changed hands numerous times since the death of publisher Barry Kramer in 1981, and the magazine's subsequent bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite book |first=Elizabeth A. |last=Hoffmann |chapter=What is Workplace Dispute Resolution? |date=2012 |title=Co-operative Workplace Dispute Resolution |pages=25–46 |publisher=Routledge |doi=10.4324/9781315574226-3 |isbn=978-1-315-57422-6}}</ref>

Arnold Levitt bought the rights to the magazine in 1986 from Connie Kramer, and added titles including one devoted exclusively to metal along with numerous monthly special editions, before shutting down in 1989. In 1990, he licensed it to a group of Florida investors who published a bimonthly glossy tabloid version, but it was not successful either.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news|last=McKinley |first=James C. Jr |title=Rock Chronicle Inspires Battle Over Its Legacy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/arts/music/the-future-of-creem-magazine-is-complicated.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|access-date=2 January 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 27, 2011}}</ref>

The release of writer and director [[Cameron Crowe]]'s semi-autobiographical film ''[[Almost Famous]]'' in 2000, and [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]]'s portrayal of editor Lester Bangs, rekindled interest in ''Creem'' and rock journalism of the era. Former ''Creem'' photographer Robert Matheu formed Creem Media in 2001 with his cousin Jason Turner and Michigan businessman Ken Kulpa. They negotiated a five-year licensing deal with Levitt, with the option to purchase the magazine's intellectual property rights for $100,000. There was talk about a quarterly print publication in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105244150/jeff-karoub-rock-magazine-creem-plans/|agency=Associated Press|title=Rock magazine Creem plans return to print world|date=July 17, 2011|first=Jeff|last=Karoub|work=Miami Herald|access-date=July 8, 2022|page=M13|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> They launched a website and generated new content, primarily to maintain the brand.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

As the five-year deadline of the licensing deal approached, Matheu sought investors, and got a $52,500 investment from Los Angeles disk jockey Chris Carter and Barry Kramer's son J.J. Kramer. Matheu provided the balance of the $100,000.<ref name=NYTimes />

* Carter and Kramer claim that they were verbally promised one-third of Creem Media for their investment by Matheu.
* Turner and Kulpa claim they were never consulted about the deal, and never approved it.
* Matheu claims he never promised Carter and Kramer such a large share for their investment.

In 2007, Kramer sued in New York County and won,<ref name="Observer">{{cite web |author=Neyfakh, Leon |title=No Rock of Love as Gents Try to Creem Each Other |work=The New York Observer |date=2007-11-27 |url=http://www.observer.com/2007/no-rock-love-gents-try-creem-each-other |access-date=2009-05-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010004801/http://www.observer.com/2007/no-rock-love-gents-try-creem-each-other |archive-date=2008-10-10 }}</ref> as the Court ruled that Creem Media could take no action without the approval of Carter and Kramer.

Creem Media was sued by T.A. Riggs Licensing LLC in 2010 for breach of contract. Creem Media lost that suit, and Riggs was awarded $575,000. Creem Media was either unable or unwilling to pay. In November 2011, Creem Media attempted to have the judgment set aside, but in January 2012, the Court upheld the Judgment. In February 2012, the Court appointed a Receiver to seize all of Creem Media's assets to help satisfy the outstanding judgment. The Receiver then transferred all of the Intellectual Property from Creem Media, Inc to Riggs. CREEM International, Inc purchased the assets from Riggs to become the new successor company with all rights of ownership.

Matheu tired of the legal battle and resigned from the board of Creem Media in 2009. Creem Media, Inc. became defunct shortly thereafter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nvsos.gov/sosentitysearch/CorpDetails.aspx?lx8nvq=Kvb6yrpUzWNsmfY3hM9L7A%253d%253d&nt7=0|title=Nevada Secretary of State Business Entity Search.}}</ref>

In 2017, a group headed by Kramer acquired the ''Creem'' brand and its archives.

==''Creem'' documentary==
In 2019, the Kramer-led Boy Howdy Productions, in partnership with Muse Production House and New Rose Films, wrapped production on a ''Creem'' documentary entitled ''CREEM: America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine'', which world premiered at SXSW 2019 to rave reviews.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/boy-howdy-the-story-of-creem-magazine-review-1203165277/|title=SXSW Film Review: 'Boy Howdy! The Story of CREEM Magazine'|first1=Dennis|last1=Harvey|date=March 18, 2019}}</ref> In February 2020, the film was acquired by [[Greenwich Entertainment]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/makers-not-done-creem-greenwich-banana-split-vertical-1202857415/|title=Makers Sets Next Documentary 'Not Done' At PBS; CREEM Magazine Pic Acquired By Greenwich; Vertical Doing 'Banana Split' – Film Briefs|first1=Patrick|last1=Hipes|date=February 11, 2020}}</ref> and subsequently released online through paid virtual cinema streaming rental in August 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://watch.eventive.org/creem|title=Creem: America's Only Rock 'N' Roll Magazine|date=August 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.creemmag.com|title=CREEM MAGAZINE|date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>

==2022 relaunch==
Following years of litigation, the relaunch of ''Creem'' was announced on June 1, 2022, by JJ Kramer, an [[intellectual property|IP]] attorney and son of founder Barry Kramer. Management includes former ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]'' publisher John Martin as CEO, VP of content Fred Pessaro (''Vice'', ''Revolver'', ''[[BrooklynVegan]]''), former ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' copy chief Dan Morrissey as executive editor and original staffer Jaan Uhelszki as editor-at-large. 

The relaunched ''Creem'' includes digital archives of all 224 issues of the original magazine, a website and weekly newsletter called ''Fresh Creem'', and a quarterly oversized glossy print edition, which commenced publication in the fall of 2022, on a subscription-only basis, with no newsstand sales.<ref name=McCollum/><ref>{{cite web |first=Matthew |last=Ruiz |title=Creem Returns With Website and Quarterly Print Magazine |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/creem-returns-with-website-and-quarterly-print-magazine/ |website= Pitchfork.com |date=June 1, 2022 |access-date=June 1, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Haan |title='Creem gave you a ground-level excitement about music': the 1970s rock magazine makes a comeback |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jun/01/creem-gave-you-a-ground-level-excitement-about-music-the-1970s-rock-magazine-makes-a-comeback |date=June 1, 2022 |access-date=June 1, 2022}}</ref>

=== Summer Sunburn concerts ===
The relaunched ''Creem'' hosts annual live concert events in New York City called "Summer Sunburn." The 2023 version, held at [[Roberta's]] in [[Bushwick, Brooklyn|Bushwick]], Brooklyn, included a performance by Philadelphia-based [[shoegaze]] band [[Nothing (band)|Nothing.]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pearis |first=Bill |date=20 June 2023 |title=Nothing, Radioactivity & more playing CREEM's "Summer Sunburn" at Roberta's |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/nothing-radioactivity-more-playing-creems-summer-sunburn-at-robertas/ |access-date=5 February 2025 |work=[[Brooklyn Vegan]]}}</ref> The 2024 Summer Sunburn concert, also held at Roberta's, featured a performance by [[Hardcore punk|hardcore]] band [[Pissed Jeans]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Consequence Staff |date=14 August 2024 |title=CREEM Announces Summer Sunburn in Brooklyn with Pissed Jeans, Knifeplay |url=https://consequence.net/2024/08/creem-summer-sunburn-brooklyn/ |access-date=5 February 2025 |work=Consequence of Sound}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://archive.creem.com/ Creem Digital Archive, 1969-2023]
* [https://www.creem.com/ Creem website and newsletter]
* [http://www.jimdero.com/Bangs/EventsSXSW.htm Boy Howdy: The ''Creem'' Story] by Margaret Moser, ''[[Austin Chronicle]]''
* [http://rockcriticsarchives.com/features/creem/michaelkramer_creem.html Can't Forget the Motor City: ''Creem'' Magazine, Rock Music, Detroit Identity, Mass Consumerism, and the Counterculture] by Michael J. Kramer

[[Category:1969 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:1989 disestablishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Defunct magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 1989]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1969]]
[[Category:Magazines published in Detroit]]
[[Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Music magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Popular music magazines]]