The cult us magazine, Rolling Stone made its debut recently, augmenting our stable of magazines – Verve, MW and now Rolling Stone India. Venturing into international waters seemed like a natural extension of the well- established homegrown brands. Rolling Stone has been known not only for its edgy music interviews and reviews, it has long championed a certain lifestyle that embraces music as god, irreverence and an anti-establishment stance (the attitude, admittedly is much more buttonholed today).

Founded in San Francisco in 1967 by the now legendary Jann Wenner (still editor and publisher), Rolling Stone promptly embraced the hippie culture of the time and became synonymous with the growth of now iconic rock bands like the Grateful Dead, Beatles, Doors and the Rolling Stones and music that defined an entire generation that cut its eager teeth on it. ‘Rolling Stone is not just about music, but about the things and attitudes that music embraces’, wrote Wenner in the very first issue. The magazine went on to stand for a particular brand of iconic text and imagery. While the late Hunter S Thompson and Tom Wolf contributed to the magazine, who can forget the iconic cover shot by legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz, of a naked John Lennon in bed with Yoko Ono.

‘I founded Rolling Stone to celebrate and document the world in motion, with the honesty, electricity and passion of the best rock and roll. That mission is still the heart and soul of the magazine over 40 years later, in America and our growing family of international editions. I am proud and excited to witness the launching of this new edition of Rolling Stone…’ wrote Wenner in the foreword of the Indian launch issue. Editor and Publisher Radhakrishnan Nair, noted in his foreword, ‘The country is enjoying record economic growth and much of it is driven by young men and women and that augurs well for a magazine like RS India, which is predominantly targeted at the young…. Then there is the live music scene, which is alive and kicking like never before. More international bands have toured India in the last one year than in the last decade.’ A healthy discussion that has arisen between bloggers too has revealed that the magazine does indeed have a young and excited readership here in India. The one we really like says, ‘Bought a copy yesterday, it’s pretty killer. Sinking my teeth into it slowly....’

The magazine’s launch event, held recently, proved to be a rocking time for diehard music enthusiasts. Mumbai’s Hard Rock Café was amped up for the event, shedding its usual ambience, tables and settings for a rock concert flavour. Rolling Stone Editor-in-Chief, Anuradha Mahindra and industrialist hubby Anand, played perfect hosts even as they were mobbed with congratulations and well-wishers. The stage reverberated with the sounds of a selection of rock bands, hours of continuous live music – the kind that the city has rarely witnessed. The invitees donned rock mode as easily as their retro jeans and tees and swung to the beat as it poured forth. The city’s favourite voices, Gary Lawyer and Devieka Bhojwani lent themselves to the occasion. The star of the music evening, as it turned out, was young Shruti Haasan, who performed her rocking numbers, her first live performance, even as Dad Kamal Haasan listened on, obviously proud. A star in the making, for sure. Remember you heard her here first!