Let It Rock

Let It Rock was a British monthly music magazine published in London between October 1972 and December 1975. It operated during a period when specialist music journalism was expanding beyond brief news coverage and consumer-oriented record reviews. The magazine emphasized long-form criticism, detailed features, and serious engagement with the cultural and musical contexts surrounding popular music. Its coverage extended across rock and pop while also giving attention to soul, reggae, blues, and other forms of popular music. The publication was issued by Hanover Books, a London publisher associated with other music titles, including Folk Review and Country Music. Peter Shepherd was the publisher. Dave Laing served as the founding editor, establishing the magazine's editorial direction, while John Pidgeon became editor in October 1973. Simon Frith was the reviews editor, and Charlie Gillett worked as consultant editor. The contributor roster included established and emerging music writers such as John Peel, Lester Bangs, Michael Gray, Mick Gold, Mick Houghton, David Downing, Gary Herman, Idris Walters, Karl Dallas, Ian Hoare, and Phil Hardy. Pete Wingfield wrote the magazine's soul-music column. Let It Rock also had a notable visual identity. John Finn was its initial art editor, and later design and illustration work involved figures including Barney Bubbles, George Snow, Kevin Sparrow, and Peter Till. Their contributions placed the magazine within the highly creative British music-press environment of the early 1970s, when typography, illustration, photography, and editorial voice were increasingly treated as integral parts of a publication's identity. The magazine published 35 issues over its approximately three-year run. Although it reportedly sought consistent sales of around 20,000 copies, it did not achieve a stable commercial position and closed in December 1975 amid difficult market conditions. Its importance therefore rests less on longevity than on editorial influence. Later music writers David Hepworth and Barney Hoskyns identified Let It Rock as an influential publication and described it as a precursor to later serious popular-music magazines, including Q and Mojo. The title is consequently remembered as part of the formative history of modern British music journalism: commercially unsuccessful, but ambitious in its criticism, wide-ranging in its musical remit, and influential in the development of the album-oriented music magazine.

Let It Rock emerged in London in October 1972 as a monthly publication devoted to serious writing about popular music. Its launch coincided with the development of a more sophisticated British music press, in which magazines increasingly treated popular music as a subject for criticism, cultural analysis, and historical interpretation. Rather than concentrating solely on short news items or consumer buying advice, Let It Rock presented lengthy critical articles, record reviews, and feature pieces covering a broad range of genres. The magazine's musical scope included rock and pop as well as soul, reggae, and blues. This breadth was reflected in its editorial and contributor structure. Dave Laing was the founding editor, and John Pidgeon assumed the editorship in October 1973. Simon Frith served as reviews editor, while Charlie Gillett acted as consultant editor. The magazine drew contributions from writers and broadcasters including John Peel, Lester Bangs, Michael Gray, Mick Gold, Mick Houghton, David Downing, Gary Herman, Idris Walters, Karl Dallas, Ian Hoare, and Phil Hardy. Pete Wingfield contributed a dedicated soul-music column, helping demonstrate that the publication's interests extended beyond the dominant rock press categories. Let It Rock was published by Hanover Books, whose music-publishing activities also included Folk Review and Country Music. Peter Shepherd was the publisher. The magazine's visual presentation was another important part of its identity. John Finn was the original art editor, and designers and illustrators including Barney Bubbles, George Snow, Kevin Sparrow, and Peter Till contributed to its appearance. Their work placed the title within the inventive design culture of the British music press, where distinctive layouts and illustration were used to reinforce editorial character. The magazine published 35 issues between October 1972 and December 1975. Its commercial performance was weaker than its editorial ambitions. It reportedly struggled to secure consistent sales of 20,000 copies, and the title eventually closed as market forces made continued publication impractical. No evidence indicates that it developed into a larger publishing group or was succeeded directly by a corporate continuation of the same brand. Despite its short lifespan, Let It Rock acquired a reputation among later music journalists as an influential title. David Hepworth and Barney Hoskyns have regarded it as an important precursor to later British music magazines such as Q and Mojo. Its legacy lies in the model it represented: a visually distinctive, criticism-led publication that treated popular music as a serious cultural field and combined detailed reviewing with genre-spanning features. The title is therefore best understood as a defunct but historically significant British music-publication brand rather than as a record label or contemporary commercial media business.

1. 1975Publication ends

   The December 1975 issue was the magazine's last, bringing its total run to 35 issues.

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2. 1973Editorial leadership changes

   John Pidgeon became editor in October 1973, succeeding Dave Laing.

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3. 1972First issue published

   Let It Rock launched as a monthly British music magazine in London in October 1972, with Dave Laing as founding editor.

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An intellectually ambitious British music magazine positioned around substantial criticism, record reviewing, and broad coverage of popular music rather than short-form entertainment reporting.

• Let It Rock magazineMonthly music magazine1972

  The core and only documented product of the brand was a monthly British print magazine. It combined lengthy critical articles, record reviews, and feature writing about popular music. Coverage ranged from rock and pop to soul, reggae, and blues, with a dedicated soul column by Pete Wingfield. The magazine was published in London by Hanover Books and ran for 35 issues from October 1972 through December 1975.

• 1975Decision to end publicationOther

  Let It Rock struggled to achieve consistent sales of approximately 20,000 copies and faced unfavorable market conditions.

  What changed. The publisher ended the magazine with the December 1975 issue.

  Aftermath. The title became defunct after 35 issues, although later music writers regarded it as an influential precursor to publications such as Q and Mojo.

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• 1973Change of editorOther

  The magazine changed editorial leadership during its second year of publication.

  What changed. John Pidgeon took over from founding editor Dave Laing in October 1973.

  Aftermath. The magazine continued publication until December 1975, producing a total of 35 issues.

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• 1975Let It Rock ceases publication after 35 issues

  The magazine closed with its December 1975 issue after struggling to maintain consistent sales and facing adverse market conditions.

  Bankruptcy
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• 1973John Pidgeon takes over as editor

  John Pidgeon succeeded Dave Laing as editor in October 1973, while the publication continued its long-form approach to music journalism.

  Leadership change
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• 1972Let It Rock begins publication in London

  The first issue of the monthly British music magazine appeared in October 1972 under founding editor Dave Laing and publisher Peter Shepherd.

  Other
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1. Let It Rock (magazine)