Revolver
Revolver is an American heavy metal and hard rock magazine known for artist coverage, special issues, awards, and live music-oriented editorial projects.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Revolver is an American music-media brand focused primarily on heavy metal, hard rock, and adjacent forms of heavy music. It began publication in the spring of 2000 under Harris Publications, conceived by Tom Beaujour and Brad Tolinski, two editors with experience at Guitar World. Their original ambition was to create an American counterpart to Mojo, with a broad classic-rock orientation and a strong editorial identity. The first issue featured Jim Morrison and used the tagline “The World's Most Wanted Music Magazine.” That initial concept did not achieve sufficient sales, and Harris discontinued the title after its fifth issue in May/June 2001. Rather than abandon the name, Harris and the editorial team reconsidered the magazine's audience and direction. Tolinski argued for a sharper focus on heavy metal, partly because classic rock was becoming a more difficult newsstand proposition and partly because a clearly defined heavy-music audience could give the publication a stronger identity. The relaunch appeared with the September/October 2001 issue, featuring Slipknot and adopting the tagline “The World's Loudest Rock Magazine.” Tom Beaujour became editor-in-chief after Tolinski's departure, and the magazine developed a more recognizable position at the intersection of established metal acts, emerging artists, fan culture, visual style, and hard-rock lifestyle coverage. During the 2000s and 2010s, Revolver expanded beyond conventional artist interviews and reviews. It published recurring advice columns, including contributions from Pantera and Hellyeah drummer Vinnie Paul from 2001 through 2016 and Lacuna Coil vocalist Cristina Scabbia from 2005 onward. It also developed branded editorial franchises and live-event properties. The Epiphone Revolver Golden Gods Music Awards, established in 2009, became a prominent awards platform for heavy music before going on hiatus in 2015 and returning in 2016. The magazine's “Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock” feature, previously titled “Hottest Chicks in Metal,” ran from 2006 through 2017 and generated both strong commercial attention and sustained criticism concerning the sexualized treatment of women musicians. Ownership changed several times as the publication moved through the specialist magazine market. Harris sold Revolver to Future US in March 2006 for a reported $4 million. Future later sold it to NewBay Media in 2012. Project M Group acquired the magazine in May 2017 and relaunched the brand during the third quarter of that year with a redesigned print edition and website intended to emphasize the art and culture of heavy music. Veeps, a music livestreaming and ticketing company associated with Live Nation, acquired the publication in 2024 or 2025 according to the available reference material. The brand therefore sits within a broader live-music ecosystem while retaining its identity as a heavy-music editorial and events property. Revolver's principal products are its print magazine, digital editorial output, special issues, awards programming, and related live or promotional properties. Its audience includes metal and hard-rock fans, musicians, collectors, and readers interested in genre history and contemporary scenes. The publication has historically combined coverage of major acts with exposure for newer performers, using cover packages, photography, rankings, themed issues, and event tie-ins to create a distinctive fan-oriented brand. Available material also reports that nearly all staff were laid off in August 2026; the long-term operational effect of that event is not sufficiently documented here, so the brand's precise present staffing and publishing cadence remain unclear.
History
Revolver was developed by Tom Beaujour and Brad Tolinski, who had both worked at Guitar World under Harris Publications. They initially imagined the title as an American counterpart to Mojo, with a broad classic-rock remit. The first issue appeared in spring 2000 with Jim Morrison on the cover. The concept struggled commercially, and Harris ended the original run after five issues, the last appearing in May/June 2001. The publisher retained the Revolver name and considered reshaping the magazine as a quarterly classic-rock title. Tolinski instead advocated for a stronger heavy-metal orientation, believing that classic rock was weakening as a newsstand category and that a focused metal publication could serve a clearer readership. The magazine returned with its September/October 2001 issue, led editorially by Beaujour and featuring Slipknot on the cover. The relaunch established the publication's enduring identity as a heavy-metal and hard-rock magazine. Revolver subsequently built a portfolio of recurring editorial and event properties. Vinnie Paul wrote an advice column from 2001 through 2016, while Cristina Scabbia began a similar column in 2005. The magazine founded the Revolver Golden Gods Music Awards in 2009. The awards paused in 2015 and resumed in 2016. From 2006 to 2017, the publication also ran its “Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock” feature, previously titled “Hottest Chicks in Metal,” and connected it to a touring property between 2011 and 2015. The feature became commercially successful but controversial. Critics argued that it emphasized the appearance of women performers and that Revolver did not provide comparable space for women as musicians outside the feature. Angela Gossow criticized the use of an image in the 2010 edition, while Revolver defended the feature as voluntary and empowering. The dispute became part of the broader discussion about gender representation and objectification in rock and metal media. The feature ended after the April/May 2017 issue, following Project M Group's acquisition. Corporate ownership changed repeatedly. Harris sold the magazine to Future US in 2006; Future later sold it to NewBay Media in 2012. Project M Group acquired it in 2017 and relaunched the print and web identities later that year around heavy music's art and culture. Veeps acquired the property in 2024 or 2025, placing it within a company associated with Live Nation. The supplied material also reports extensive staff layoffs in August 2026. Because the precise current publishing structure and cadence are not documented, those details remain subject to review.
- 2024
Veeps ownership reported
[1]Reference material identifies Veeps as the publication's owner from 2024 or 2025 onward.
- 2017
Project M Group acquisition and brand relaunch
[1]Project M Group acquired Revolver and introduced a redesigned print and digital identity later that year.
- 2012
Acquired by NewBay Media
[1]Future plc sold Revolver to NewBay Media.
- 2009
Golden Gods awards established
[1]Revolver launched its annual heavy-music awards program, initially known as the Revolver Golden God Awards.
- 2006
Acquired by Future US
[1]Future US purchased the magazine from Harris Publications.
- 2001
Magazine relaunches as a heavy-music title
[1]After the original run was discontinued, Revolver returned with a focused heavy-metal and hard-rock editorial direction.
- 2000
First issue published
[1]Revolver launched under Harris Publications with a classic-rock concept and Jim Morrison on its inaugural cover.
Products and positioning
A specialist heavy-music media brand combining journalism, visual culture, fan-oriented features, awards, and live-event extensions.
Print and digital music publication · 2000
Revolver magazine
The core product is a specialist publication covering heavy metal, hard rock, and related heavy-music scenes. It combines artist interviews, photography, feature writing, profiles of established and emerging acts, fan-oriented rankings, and themed packages. The magazine began with a broader classic-rock concept in 2000 but adopted its durable metal-focused identity after its 2001 relaunch.
Music awards · 2009
Epiphone Revolver Golden Gods Music Awards
Established in 2009, the awards program extended the Revolver brand into live entertainment and public recognition of heavy-music artists. It was originally called the Revolver Golden God Awards, paused in 2015, and returned in 2016 under the Epiphone Revolver Golden Gods Music Awards name.
Recurring editorial feature and calendar · 2006
Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock
This annual feature began in 2006 under the earlier name “Hottest Chicks in Metal.” It became one of the magazine's strongest-selling concepts and later supported a touring property. The feature was criticized for emphasizing the physical appearance of women musicians and was discontinued after the April/May 2017 issue.
Controversies
2010
Criticism of the Hottest Chicks feature and image use
Angela Gossow criticized Revolver over the use of an image in the 2010 feature that she said she did not want used. More broadly, commentators argued that the feature objectified women musicians and gave insufficient attention to their work as artists. Revolver defended the feature as voluntary and empowering, but critics viewed that response as dismissive of the underlying representation issue.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock Tour
United States
Revolver extended its recurring women-in-heavy-music feature into a touring event that ran from 2011 through 2015.
Outcome. The tour ended in 2015, while the related editorial feature continued until 2017.
Brand decisions
2017
Brand redesign under Project M GroupStrategyBackground
Following Project M Group's acquisition, the publication sought to reinforce its identity within heavy music's broader visual and cultural ecosystem.
Action taken
The print edition and website were redesigned during the third quarter of 2017.
Aftermath
The relaunch positioned Revolver as a broader heavy-music culture brand rather than only a conventional magazine.
2015
Golden Gods awards hiatusOtherBackground
The magazine's heavy-music awards program had operated as a recurring brand extension since 2009.
Action taken
The awards went on hiatus in 2015.
Aftermath
The program returned in 2016.
2001
Shift from classic rock to heavy musicStrategyBackground
The original broad classic-rock version of Revolver performed poorly and was discontinued after five issues. The publisher considered a quarterly classic-rock format, while the editorial team identified a more focused heavy-metal audience as a stronger opportunity.
Action taken
Revolver was relaunched as a heavy-metal and hard-rock magazine, with a new tagline and a Slipknot cover.
Aftermath
The focused format became the publication's lasting editorial identity and improved its commercial prospects.
Sources1 sources
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