Magazine Timeline

1924 Theo van Doesburg Edits Mécano Magazine
The city of Leiden is where De Stijl was founded and also where van Doesburg established his short-lived art review Mécano in 1924. Here, as editor, he assumed the name I.K.Bonset, which ...
1936 Nov 23 Life Magazine's first issue is published
In 1936 publisher Henry Luce paid $92,000 to the owners of Life magazine because he sought the name for Time Inc. Wanting only the old Life’s name in the sale, Time Inc. sold Life’s subsc...
1953 Dec Hugh Hefner establishes Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine, founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with a presence in n...
1971 Jun Andres Segovia appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1976 Sep Mearle Travis appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1977 Jul Jimmy Page appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1977 Sep Albert King appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1979 May Larry Carlton appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1979 Aug Ted Nugent appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1980 Jan Pat Travers appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1980 Apr Eddie Van Halen appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1980 May Stanley Clarke appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1980 Jul Johnny Winter appears on the cover of Guitar World
Johnny Winter graces the cover of the first issue of Guitar World magazine, which was published back in July of 1980. Also featured inside were George Thorogood and Merle Travis.
1980 Sep Pat Metheny appears on the cover of Guitar World
The cover of Guitar World's second issue features a great shot of Pat Metheny with jazz box in hand.
1982 Jan Neal Schon appears on the cover of Guitar World
Journey's Neal Schon talks some smack on this month's cover. Also inside, articles on George Benson and vintage amps!
1982 Mar Frank Zappa appears on the cover of Guitar World
The late, great Frank Zappa poses with his trusty sunburst Custom for a classic Guitar World cover in March of 1982.
1982 Dec Allan Holdsworth appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1983 Jan Brian May appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1983 Feb Frank Zappa appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1983 Mar Kelly Johnson appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1983 Apr Keith Richards appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1983 May Jim Hall appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1983 Jul Judas Priest appear on the cover of Guitar Player
1983 Aug Johnny Winter and Muddy Waters appear on the cover of Guitar Player
1983 Sep Brian Setzer appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1983 Oct Andres Segovia appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1983 Nov Iron Maiden appear on the cover of Guitar Player
1983 Dec Eddie Cochran appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1984 Mar Talking Heads appear on the cover of Guitar Player
1984 Jul Judas Priest appear on the cover of Guitar World
The age of metal is ushered in at Guitar World with this Judas Priest cover featuring K.K. Downing, Glenn Tipton and a boatload of spandex and leather!
1984 Aug Jaco Pastorius appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1985 Jan Rik Emmett appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1985 Jul Eric Clapton appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1986 Mar Billy Gibbons appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1986 Apr Geddy Lee appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1986 May Eric Johnson appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1986 May Steve Stevens appears on the cover of Guitar World
Holy big hair, Batman! No, that's not Roseanne on this month's cover, it's a very glammed up Steve Stevens, Billy Idol's shredding sidekick. Note the pre-Wentz bat belt, and mystery butto...
1986 Oct Steve Vai appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1986 Dec Billy Sheehan appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1987 Feb Los Lobos appear on the cover of Guitar Player
1987 Mar Billy Sheehan and Steve Vai appear on the cover of Guitar World
Steve Vai makes his Guitar World cover debut alongside David Lee Roth bandmate Billy Sheehan. Note Steve's awesome Performance flame guitar... and Skittles pants!
1987 Apr Warren DeMartini appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1987 Sep Trevor Rabin and Chris Squire appear on the cover of Guitar World
Yes' Trevor Rabin and Chris Squire make their way onto this month's cover, and for those keeping score that's 2 people and 17 strings.
1987 Nov George Harrison appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1988 Jan Michael Schenker appears on the cover of Guitar World
Michael Schenker lands on the cover of this issue with his custom black and white Flying V and outer space haircut!
1988 Apr George Lynch appears on the cover of Guitar World
George Lynch kamikazes his way onto this month's cover with his signature ESP a-blazin'! Check out those velvet pants!
1988 May Albert Collins appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1988 Jun Frank Gambale appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1988 Oct Vernon Reid appears on the cover of Guitar Player
1988 Dec Keith Richards appears on the cover of Guitar World
A great cover shot of Keith Richards looking very cool despite wearing a very dainty watch. Guitar nerds note the replacement modern solid saddles and flat plate on Keith's Tele.