It features artist profiles, product reviews, lessons and advanced transcriptions covering rock, pop and related styles of music.
It was the first magazine to feature artists such as Tré Cool (Green Day), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Travis Barker (Blink-182) and others on its covers.
[1] The first issue appeared in September 1991, with Charlie Benante of the band Anthrax and session drummer Joe Franco on the cover.
At the time it was a tabloid-sized magazine that was distributed free musical equipment stores and record shops within California.
was purchased by Stringletter, a media company headquartered in Point Richmond, California that also owns other brands including Acoustic Guitar.