Metal Hammer

For the debut single by German synthpop band And One, see Metalhammer.

Metal Hammer (UK)

Editor	Alexander Milas
Categories	Music magazine
Frequency	Monthly
Publisher	Future Publishing
Total circulation (ABC Jan-Jun 07)	49,143
Founder	Wilfried F. Rimensberger, Jürgen Wigginghaus
First issue	1986
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Website	www.metalhammer.co.uk
ISSN	1422-9048

Metal Hammer (sometimes MetalHammer) is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music. It is the largest selling metal music magazine in the UK, currently outselling Kerrang! and NME and is often viewed as the more underground magazine of the three. In Germany, Metal Hammer has been the market leader since it was launched in 1984.

History

London-based Wilfried F. Rimensberger instigated the concept of MetalHammer magazine in 1983.^[1] At the time, he suggested to the infant Kerrang! magazine in London to publish a German version, but the editors of the time were not interested. Rimensberger took the idea to Jürgen Wigginghaus, publisher of German MusikSzene magazine where Rimensberger was Chief-Editor, and proposed the idea of a multi-lingual rock music publication. He also approached some of Europe's largest publishers such as Springer, Ringier and Bauer, but none were interested.

Eventually, Wigginghaus used the Dortmunder Rocknacht as a test ground for the publication in Germany and Rimensberger started the international English version Metalhammer UK from London. He developed the multilingual concept that propelled the magazine to a monthly circulation of over 1 million and, during its peak, published in 11 different languages across the globe - at the time largely outselling Kerrang!. Metalhammer had local language editions in countries such as Israel, Japan, Serbia, Spain, The Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Hungary, France. Metalhammer was also the first Western youth publication in the Soviet Union. Rimensberger made up the original and, at the time, unique concept of a heavy metal lifestyle magazine which was embedded in a network of Metalhammer branded multi-national radio shows, awards, tours, festivals, recordings, etc. This organization made the publication into the leading genre platform of the 80's - and the global leader in his segment of the publishing market.

Rimensberger, who started and owned Metalhammer UK Ltd and the registered rights of the name, later sold them to Wigginghaus whilst remaining in the background until the early Nineties as an adviser to Wigginghaus. Rimensberger was the promoter of the first Metalhammer Lorelei Festival, with leading metal acts such as Metallica, Motörhead and Venom. It was him who recommended Metallica to Peter Mensch (AC/DC) for management.^{[citation needed]} Rimensberger also linked the name Metal Hammer with other successful brands such as the BBC (Friday Rock Show with Tommy Vance), MTV Metal Show with Bailey Brothers and Castle Donington Monsters of Rock Festival.

Harry Doherty, formerly of Melody Maker, became the launch editor of the English-language Metal Hammer, also producing the Metal Hammer TV Show on satellite television. He left to found the video magazine, Hard'n'Heavy, before being asked back by Wigginghaus to take over all the European issues of Metal Hammer and other associated magazines, such as Rock World. In association with Picture Music International, the video arm of EMI Records, Doherty also launched the Metal Hammer Video Magazine, in direct competition with his earlier creation, Hard'n'Heavy. Doherty left after a management dispute with Wigginghaus. Harry Doherty's original personal assistant Sue Powell went on to manage the London-based offices under Wilfried F. Rimensberger.

Rimensberger joined the start-up crew of MTV Europe as a consultant to the director of Network Development. He also became a co-producer of Tom Galley's Phenomena project, organising its worldwide record deal and linking it with some of the best rock musicians and singers. He co-produced with Tom Galley Dream Runner, Phenomena's best selling album which has become somewhat of a rock classic, uniting the best rock voices of the time on one studio album. Rimensberger also represented Stiletto Entertainment Los Angeles in Europe, produced Nina Corti at the Royal Albert Hall and various TV productions for Swiss, German and UK TV. He is the sourcing producer of Barry Manilow's movie project and Broadway-bound musical Harmony, the founder of The Children's Arts Academy and the producer of further cross-culture based projects such as 'Europa - The Woman′^[2] and EuropeanIcons.^[3] In the 1990s, Wigginghaus lost control over the publication and, advised by Rimensberger, sold the German edition to Jürg Marquart, the publisher of Penthouse and Cosmopolitan magazines in Germany.^{[citation needed]} Later, Wigginghaus had to sell the remaining UK publication to cover personal financial liabilities.^{[citation needed]}

With their November 2011 issue, the magazine celebrated "25 years of keeping it heavy".^[4]

MetalHammer.co.uk

Metal Hammer in the UK also includes its website and iPhone application which both feature original and exclusive content from news, reviews and interviews to multimedia and Metal Hammer TV.^[5]

Metal Hammer Podcast

The Metal Hammer Podcast is presented by James Gill and Terry Bezer (referred to as Gill and Beez) and contains "All of the news, headlines, general rantings and reviews" of the week. Gill and Beez themselves have developed a cult following among their listeners, with a Facebook page containing over 5000 fans, Robin Haigh, Morbid Shells, and plenty of memes.

As of June 2011, Beez has left Metal Hammer to work for a different magazine and Comedian Steven Hill has replaced him on the podcast. However, Beez still regularly posts on the 'Gill and Beez' Facebook Page.

Publishers

Metal Hammer UK changed hands several times, being bought first by Dennis Publishing and is now with Future Publishing. The German Metal Hammer^[6] is now owned by Springer publishing. There remain Greek and Italian Metalhammer publications, both published independently. Today, Rimensberger is Founding Chairman of The Children's Art Academy CAA^[7] in London, is further involved in international magazine publications and is co-producer of Tom Galley's superstar rock music concept Phenomena and remains producer and director of the related multi-media project Phenomena.^[8] Wigginghaus is now publishing a local event publication in Germany. Serbia's edition is published by Color Media Group. It has over 20000 sold copies each month, and magazine covers Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro as well as all other former Yugoslavia republics.

See also

• Classic Rock
• Malcolm Dome
• Joel McIver

References

1. ^ Story in Metalhammer Germany special edition 2009, celebrating the publication's 25 years anniversary
2. ^ http://www.europathewoman.org
3. ^ www.europeanicons.eu
4. ^ "Metal Hammer website". Metal Hammer. 2011-10-19. http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/top-posts/metal-hammers-25th-anniversary-issue-is-here. Retrieved 2011-11-16. 
5. ^ "Metal Hammer website". Metal Hammer. 2009-08-07. http://www.metalhammer.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-08-07. 
6. ^ Hammer-Mag.de
7. ^ TheChildrensArtAcademy.com
8. ^ ProjectPhenomena.com

External links

• Metal Hammer UK Official site
• Metal Hammer Germany Official site
• Metal Hammer on Myspace