SLUG Magazine
|
SLUG's 21st Anniversary cover (2010), paying homage to its original 1989 look. | |
| Editor | Angela Brown |
|---|---|
| Categories | local music, art, action sports |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Circulation | 30,000 (monthly) |
| First issue | January, 1989 |
| Country |
 United States |
| Based in | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Language | English |
| Website | www.slugmag.com |
SLUG - an acronym for SaltLakeUnderGround, is a monthly magazine based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. SLUG is one of the oldest independent magazines in the nation that continues to publish regularly. SLUG is a free publication that covers local and national music as well as action sports.
Today SLUG distributes 30,000 issues monthly throughout Utah and several surrounding states. SLUG is available on every college campus in Utah except BYU. In May 2004 SLUG upgraded from regular black & white newsprint to four-color printing on every page. Most of SLUG's contributing writers are unpaid.[1]
History
SLUG Magazine was founded in 1989 by JR Ruppel, supposedly so that Ruppel could trade advertising with bars to pay off his tabs.[1] SLUG was created in the back room of Salt Lake City Weekly (which was then The Private Eye) with the help of John Saltas. The first issue was only four pages long, made on a photocopier and less than 100 issues were printed. The issue included a handful of show reviews and A Subjective History of Punk Rock In Utah by JD Slaughter.
Gianni Ellefsen took over SLUG in 1994 and ran it until 2000, until the current editor, Angela Brown, who’d been a staff member since 1997, took over the publication at age 24.[1] The slogan of the magazine was "Neither Humorous Nor Appropriate"[2]
SLUG projects
The staff members of SLUG are avidly involved in the local underground scene of Salt Lake City. They can be found hosting local music showcases, producing skate and snowboard events and creating floats for the Gay Pride Parade. SLUG produces a local music compilation series, Death By Salt. In December 2007, SLUG released Death By Salt III, the first local compilation of its kind to be released on vinyl. In addition, SLUG hosts Localized, its own monthly showcase of local and upcoming artists. Over the years SLUG organized two mainstay local music events each year: Sabbathon and its anniversary party.[1] Sabbathon, a benefit concert featuring local bands, was held annually from 1989-2001 before being replaced by Localized, while the anniversary party takes place every February.[3] In July 2011, SLUG launched their own weekly podcast on iTunes titled Soundwaves From The Underground. An interview/variety program which features audio interviews and music both local and national, serving as an audio expansion of the magazine's coverage.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Rosemary Winters (2005-06-26). "Slugging it out SLUG Magazine speaks up for Utah's underground". The Salt Lake Tribune.
- ↑ "Welcome to Utah (Don't mention the underwear)". Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia). 2002-02-17.
- ↑ Dan Nailen (1999-08-27). "Sabbathon 1999 Lets Local Bands Rock for a Good Cause". The Salt Lake Tribune.