 | |
 Cover of the Spring 2024 issue, featuringRihanna byNadia Lee Cohen | |
| Editor in Chief | Mel Ottenberg[1] |
|---|---|
| Editorial & Design Director | Richard Turley |
| Editor at Large | Christopher Bollen |
| Categories | Pop culture |
| Frequency | Bimonthly |
| Founder | Andy Warhol,John Wilcock |
| First issue | October 1969 (1969-10) |
| Company | Crystal Ball Media |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | New York City |
| Website | interviewmagazine |
| ISSN | 0149-8932 |
Interview is an Americanmagazine founded by pop artistAndy Warhol and journalistJohn Wilcock in 1969.[2] The magazine, nicknamed "The Crystal Ball of Pop,"[3][4] features interviews of and by celebrities.
In 1965, pop artist Andy Warhol announced his retirement from painting to focus on filmmaking.[5] After he survived anassassination attempt in 1968, he began to concentrate on building a business enterprise.[5] When Warhol tried to obtain press permits for theNew York Film Festival, he was denied.[6] Therefore, having a formal method for obtaining press passes was one of the reasons he foundedinter/VIEW: A Monthly Film Journal with British journalist John Wilcock in 1969.[2][6]
The magazine, which was headquartered at Warhol'sFactory, started as a film review before shifting its emphasis to pop culture. "I felt there was a need for an easygoing, conversational magazine,' said Warhol.[7] "Every other paper is full of bad news, but we publish only good."[7]
Interview was published monthly, but is now published six times per year (March, Spring, Summer, September, Fall, Winter).
The magazine was launched in October 1969 with a cover featuring a still from the experimental filmLions Love…(and Lies), which starredWarhol superstarViva.[8][9][10] Initially, the magazine was merely a film critique spread published under the titleinter/VIEW: A Monthly Film Journal, with the word "view" paying homage to poetCharles Henri Ford, the publisher of the influential literary magazineView in the 1940s.[6]
Gerard Malanga,Paul Morrissey, John Wilcock and Andy Warhol served as editors ofInterview's inaugural issue.[11] By the fourth issue, Morrissey was the top editor since Malanga had left for Europe, and Soren Agenoux was hired as the managing editor.[11]
Bob Colacello was taking a film course atColumbia University when he began writing film reviews forInterview in 1970. By the fall of 1970, Colacello was hired as the managing editor at a salary of $50 ($400 in 2024[12]) a week.[11] He brought in his friend and classmateGlenn O'Brien as an associate editor.[13] Colacello's first issue featured film 1940s-era stills of actressRita Hayworth on the cover and on every page. The idea came from Morrissey, who told Colacello, "Just put one on every page and it'll be funny."[14]
In 1970, film directorJerome Hill and Charles Rydell became part-owners ofInterview.[11] Their share was sold toPeter Brant and his cousinJoe Allen in 1971.[15]
By 1972,Interview had a circulation of 30,000, mostly subscriptions.[16] O'Brien worked with artistRichard Bernstein to create the new cursiveInterview logo, which is still used today.[13] The magazine increased size, started printing color covers, and was distributed regularly for 50 cents ($4 in 2024[12]) per copy.[16]Interview was transformed to become a "reflection of Andy’s social life" said Colacello.[17] "We wanted every issue ofInterview to be like a great dinner party, where you have a grande dame, an important political figure, a rock star, an up-and-coming actress, and some model."[14]
O'Brien and his wife Jude Jade sold advertising for the magazine beforeSandra Brant became the director of advertising in 1972.[18] O'Brien succeeded Colacello as managing editor of Interview in 1972 and continued in that capacity until 1973.[11] In 1973, Rosemary Kent, an editor fromWWD magazine, became the editor-in-chief of Interview, which at that point had a circulation of almost 70,000.[19] In 1974, Colacello took over as editor-in-chief and remained in that position until 1983.[18]
Warhol hosted parties for the magazine at New York hotspots such asStudio 54 andRegine's. He used a tape recorder he had in his pocket to capture content forInterview.[17] The interviews were taped conversations of well-known eclectic people usually at a restaurant and published as a literal transcription. Another trademark of the magazine were full-page photographs of "beautiful people."[20]
By 1981,Interview was priced at $2 ($10 in 2024[12]) a copy and had a circulation of 90,000.[21] The magazine was described as a "hybrid ofPeople andVogue on elongated newsprint."[21]
From 1972 to 1989, the artistRichard Bernstein created the covers forInterview, giving the publication its bold and colorful signature style.[22]Francesco Scavullo,Robert Mapplethorpe,Christopher Makos,Herb Ritts,Mario Testino, andDavid LaChapelle were among the pioneering photographers whose work was featured in the magazine.[23] WriterFran Lebowitz was paid $10 ($40 in 2024[12]) a review for her film column. Fashion journalistAndré Leon Talley answered the phones and styled shoots.[14]
Over time, Warhol withdrew from everyday oversight ofInterview but he continued to act as an ambassador for the magazine, distributing issues in the street to passersby and promoting the magazine at events.[21]
In 1989, Brant Publications Inc. acquiredInterview magazine from the estate of Andy Warhol for $10 million.[24] Businessman Peter Brant and his then-wife Sandra Brant were friends of Warhol, who died in 1987, and they had invested inInterview in the 1970s.[24]
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From 1989 to 2008, Sandra Brant ran the business and her longtime partnerIngrid Sischy was the editor-in-chief.[25][26] The magazine's format remained consistent at 60% features and 40% glossy advertising. Following her hiring at Interview, Sischy operated the company for a few months at Warhol's Factory before relocating the headquarters downtown to 575 Broadway in 1990, whereJed Johnson decorated the space.[27] In 2008, Sischy resigned fromInterview when Brant sold her 50 percent stake.[25]
For a year and a half the magazine was in flux, edited byChristopher Bollen.[28]Interview restarted under co-editorial directorsFabien Baron andGlenn O'Brien in September 2008, with a cover featuringKate Moss. Stephen Mooallem andChristopher Bollen served as the working editor-in-chief and editor-at-large, respectively. The publication's content can be found online and via anapp, Other Edition, available on iTunes.
As of 2017, Fabien Baron was the editorial director,Karl Templer was the creative director, andNick Haramis was the editor-in-chief. In December 2013, Stephen Mooallem leftInterview to joinHarper's Bazaar as its executive editor. Keith Pollock served as editor-in-chief from 2014 to 2016.[29]
It was announced on May 21, 2018, that the publication 'folded' and would end both its print and web publications by the end of 2018. The publication also filed forChapter 7 bankruptcy and liquidation.[30][31][32][33]
In August 2018, it was reported that a company owned by Peter Brant, Singleton LLC, purchasedInterview out of bankruptcy for $1.5 million.[34]
On September 6, 2018,Interview announced the launch of its 521st issue.[35][36] The magazine was purchased by Kelly Brant and Jason Nikic,[37] with some reports suggesting that the title's intellectual property will be returned to Peter Brant.[38][39]
Managing Editor / Executive Editor / Editor-in-Chief
| Editor | Start year | End year | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gerard Malanga | 1969 | 1970 | [11] |
| Soren Agenoux | 1970 | 1970 | [11] |
| Kenneth Geist | 1970 | 1970 | [40] |
| Bob Colacello | 1970 | 1971 | [18] |
| Glenn O'Brien | 1972 | 1973 | [11] |
| Rosemary Kent | 1973 | 1974 | [19] |
| Bob Colacello | 1974 | 1983 | [18] |
| Robert Hayes | 1983 | 1984 | [41] |
| Gael Love | 1985 | 1987 | [42] |
| Kevin Sessums | 1987 | 1989 | [43] |
| Shelley Wanger | 1988 | 1990 | [42] |
| Ingrid Sischy | 1990 | 2008 | [26] |
| Christopher Bollen | 2008 | 2009 | [44] |
| Nick Haramis | 2017 | 2021 | [45] |
| Mel Ottenberg | 2021 | present | [46] |
| Country | Circulation Dates | Editor-in-Chief | Star year | End year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (Interview) | 1969–2018 | See above | ||
| 2018–present | ||||
| Russia (Interview Russia) | 2011– | Aliona Doletskaya | 2011 | 2017 |
| Germany (Interview Germany) | 2012–2020 | Joerg Koch[47] | 2012 | 2013 |
| Lisa Feldmann[47][48] | 2013 | 2014 | ||
| Brazil[49] | 1980s-1990s | |||
