A SAD FINAL CHAPTER FOR ONE OF ROCK’S MOST TREASURED PRINT PUBLICATIONS
It is a sad day for fans of classic rock journalism, as Rock Candy Magazine has announced that its current edition, Issue 56, will be its final issue.
The news was shared in a heartfelt message from the magazine’s team, explaining that it is sadly no longer financially possible to continue producing the publication.
For readers who have supported Rock Candy over the years, this one is going to sting.
In a world increasingly dominated by quick social media posts, scrolling feeds and disposable content, Rock Candy Magazine proudly did things the old-fashioned way. Big interviews. Deep dives. Rare photographs. Forgotten stories. Proper rock journalism printed on actual paper.
The sort of magazine you kept on the shelf rather than chucking into the recycling after reading it once.
56 ISSUES OF ROCK HISTORY
The Rock Candy team said they were incredibly proud of the magazines they had produced, describing them as collectables that fans could treasure for years to come.
And they are absolutely right.
Across 56 issues, Rock Candy celebrated the bands, musicians, albums and stories that helped shape hard rock, heavy metal and classic rock history.
It gave legendary artists space to tell their stories properly, while shining a spotlight on bands and records that sometimes slipped through the cracks of mainstream music coverage.
These were not magazines designed to be skimmed in five minutes while waiting for the kettle to boil.
They were made to be read, revisited, collected and proudly displayed next to your vinyl, CDs and suspiciously large pile of tour programmes.
Proper job, mun. 🎸
BACK ISSUES WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE
Although the magazine itself is coming to an end, fans will still have the opportunity to pick up previous editions.
Rock Candy has confirmed that back issues will remain available through its website, meaning collectors can continue filling gaps in their collections or discover editions they may have missed the first time around.
Considering the magazine’s final issue has now been confirmed, those back editions are likely to become even more special to fans.
So, if there is a particular cover, artist feature or edition you have had your eye on, this might be the time to grab it before it disappears into the great rock ’n’ roll collector’s cabinet forever.
ROCK CANDY RECORDS WILL CONTINUE
Thankfully, this is not the complete end of the Rock Candy name.
The team has confirmed that its Rock Candy Records reissue label will continue operating, with four new releases due on 7 August.
The upcoming batch will feature two releases from Canadian melodic rockers White Wolf, alongside two releases from the American band Spider.
The Rock Candy Records website will remain open, with further reissues also planned for the future.
That means the team will continue doing what it has always done brilliantly: rescuing classic albums, polishing them up and putting them back into the hands of rock fans who genuinely care about the music.
Because nothing says rock obsession quite like buying a remastered version of an album you already own three times.
We have all been there, butt. 😈💿
THE ROCK CANDY COMMUNITY LIVES ON
The magazine’s Facebook pages will also remain active, including the popular Rock Candy Facebook group.
For many readers, the community surrounding the magazine has become just as important as the publication itself.
Fans from around the world have used the group to chat about bands, share memories, discuss rare albums and generally argue over which guitarist recorded the greatest solo of 1987.
So while the printed magazine may be ending, the friendships, conversations and passion it helped create will continue.
And that matters.
Rock music has always been about community. Whether you are standing in a muddy festival field, squeezed into a sweaty club or chatting online about an obscure Japanese pressing, it is the fans who keep the whole thing alive.
A HUGE THANK YOU FROM THE RIFF REPORT
At The Riff Report, we know how much passion, time, effort and sheer stubbornness goes into running an independent music publication.
It takes dedication. It takes late nights. It takes endless cups of coffee, questionable amounts of energy drink and the ability to keep typing while your bank account quietly screams in the background.
Rock Candy Magazine produced 56 beautiful, informative and lovingly crafted issues.
That is an incredible achievement.
The team gave classic rock fans something tangible to treasure and reminded everyone that long-form music journalism still has a place in the world.
The magazine may be ending, but the stories it told, the interviews it published and the memories it created will live on in collections around the globe.
To Julia and everyone involved with Rock Candy Magazine, thank you for the music, the memories and 56 issues of proper rock ’n’ roll journalism.
Issue 56 may be the final curtain, but what a bloody good show it has been.
Rock Candy Magazine — proudly collected, loudly remembered. 🤘📰🔥
Fans can contact the team via info@rockcandymag.com or through the official Rock Candy Facebook page.
