Rock Candy Magazine is a bi-monthly, 100-page rock publication produced and managed by a bunch of British rock journalists with decades of experience in music and mags, writing for legendary publications including Kerrang!, Metal Hammer and Raw.

Rocky Candy Magazine was born from a desire to delve into classic rock debates, such as comparing Aerosmith’s ‘Rocks’ with ‘Toys In The Attic’, debating Iron Maiden’s best frontman, and mulling over whether Journey’s ‘Escape’ is the pinnacle of AOR. Even the origins of Rob Halford’s stage attire were a topic of interest. Derek Oliver, Howard Johnson, and the late Malcolm Dome, who sadly passed away in 2021, are the minds behind this venture.

Their passion for rock and metal was evident in the 1980s as they spent countless nights discussing the genre’s finer points over drinks at the Coffee House pub near the old Kerrang! Offices in London’s Carnaby Street. Derek, who has been at the helm of the rock re-issues label Rock Candy Records for over a decade, felt a strong pull to return to his roots. He aimed to create a magazine that echoed the spirit of Kerrang!’s golden days – loud, proud, and unapologetic about its rock heritage.

Rock Candy Magazine stands out for its disregard for typical marketing tactics like demographics, market intelligence, and focus groups. It’s a publication purely dedicated to celebrating what they consider the greatest era of rock music, without the influence of corporate strategies or suits. This approach defines Rock Candy’s unique position in the rock publication landscape.

“We launched Rock Candy Mag in March 2017 because we couldn’t find a magazine anywhere that was dedicated to the stuff we love: classic ’70s and ’80s hard rock.”

Howard Johnson, Editor, Rock Candy Magazine

Rock Candy Magazine has been getting its ISSN barcodes from Barcode1 UK since it started publishing in 2017.