Best (magazine)

Best is a musical Magazine French specialized in the Rock, rested by Gerard Bernar (editor association) and Jacques Morlain (directing), whose n° 1 appeared in September 1968. Positioning from the start like the successor of Disco music Re-examined , it quickly came to compete with Rock & Folk , launched in 1966, by asserting a more popular style. It then acquired a great notoriety, which extended on three rich person decades.

History

Under the impulse of his editor association Christian Lebrun, who after Sacha Reins will be able to direct Best with a greater reactivity to the new currents than Rock & Folk , more conservative, Best finds many people. The " monthly magazine of the rock" contained a double poster and a classification of the best discs of rock'n'roll. Updated each month according to the vote of its readers and indicated under the " term; Bestop" , this classification is a barometer of the tendencies and success discographics of the moment. It thus devoted inter alia in the Années 1970 Rolling Stones, Who, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, AC/DC, Téléphone, Trust, Sex Pistols, Status Quo, then in the Années 1980 The Cure, U2, Simple Minds…

At one time when the rock'n'roll knows only very little visibility on television, with the radio and in the press, Best , like Rock & Folk , has an significant impact in French youth.

Starting from 1977, the sales do not cease increasing because of the punk explosion and the new wave which follows. Pulling reaches then nearly 200.000 specimens in 1980. Best is competed with soon by the irruption of the radios " libres" and commercial starting from 1981.

The review celebrates its n° 100 in November 1976 (with Ringo Starr in cover), its n° 200 in March 1985 (with Mick Jagger) and its n° 300 in July 1993. When Christian Lebrun dies by accidental drowning in 1989, the decline of the sales is already well started. Francis Dordor, which replaces it, will not be able to stop it.

At the time of the twenty-five years of the magazine, a number out of the ordinary anthology of 160 pages was published in 1993, entitled " Seventies Graffiti - 25 great moments of rock".

Several numbers out of the ordinary, including one special blues and special a reggae, marked the years 1990, and Best ceases appearing at the end of 1994, replaced for some numbers by B-Mag.

A new formula briefly made its appearance in December 1995 (with the Rolling Stones in cover).

Best disappeared in March 2000, in spite of an ultimate return very appreciated in 1999, thanks to an eclectic formula directed by Laurent Lamet and Christian Lamet, of the thorough files and completely original Romanian CD for the time.

Principal collaborators

Writers : Gerard Bar-David, Jacques Barsamian, Philippe Bas-Rabérin, Gerard Bernar, Bruno Blum, Jean-Gilles Blum, Mehdi Boukhelf, Julien Capraro, Catherine Claude, Jean-Christmas Coghe, Philippe Constantin, Emmanuelle Debaussart, Francis Dordor, Michel Embareck, Patrick Eudeline, Roland Godefroy, Brenda Jackson, Clark Kent, Christian Lamet, Laurent Lamet, Jacques Leblanc, Christian Lebrun, Juliette Legouy, Youri Lenquette, Jean-Luc Manet, Kurt Mohr, Herve Muller, Herve Picart, Sacha Kidneys, Gilles Riberolles, Bill Schmock (alias Alain wais), Magda Tobali, Arnaud Viviant, Thierry Walter…

Photographers : Renaud Corloüer, Jean-Yves Legras, Youri Lenquette…

External bonds

a page on the history of the press rock'n'roll in France
Chronology of the musical press in France
best discs of 1984 to 1990 according to '' Best ''.

Random links: