A new spin for an old favorite

St Petersburg used to have its own New Musical Express; soon it will have its own Spin. The longest-lived Russian music newspaper Rock Fuzz has regained its financial independence after 14 months of servitude to its former publishers and sponsors, the Russian-American radio station Radio 1.

"We will continue to cooperate with Radio 1, but now we will take care of our own financial matters," said Rock Fuzz's editor-in-chief, Alexander Dolgov. From February, the publication will appear in its new B4 format, similar to that of the American music monthly Spin.

It will also be available across Russia through the Rospechat subscription system. Since its launch in March 1991 as an eight-page black-and-white fanzine published at long, irregular intervals, Rock Fuzz has come along in leaps and bounds.

Today it is a colorful monthly containing between 24 and 32 pages of music news and reviews, both domestic and international.

Rock Fuzz helped break new ground during the thaw which followed the nadir of the Communist regime. Soviet music fans thirsting for news from the Western music scene were predominantly forced to rely on broadcasts from the BBC and Voice of America as well as rare and often inaccurate articles published in Soviet "youth" magazines. As soon as the media escaped the bonds of state control, a mass of rock newspapers sprang up in cities across Russia.

However, all of them failed to survive the test of time, surrendering to low professional standards and the pressures of the economic climate. All of them, that is, except Rock Fuzz. Many attribute this longevity to the perseverance of Mr. Dolgov, 37, who is a retired naval officer.

Rock Fuzz went through bad and good times but, despite the fact that it can only afford to pay pocket money to journalists, it has more or less become an institution. Although the material is often sub-standard and the layout leaves a lot to be desired, the publication provides a rounded coverage of Russian rock music.

It also aims to satisfy the demand for news from the Western pop scene by printing articles translated from the British and American music press.

In a bid to boost the waning popularity of the rock genre in Russia, the magazine helped to organize two ambitious rock festivals in St Petersburg: Aero Fuzz in 1994 and Radio Fuzz in 1995.

This year's festival will be held in May. "According to last year's survey, our readers are young people, mostly students between the ages of 16 and 22," said Mr Dolgov. Unlike some widely-advertised but short-lived projects, Rock Fuzz is unconcerned with making quick profits -- editors and contributors see it as a labor of love. The latest incarnation of Rock Fuzz will be available in St Petersburg from Metro newspaper stands and specialist music shops before the end of the month for around 10,000 roubles.