Alternative Press (A.P.) Magazine was created in 1985 within the town of Aurora, Ohio, by Mike Shea, Norman Wonderly, and David Earle. In its early years the only way they could make money for printing was by holding punk shows. This worked for about five shows before every promoter within that area got together and counter-booked them out of a show and eventually all shows.
The release of their eighth issue would be the last for over a year! A.P had to deal with the headquarter situation, originally it was held in an apartment in a sketchy part of town complete with prostitutes and drug dealers.
Despite this, A.P. went on to interview and review dozens of unknown bands. They would boast their popularity and also allowed other people to hear about these bands before they hit the mainstream market. A.P. magazine was also the first national music publication to put Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, along with other alternative rock icons on its cover.
Some of the other artists which A.P. has recently supported have become huge mainstream successes. These bands include: My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday, and Panic! at the Disco. The magazine has been criticized by many, the reason, according to many music critics it has become a publication more directed to the “Hot Topic” crowd. Also many feel that it has gone downhill since its beginnings as a punk magazine.
Either way it is often acknowledged by the music industry as a taste making magazine. Within its offices are the gold and platinum records of everyone from Radiohead to Slipknot to The All American Rejects to Foo Fighters, thanking the magazine for their continuous coverage.