Ant

#1 and #2 $5 (Box 298, Dracut, MA 01826)
by Scott Hefflon

Long live rock ‘n’ roll! This music ‘zine (a.k.a. an “independent rock magazine”) is devoted to the rock/metal/glam that was in vogue in the mid-to-late ’80s and keeps rockin’ in the mid-’90s. Editor Michael McCarthy has some solid reasoning and good, uplifting opinions on putting out a mag which covers a style of music many have turned their backs on, deny they were shaped by, and, in general, a style that is considered unhip. Ant may be seen as a shelter for those who just won’t let the ’80s rock thing die a respectable death and achieve its place in a long and sordid history, but Ant may also be seen as a much-needed forum for an awful lot of hardworking, consistently productive bands. While daily papers and other soulless media whorehouses still occasionally cover Tesla, Skid Row, and the lot, there is usually a hint of sarcasm and condescension masked by their dry, whitewashed journalism. Ant probes into the rock culture with long, detailed, and knowledgeable interviews. They give space to heavy-hitters, import-only releases, and New England up-and-comers. While the price tag may seem high for the merely curious, Ant is definitely recommended for all fans of long-hair rock. Issue #1 was 60 pages, #2 was 80 pages – it’s an in-depth, well-written magazine.