A Facebook page I follow recently posted this throwback to the early days of Rolling Stone Magazine. The VERY early days to be exact. It was issue #5 from February 10th, 1968 (54 years ago today as of this writing), when this ad first ran in the magazine encouraging people to subscribe by offering a free gift when you did. This wasn’t the first mag to do so, but I’m pretty sure it was the first time a mag had offered a roach clip for your joints as a subscriber gift. Of course they couldn’t actually market it as a roach clip so the genius writers at RS added an awesome little descriptive paragraph of what this “handy little device” was and the many ways you could use it.
“An essential accessory for the successful musician and the completely equipped rock and roll fan. It has one thousand and one uses around the home, in rehearsal, or for better music appreciation. Applications of this delightfully simple piece of machinery range from the frivolous (hanging earrings) to the practical (preventing singed lips.)...Act now before this offer is made illegal.”
That is genius marketing, and writing.
Do you remember receiving one of these “handy little devices” with your paid subscription to Rolling Stone? This...
Posted by The College of Rock and Roll Knowledge on Thursday, February 10, 2022
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