Crawdaddy!, the first rock magazine in the U.S., will relaunch yet again on May 16 with an online version funded by Wolfgang's Vault. The magazine was started by then-college student Paul Williams, who put out the first issue in February 1966, predating both Rolling Stone and Creem.

Williams left in 1968, the mag didn't publish for a period during 1969 and 1970, and saw the return of Williams in 1993. It closed up shop in 2003, and has been silent until now.

The online mag's site has cover shots from Williams' initial 16 issues, a review of the Bruce Springsteen tribute concert from last month and other bits of information, historical and otherwise, about Crawdaddy!

"Crawdaddy! promises, in earnest, to maintain the values set forth by Paul in the original publication. We also want to acknowledge that the times have changed. We'll encourage writing and reporting that delves inward and back in time as a mirror for rock as it exists in the present and how it affects our socio-culture." It's a noble idea, and one that has fueled many come-and-gone efforts over the past several years.

At least Williams is involved, as "advisory editor," and he'll contribute to the first issue as well. Having read a couple of his books about Bob Dylan, compendiums, for the most part, of his writing in the magazine about the singer, I can attest to the fact that he is a talented chronicler of rock music, a possible breath of fresh air in a world where most reviewers spend more time talking about themselves than the music.

Labels: magazines, music