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Interview
Cover of the Spring 2024 issue, featuring Rihanna by Nadia Lee Cohen
Editor in ChiefMel Ottenberg[1]
Editorial & Design DirectorRichard Turley
Editor at LargeChristopher Bollen
CategoriesPop culture
FrequencyBimonthly
FounderAndy Warhol
John Wilcock
First issueOctober 1969 (1969-10)
CompanyCrystal Ball Media
CountryUnited States
Based inNew York City
Websiteinterviewmagazine.com
ISSN0149-8932

Interview is an American magazine founded by Pop artist Andy Warhol and journalist John Wilcock in 1969.[2] Initially launched as a film journal, it became known for its informal, conversational interviews with celebrities, artists, musicians, actors, and other cultural figures, often conducted by other prominent personalities. Dubbed "The Crystal Ball of Pop,"[3][4] the magazine played a significant role in documenting and shaping the intersection of art, fashion, film, music, and popular culture. Warhol remained involved with the magazine until his death in 1987.

Background

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During the eighteen years that Andy Warhol published Interview, the magazine underwent significant changes in editorial focus, staff, production, format, financing, and distribution. Its title also changed several times: Inter/VIEW: A Monthly Film Journal (1969–1970), INTER/VIEW: Andy Warhol's Film Magazine (1971–1972), Andy Warhol's Interview (1972–1977), Andy Warhol's Interview: The Monthly Glamour Gazette (used intermittently in 1975), and, eventually, simply Interview (from 1977).[5]

Headquartered at Warhol's Factory, the magazine began as a film publication before broadening its focus to popular culture. Warhol described his aim as creating "an easygoing, conversational magazine," adding, "Every other paper is full of bad news, but we publish only good."[6]

Interview was originally published monthly and is now issued six times a year, with issues appearing in March, Spring, Summer, September, Fall, and Winter.

History

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Andy Warhol period

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There are several accounts of why Warhol began publishing Interview. Warhol later joked that he had started the magazine "to give Brigid something to do."[7][8] Founding editor Gerard Malanga recalled that Warhol had been denied press passes to the New York Film Festival, and suggested that having a publication through which to obtain press credentials was the reason Warhol created a magazine.[9] In his memoir POPism: The Warhol '60s (1980), Warhol offered another explanation:

Everyone, absolutely everyone, was tape-recording everyone else. Tapes brought up great possibilities for interviews with all kinds of celebrities, and since we were a long time between movies lately, I began to think about starting a magazine of nothing but taped interviews. Then John Wilcock dropped by one day and asked me if I would start a newspaper with him. I said yes. John was already publishing a magazine on newsprint called Other Scenes, so he had a complete typesetting and printing set up already. Together we brought out the first issue of Interview magazine in the fall of '69.[10]

Interview was launched in October 1969 as inter/VIEW: A Monthly Film Journal, with a cover featuring a still from the experimental film Lions Love… (and Lies) (1969), starring Warhol superstar Viva.[11][12][13] Initially devoted primarily to film criticism, the title paid homage to View, the literary magazine published by Charles Henri Ford in the 1940s.[9] The inaugural issue listed Malanga, Paul Morrissey, John Wilcock, and Warhol as editors.[14][15] Wilcock's name remained on the masthead until October 1970, and he continued printing the magazine through December.[16] He later recalled that after Other Scenes folded, he decided to leave for Europe and amicably ended his partnership with Warhol, who gave him $5,000 and two Flower paintings in exchange for his share.[15]

After Malanga's departure in 1970, actor Charles Rydell joined the editorial staff, while Soren Agenoux assumed the newly created position of managing editor.[16][14] Agenoux subsequently recruited Bob Colacello, then a graduate student at Columbia University, who had begun writing film reviews for Interview in 1970.[17] Colacello became managing editor later that year and brought in his friend Glenn O'Brien as associate editor.[18][19] By December 1970, Rydell and film director Jerome Hill became part-owners of Interview.[20][21] They sold their interests to Peter Brant and his cousin Joe Allen in 1971.[22]

In 1972, Interview had a circulation of 30,000, mostly subscriptions.[23] O'Brien worked with artist Richard Bernstein to create the new cursive Interview logo, which is still used today.[19] The magazine increased size, started printing color covers, and was distributed regularly for 50 cents ($4 in 2025[24]) per copy.[23] Interview was transformed to become a "reflection of Andy's social life" said Colacello.[25] "We wanted every issue of Interview to be like a great dinner party, where you have a grande dame, an important political figure, a rock star, an up-and-coming actress, and some model."[26]

Covers displayed in the Andy Warhol Museum

O'Brien and his wife Jude Jade sold advertising for the magazine before Sandra Brant became the director of advertising in 1972.[27] O'Brien succeeded Colacello as managing editor of Interview in 1972 and continued in that capacity until 1973.[28] In 1973, Rosemary Kent, an editor from WWD magazine, became the editor-in-chief of Interview, which at that point had a circulation of almost 70,000.[29] In 1974, Colacello took over as executive editor and remained in that position until 1983.[27]

Warhol hosted parties for the magazine at New York hotspots such as Studio 54 and Regine's. He used a tape recorder he had in his pocket to capture content for Interview.[25] The interviews were taped conversations of well-known eclectic people usually at a restaurant and published as a literal transcription. Another trademark of the magazine were full-page photographs of "beautiful people."[30]

By 1981, Interview was priced at $2 ($10 in 2025[24]) a copy and had a circulation of 90,000.[31] The magazine was described as a "hybrid of People and Vogue on elongated newsprint."[31] From 1972 to 1989, the artist Richard Bernstein created the covers for Interview, giving the publication its bold and colorful signature style.[32] Francesco Scavullo, Robert Mapplethorpe, Christopher Makos, Herb Ritts, Mario Testino, and David LaChapelle were among the pioneering photographers whose work was featured in the magazine.[33] Writer Fran Lebowitz had a column in the magazine, and fashion journalist André Leon Talley answered the phones and styled shoots.[26] Over time, Warhol withdrew from everyday oversight of Interview but he continued to act as an ambassador for the magazine, distributing issues in the street to passersby and promoting the magazine at events.[31]

Brant Publications period

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In 1989, Brant Publications Inc. acquired Interview magazine from the estate of Andy Warhol for $10 million.[34] Businessman Peter Brant and his then-wife Sandra Brant were friends of Warhol, who died in 1987, and they had invested in Interview in the 1970s.[34]

April 2011 cover, featuring Lil Wayne

From 1989 to 2008, Sandra Brant ran the business and her longtime partner Ingrid Sischy was the editor-in-chief.[35][36] The magazine's format remained consistent at 60% features and 40% glossy advertising. Following her hiring at Interview, Sischy operated the company for a few months at Warhol's Factory before relocating the headquarters downtown to 575 Broadway in 1990, where Jed Johnson decorated the space.[37] In 2008, Sischy resigned from Interview when Brant sold her 50 percent stake.[35]

2008 to 2018

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For a year and a half the magazine was in flux, edited by Christopher Bollen.[38] Interview restarted under co-editorial directors Fabien Baron and Glenn O'Brien in September 2008, with a cover featuring Kate Moss. Stephen Mooallem and Christopher Bollen served as the working editor-in-chief and editor-at-large, respectively.[38] The publication's content can be found online and via an app, Other Edition, available on iTunes.

As of 2017, Fabien Baron was the editorial director, Karl Templer was the creative director, and Nick Haramis was the editor-in-chief. In December 2013, Stephen Mooallem left Interview to join Harper's Bazaar as its executive editor. Keith Pollock served as editor-in-chief from 2014 to 2016.[39]

It was announced on May 21, 2018, that the publication 'folded' and would end both its print and web publications by the end of 2018. The publication also filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and liquidation.[40][41][42][43]

Relaunch

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In August 2018, it was reported that a company owned by Peter Brant, Singleton LLC, purchased Interview out of bankruptcy for $1.5 million.[44]

On September 6, 2018, Interview announced the launch of its 521st issue.[45][46] The magazine was purchased by Kelly Brant and Jason Nikic,[47] with some reports suggesting that the title's intellectual property will be returned to Peter Brant.[48][49]

Editors

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Editor Title Start year End year Ref.
Gerard Malanga Editor 1969 1970 [15]
Paul Morrissey 1973
John Wilcok 1970
Andy Warhol 1973
Soren Agenoux Managing editor 1970 1970 [14]
Bob Colacello 1970 1972 [27]
Glenn O'Brien 1972 1973 [28]
Rosemary Kent Editor-in-chief 1973 1974 [29]
Bob Colacello Executive editor 1974 1983 [27]
Robert Hayes Editor 1983 1984 [50]
Gael Love Executive editor 1984 1987 [51]
Kevin Sessums 1987 1989 [52]
Shelley Wanger 1988 1990 [51]
Ingrid Sischy Editor-in-chief 1990 2008 [36]
Christopher Bollen 2008 2009 [53]
Stephen Mooallem 2009 2013 [38]
Keith Pollock 2014 2016 [39]
Nick Haramis 2017 2021 [54]
Mel Ottenberg 2021 present [55]

Foreign Editions

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Country Circulation Dates Editor-in-Chief Star year End year
Brazil (Interview) 1980–1995[56]
Russia (Interview Russia) 2011–2017 Aliona Doletskaya 2011 2017
Germany (Interview Germany) 2012–2020 Joerg Koch[57] 2012 2013
Lisa Feldmann[57][58] 2013 2014

References

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Citations

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  1. ↑ Hastreiter, Kim (August 27, 2021). "Mel Ottenberg Takes Over Interview Magazine As Top Editor". The New York Times. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  2. ↑ "The 20 Best Magazines of the Decade (2000-2009)". Paste Magazine. November 26, 2009. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ Kevin Howell (December 13, 2004). "The Crystal Ball of Pop Culture". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  4. ↑ Anna Wilson (July 17, 2014). "Ten Things You Never Knew About Andy Warhol". Clash Music. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  5. ↑ Mulroney 2018, p. 96.
  6. ↑ Sheppard, Eugenia (May 28, 1974). "Warhol Factory Houses All Of His Projects". The Lexington Herald. p. 9. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  7. ↑ Colacello 1990, p. 6.
  8. ↑ Mulroney 2018, p. 93.
  9. 1 2 Nevins, Jake (May 9, 2025). "Founding Editor Gerard Malanga Takes Us Back to the Early Days of Interview". Interview Magazine. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  10. ↑ Warhol, Andy (1980). POPism: The Warhol '60s. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-15-173095-7.
  11. ↑ "Agnes Varda on the first cover of Interview Magazine, 1969". East of Borneo. November 12, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  12. ↑ Pemberton, Nathan Taylor (September 6, 2018). "The Last Living Dinosaur of the New Wave, Agnès Varda". Interview Magazine. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Viva Zoom! A to Z!: The evolution of our revolutionary feature section". Interview. 24 (10): 134. October 1994.
  14. 1 2 3 Colacello 1990, p. 7.
  15. 1 2 3 Mulroney 2018, p. 98.
  16. 1 2 Mulroney 2018, p. 99.
  17. ↑ Colacello 1990, p. 4.
  18. ↑ Colacello 1990, p. 38.
  19. 1 2 Colacello, Bob (April 10, 2017). "Remembering Glenn O'Brien, Before and After Andy Warhol". Vanity Fair. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  20. ↑ Mulroney 2018, p. 100.
  21. ↑ Colacello 1990, p. 41.
  22. ↑ Friedman, Vanessa (December 30, 2011). "Lunch with the FT: Peter Brant". Financial Times. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  23. 1 2 Kushner, Trucia D. (April 6, 1972). "Dirty Movies Just Part of Andy Warhol's Strange Life". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 68. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  24. 1 2 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  25. 1 2 Bernstein, Jacob (June 16, 2018). "The Great Interview Magazine Caper". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  26. 1 2 Whittle, Andrea (September 4, 2020). "My Life in Parties: Bob Colacello's Off-Kilter Views of New York Society". W Magazine.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Colacello, Bob (December 1989). "Interview—Back To The Future?". Vanity Fair. Vol. 52, no. 12. pp. 134, 140.
  28. 1 2 Colacello 1990, p. 138.
  29. 1 2 Frizzelle, Nancy (September 27, 1973). "'Little Girl' With Big Pencil". San Francisco Examiner. p. 26.
  30. ↑ Ross, Michele (June 24, 1981). "Interviewing Interview". The Atlanta Journal: Section B.
  31. 1 2 3 Weil, Debbie (June 26, 1981). "Andy Warhol In Fantasyland: Somehow Smaller Than Life". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. 1-B, 3-B. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  32. ↑ Rosen, Miss (March 27, 2024). "How Richard Bernstein Created Interview Magazine's Iconic 1980s Covers". AnOther. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  33. ↑ "inter/VIEW". glreview.org. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  34. 1 2 "Interview Magazine Is Sold". The New York Times. May 9, 1989. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  35. 1 2 "Ingrid Sischy and Sandra Brant to Helm 'Vanity Fair' Abroad". New York Magazine. March 17, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  36. 1 2 "Remembering Ingrid Sischy". Interview Magazine. July 27, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  37. ↑ Lockwood, Lisa (September 19, 1999). "A 30-Year Pop Culture Fest". WWD. 178 (55): 20.
  38. 1 2 3 "Management Changes at Interview Magazine". The New York Times. July 19, 2009. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  39. 1 2 Steigrad, Alexandra (January 28, 2014). "Keith Pollock Named Editor in Chief of Interview". WWD. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  40. ↑ Helmore, Edward (May 21, 2018). "Interview magazine closes, ending a 50-year survey of Manhattan cool". The Guardian. New York. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  41. ↑ Santoni, Matthew (May 24, 2018). "Interview Magazine folds, but archive will live on at Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum". TribLive. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  42. ↑ Serota, Maggie (May 23, 2018). "Interview Magazine Ceases Publication". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  43. ↑ Kludt, Tom (May 21, 2018). "Interview Magazine, founded by Andy Warhol, shuts down". CNN. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  44. ↑ Jonathan, Randles (August 29, 2018). "Publisher Peter Brant Buys Interview Magazine Out Of Bankruptcy". Wall Street Journal.
  45. ↑ "Interview Magazine on Instagram: "Our 1st cover star is now our 521st! @agnes.varda interviewed by @hansulrichobrist, with love notes to Agnès from @ava, Angelina Jolie,…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  46. ↑ "Interview Magazine on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  47. ↑ "How Interview Magazine Came Back From the Dead". The Business of Fashion. September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  48. ↑ "'Interview' Magazine Will Relaunch in September After Peter Brant Essentially Repurchased It From Himself | artnet News". artnet News. August 30, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  49. ↑ Kimball, Whitney. "Report: Interview Magazine Sidesteps 300 Unpaid Creditors and Relaunches". Jezebel. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  50. ↑ Yarbrough, Jeff (May 23, 2018). "Interview Magazine: A View on the Inside". www.advocate.com. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  51. 1 2 Taylor, John (February 22, 1988). "Andy's Empire". New York Magazine. 21 (8): 32–39.
  52. ↑ "Kevin Sessums: Meet The Best Celebrity Interviewer Ever". HuffPost. February 4, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  53. ↑ "Bollen Named Editor in Chief of Interview". Artforum. March 7, 2008. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  54. ↑ Hays, Kali (April 1, 2021). "Nick Haramis Out as Editor of Interview Magazine". WWD. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  55. ↑ "System Magazine". System Magazine. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  56. ↑ Marti, Silas (May 22, 2018). "Revista Interview, fundada por Andy Warhol, fecha após 50 anos". Folha de São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  57. 1 2 Drier, Melissa (February 20, 2013). "Editor in Chief Joerg Koch Stepping Down at Interview Germany". WWD. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  58. ↑ "Kündigung: Lisa Feldmann hört bei "Interview" auf - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). Retrieved March 30, 2025.

Sources

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