This 1987 issue, and Jimi Hendrix’s fifth cover, commemorated Rolling Stone’s 20th anniversary by showcasing the guitar god in his signature maximalist style. This legendary shot by Ed Caraeff at the 1967 Monterey Pop...
Canadian-born Joni Mitchell remains one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of all time, but in 1969, she was still new to the scene. This powerful cover, shot by Baron Wolman, dubs the...
A pioneer in hip-hop and social justice, Tupac’s 1996 Rolling Stone cover remains one of the most iconic magazine images of all-time. The powerful portrait, shot by Danny Clinch, showcases...
Janis Joplin’s first Rolling Stone cover, this 1970 printing featured a jovial Joplin in her signature laissez-faire, toss-it-on styling. Shot by Tony Lane, the cover published the same year as Joplin’s untimely...
Elton John’s outlandish style and outspoken persona made him the perfect fit for the counter-cultural vibe of Rolling Stone in the Seventies. But this 1976 cover, shot by Terry O'Neill,...
Willie Nelson’s first Rolling Stone cover, this 1978 printing featured a hand-painted portrait of the country outlaw, based off a photograph by Beverly Parker. Depicted as a music-man Uncle Sam,...
Hunter S. Thompson wrote "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” in 1971, and it solidified his brand of Gonzo journalism that became his trademark. This iconic cover features an illustration...
Illustrator Ralph Steadman revived his “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” imagery for this 1992 issue, which depicts a wild Hunter S. Thompson at the wheel of a car. The...
Ralph Steadman’s illustration of Richard Nixon with a Pinocchio nose reflected Hunter S. Thompson’s feelings about the president. Following his coverage of the Democratic National Convention in Miami five weeks...
For the first time in Rolling Stone‘s 53-year history, the June 2020 cover story was not only reported entirely remotely due to the pandemic — but photographed by none other than...