It’s hard to believe that a simple passion for rock ‘n’ roll has now led to the creation of my own magazine, half a century after I photographed my first concert. When I began taking photos in the ’70s, I was always concerned about what I was going to be when I grew up. My academic skills were nothing to brag about, and I wasn’t cut out to be a nine-to-five guy. My life has been a Cinderella story that began as a fan 50 years ago at the age of 14, when I shot Elton John at Madison Square Garden. I was lucky enough to figure out a way to make a career out of it, and make a hell of a lot of friends along the road to becoming “the guy who rocked the ’80s.” Throughout that decade, my photographs were featured in Circus, Creem, Hit Parader, Rock Scene, Metal Edge, Rolling Stone and many more magazines. After the release of my book THE DECADE THAT ROCKED, where I had complete control over the content, I caught the publishing bug. This led me to embark on the journey of starting MiMa Publishing alongside my partner, Michal Pellicone. This magazine is a collaboration with Michal, the creative director and driving force behind MiMa publishing. In the 1980s, magazines took over a month to lay out and design, but Michal went above and beyond to ensure that this first issue was ready in time for the Monsters of Rock Cruise. We received the green light from Captain Larry Morand just seven days before we sailed, so hats off to Michal for bringing my vision to life and to Larry for bringing ROCKED on the ship. This issue is inspired by the bands that are performing on the MORC 2024. Michal’s creativity illuminates every page of ROCKED, and I am immensely grateful for her commitment as we embark on this journey together. Her dedication to crafting visually striking layouts ensures that my photographs come alive just as they did in the ‘80s. I owe much of this venture to her expertise, skill, and innovation. Stay tuned for the ROCKED website, where Michal’s dedication to web development will captivate the fans.   As you flip through the pages of this magazine, you will feel a sense of connection that will serve as a reminder of the power of music and art. For those who weren’t around during those remarkable years,  you’re about to witness what it was all about through my camera. I want to encourage the new generation of music fans to go back to the ’70s and ’80s, listen, look, and embrace the pages you are about to embark on and get ready to get ROCKED! I want to take a moment to express my deepest appreciation to each and every one of you who have supported me along the way, and who have shared my love for rock ‘n’ roll and the images I captured. Photographing this unforgettable era of rock and metal has been the driving force behind everything I do. ROCKED is not just a collection of photographs; it’s a glimpse into the fun times I had.  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being a part of this incredible journey. I can’t wait to see where it takes us next. Each image tells a story – a story of, well, you tell me…