RIP Details

I've been part of the problem with magazines going through rough times.

Fifteen or 16 years ago, I had subscriptions to Esquire, Details, Rolling Stone, Spin and National Geographic and probably a couple more I'm forgetting. I read each copy cover to cover, except for the archeological stuff or the Egyptian pyramids stuff in NG.

I dropped Spin when it became all rap all the time. I dropped Details when it became too fashion-centric. I dropped National Geographic because my pile of them was becoming a serious space suck. I dropped Rolling Stone because it was stuck in the 1960s-early 1970s; who the fuck wants another cover story on the Rolling Stones?

That leaves Esquire, of which I still am a subscriber.

 

* Sheepishly raises his hand *

My problem with Rolling Stone isn't the articles about geriatric bands, although clearly they've had a rough transition into a time when rock 'n' roll is no longer a mass cultural force.

My problem with Rolling Stone is the non-music articles in which they make shit up.

 

My problem with Rolling Stone was when Jann and company turned it into a campaign vehicle for Al Gore in 2000. I was/am to the left of Gore politically, and as a hardcore Nader backer it pissed me off to see fawning cover stories and photos of Al and Tipper "PMRC" Gore.

I still subscribe to other mags, but canceled my RS subscription then and there. Haven't spent a dime on them sense.

 

I subscribed to Details in college. Loved that magazine. They did some great longform work (back before people used that awful expression). I remember a terrific piece on Ray Sharkey, the "Wiseguy" actor who was dying of AIDS but in complete denial about it.

As an undersexed dork, though, my favorite part of the magazine was Anka the sex columnist. Oh my I loved her. I would have been glad to let her show me the way.

Anyway. Once the laddy mag craze hit, Details went into the shitter by trying to follow along, so I let my subscription lapse. I'd occasionally leaf through it thereafter, but the fashion nonsense was way above/below my pay grade. I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. C'est la vie.

 

I have been feeling this way about "GQ" lately, as well. It works for me when it's suit porn. Lots of sneakers and weird sweaters and upscale North Face-like jackets these days.

 

GQ lost me, just recently, with the "F_ck Ben Carson" social media post and column. That coincided with my final issue arriving in the mail.
Not a Carson supporter - I really don't regard him as qualified to be president - but that just hit me the wrong way.

 

Did GQ's poll numbers drop after the "F--- Ben Carson" post?

 

GQ lost me when it became monthly.