It's Only Rock 'N' Roll

It's Only Rock 'N' Roll, June 1978

A Guide to the It's Only Rock 'N' Roll Collection

Descriptive Summary

Creator:
Ron Young

Title:
It’s Only Rock 'N' Roll Collection

Dates:
1978-1982

Abstract:
It’s Only Rock ’N’ Roll was an indie music newspaper published in San Antonio from May 1978 to April 1982. The publication chronicled the rise of punk and New Wave music in San Antonio and Austin, reporting on national touring acts as well as local and regional rock ’n’ roll, blues and heavy metal acts. Issues included record reviews, guest columns, nightclub listings and numerous photographs. Included are 44 issues, from March 18, 1978 through April 1982. The November 1980 issue was mislabeled as Volume 4, number 8.

Identification:
Collection 135

Extent:

1 box

Language:
English

Repository:
The Wittliff Collections, Texas State University

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Open for research

Preferred Citation

It’s Only Rock 'N' Roll Collection (Collection 135), The Wittliff Collections, Texas State University

Acquisition Information

44 issues donated by Nikki Young, 2018; Chris Smart donated 3 issues: August & September, 1981 and March, 1982

Processing Information

Processed by Lauren Goodley, 2018

Notes to Researchers

All issues have been digitized and are available through the Wittliff’s Digital Collections page at https://dc.library.txstate.edu/node/7716.

Biographical and Scope Note

Ron Young was the founder and publisher of the pioneering indie music newspaper It’s Only Rock ’N’ Roll. The longtime music journalist, songwriter and musician grew up in San Antonio, where he graduated from Robert E. Lee High School. He studied journalism at the University of Texas at Austin. Young was an avid record collector and in the 1970s was a columnist and music critic at the daily newspaper San Antonio Light, and later a regular contributor to the San Antonio Express-News. The easygoing writer once described himself as the Bob Newhart of rock and roll. Young later moved to Nashville, Tennessee and became a published songwriter. He died in San Antonio from complications of cancer on May 11, 2017. He was 67.

It’s Only Rock ’N’ Roll was an indie music newspaper published in San Antonio from May 1978 to April 1982. The publication chronicled the rise of punk and New Wave music in San Antonio and Austin, reporting on national touring acts like Blondie, Elvis Costello, Patti Smith, the Ramones, the Clash and the Sex Pistols, as well as local and regional rock ’n’ roll, blues and heavy metal acts. Issues included record reviews, guest columns, nightclub listings and numerous photographs. Included here are 44 issues, from March 18, 1978 through April 1982. Note: The November 1980 issue was mislabeled as Volume 4, number 8.

Container List

It’s Only Rock 'N' Roll Issues