The first edition of Hot Press magazine was released on the 9th of June 1977. The cover featured Rory Gallagher. The magazine was released during the run up to Gallagher's appearance at the Macroom Mountain Dew Festival, which would be Ireland's first open-air rock music festival. Edited by Niall Stokes, the Dublin-based magazine has gone from strength to strength, eventually becoming an iconic symbol of Irish sub-culture. Even the current Irish president Michael D. Higgins is a long time fan, as he fondly recalls writing stories for Hot Press in the past. The cover of Hot Press has become a coveted mark of achievemnet in Irish music. This reverence has also manifested itself in art exhibitions being held which showcase the most iconic covers from the last 40 years. The fact that Hot Press still enjoys a prominent position in today's world of immediate information and fast news just goes to show how fixed the magazine is in the hearts of music fans all over Ireland.
9th June 1977
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St Marks (Dublin)
Cork City (Cork)
Galway City (Galway)
Limerick City (Limerick)
Roscommon (Roscommon)
Carrick on Shannon (Leitrim)
Hot Press magazine is a fortnightly Irish publication that features music news, interviews, gig reviews, and politics. The covers have been grace by some of the biggest names in music, not just in Ireland, but from all over the world.
