Rolling Stone is an iconic American magazine founded in 1967 in San Francisco by Jann Wenner. Known for its coverage of music, pop culture, and political issues, Rolling Stone has become one of the world’s most influential publications. Its logo, a symbol of the magazine’s long-standing cultural significance, has undergone several transformations since its inception.

Evolution of the Rolling Stone Logo

1. 1967–1975: The original Rolling Stone logo featured a bold, Gothic-style wordmark with metallic-looking letters. The letters were decorated with drop-like extensions, giving it an elegant, almost ornate appearance. The color scheme was primarily black and white, lending the design a strong contrast.
2. 1975–1977: In 1975, the logo was reworked to a sketch-like style, removing gradients and replacing them with hash strokes. The letters were rendered in various shades of grey, giving it a more contemporary feel, yet still maintaining its distinctive edge.
3. 1977–1980: The next iteration of the logo featured a more straightforward design with lowercase and uppercase letters. While the colors remained mostly grey with darker undersides, the overall aesthetic took on a more 3D, modern look.
4. 1981–2019: The logo underwent a significant update in 1981, adopting a red, black, and white color scheme. The letters became bright red, outlined in white, and shadowed in black, bringing more vibrancy and depth to the design.
5. 2019–2022: In 2019, Rolling Stone simplified its logo while retaining its recognizable style. The red letters became flat with no shadows or outlines, giving it a more modern and sophisticated appearance. The new design was cleaner, with thin, elegant lettering.
6. 2022–Present: The most recent update, in 2022, brought back the volumetric style of the logo, similar to the 1981 version but with refined contours and color palette. The red lettering now has a darker, thicker outline and shadow, giving the logo more depth, boldness, and a sense of strength.

Font and Color

The Rolling Stone logo uses a custom serif typeface that is based on fonts like Claremont RR Extra Bold Italic, ITC Bookman Demi Bold Italic, and Bookmania Black Italic, with some modified characters to give it a unique identity.

The primary color of the logo is a vibrant scarlet red, symbolizing passion, power, and energy. This intense shade of red ensures that the logo stands out, even when placed against various backgrounds.

Rolling Stone’s logo has evolved over the years, reflecting the magazine's adaptation to modern design trends while preserving its cultural legacy. The red, bold, and timeless logo continues to embody the power and energy of the magazine’s content, making it instantly recognizable to readers worldwide.