It is the aim of this thesis to trace the short history of rock journalism, to examine the factors that led to its development, and to evaluate Rolling stone, the most successful rock magazine and the only one to attract a general-interest audience. Emphasis was placed on the factual development of the publications. Personalities were not developed and a statistical content analysis was avoided in favor of an interpretation of trends. Rock journalism has not yet received an objective evaluation. Its treatment in the several books on the underground press has been superficial and couched in political or even moral terms. By every indication, the rock magazines have exerted more influence than have the underground newspapers and should be accorded proper study. / text