“If you’ve loved what we’ve created or if you believe in preserving rock history and keeping its culture alive please consider backing us.”
— Mark ‘WEISSGUY’ Weiss & Michal Pellicone / ROCKED MAGAZINE
NEW JERSEY — Mark “WEISSGUY” Weiss and his partner Michal Pellicone launch Kickstarter to help keep ROCKED MAGAZINE alive and printing.
Weiss is a world-renowned photographer who has shot the who’s-who of Rock N’ Roll, Punk and Heavy Metal for Album Covers, Magazine Pin-ups, Posters, Advertisements and more.
Now along with his partner Pellicone, a Designer and Web Developer the pair have teamed up to start ROCKED MAGAZINE starting in 2024.
The duo have already printed and released a few awesome issues but are looking to bring fans continued issues, and are looking for your help with their recently launched Kickstarter campaign.
Metal Sludge would like to encourage our readers to check out ROCKED, share and support.
As of this article’s publishing, they have 16 backers, let’s see if we can raise that to 25, or 50 or 100!
Any amount will help and make sure to check it out and give it a look!
The ROCKED MAGAZINE official website is HERE and their KICKSTARTER is right HERE.
Below we are sharing more information and details related, as supplied by Weiss and Pellicone.
HELP KEEP ROCKED MAGAZINE ALIVE!
We launched ROCKED magazine in 2024 with a mission: to celebrate the spirit of rock and metal and spotlight the stories, icons, and imagery that keep it alive. From pinups to centerfolds, we’re bringing back the glory days of rock magazines with a modern edge.
The magazine is designed by Michal Pellicone and built around the iconic photography and stories of Mark “WEISSGUY” Weiss, the legendary lensman of the 1980s rock scene. Our content pulls from Mark’s vault of behind-the-scenes moments including never-before-seen photos, as well as interviews originally featured in rock magazines from the eighties. Each issue is a deep dive into rock history.
Our debut issue made its mark at the Monsters of Rock Cruise in March 2024, completely self-funded and fueled by our passion for rock and metal music. One year later, we returned with Issue #2, featuring Jeff Keith of Tesla and Stephen Pearcy of Ratt on the cover, and the response was overwhelming.
We want to grow Rocked into a quarterly print magazine that serves the rock community all year long.
Words from The “WEISSGUY“ – Eighties rock has transcended time to become truly multi- generational. Today, we pay homage not only to the music itself but also to the iconic magazines and MTV that shaped rock and metal music, and to the internet, which continues to introduce these larger-than-life rockstars to new generations. Michal, our powerhouse designer and creative director, is pouring her vision and passion into every detail of this issue of ROCKED. With an uncompromising eye for design and a deep love for rock & roll, she ensures every page captures the spirit of the music.
WHAT MAKES ROCKED STAND OUT
Each issue is packed with iconic photography by Mark, featuring a mix of classic shots, personal reflections, and a selection of rare and never-before-seen images from his archives of the eighties. It’s more than a magazine, it’s a collector’s item.
We’re launching this Kickstarter to raise the funds we need for ongoing production and printing. ROCKED requires additional support to sustain regular production, and with your help, we can keep it alive and growing. We’ve already started work on Issue #3, featuring David Lee Roth on the cover. The creative director of ROCKED, Michal Pellicone, has already designed the cover and begun work on the Van Halen featured layout. We need your help to bring this issue to completion, along with Issue #4, which is already in development. Your backing helps us keep the spirit of rock alive in print.
The last time I photographed David Lee Roth was in 1986, during the Eat ‘Em and Smile tour. Fast forward to May 3, 2025, David returned to the stage after a five-year absence to headline the M3 Music Festival in Maryland. Earlier that week, I reached out to his management to see if I could shoot the full set. The day before the show, I got the call: David wanted me there. So there I was back in the pit, camera in hand, ready to capture him once again. Midway through “Unchained”, he spotted me. He walked over and said: “Hey Mark—take my picture, bitch!” I smirked, raised my camera, and fired off a few shots. Just like old times. Nearly forty years later, we picked up right where we left off. The photos will be featured in Issue #3 of ROCKED, along with my classic photographs of Van Halen.
ROCKED: Where Past Is Present
If you’ve loved what we’ve created or if you believe in preserving rock history and keeping its culture alive please consider backing us.
Every pledge counts > Kickstarter campaign!
Let’s keep the rock ’n’ metal flame burning.
Let’s keep ROCKED Magazine alive.
Mark “WEISSGUY” Weiss, known as “The Guy Who Rocked the ‘80s,” began his photographic journey in Matawan, New Jersey at the age of 13, when he made a deal with a neighbor to mow his lawn in the summer in 1973 in exchange for a 35mm camera. (markweiss.com)
Mark spent his teenage years sneaking his camera into concerts at Madison Square Garden and other venues in the tristate area, taking photos of Peter Frampton, Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin, among many others. Mark then sold his photos for a buck a piece out of his high school locker and outside of concert venues. He was arrested for selling his photos outside a KISS concert in 1977. The next day, he walked into the offices of the leading rock magazine, Circus, with his portfolio; shortly after, he landed his first published photo – a Circus magazine centerfold of Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. Within a year he became the magazine’s staff photographer.
Throughout the ‘80s, Mark traveled with bands on their tour buses and planes, and shot legends in the making as they climbed their way to sold-out arenas and stadium shows around the world. Mark was living the rock & roll lifestyle and becoming fast friends with the bands, which gave him unparalleled access. He became known for his iconic images of Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, Kiss and countless others whose sound and image defined the era.
We launched ROCKED magazine in 2024 with a mission: to celebrate the spirit of rock and metal and spotlight the stories, icons, and imagery that keep it alive. From pinups to centerfolds, we’re bringing back the glory days of rock magazines with a modern edge.
The magazine is designed by Michal Pellicone and built around the iconic photography and stories of Mark “WEISSGUY” Weiss, the legendary lensman of the 1980s rock scene. Our content pulls from Mark’s vault of behind-the-scenes moments including never-before-seen photos, as well as interviews originally featured in rock magazines from the eighties. Each issue is a deep dive into rock history.
Our debut issue made its mark at the Monsters of Rock Cruise in March 2024, completely self-funded and fueled by our passion for rock and metal music. One year later, we returned with Issue #2, featuring Jeff Keith of Tesla and Stephen Pearcy of Ratt on the cover, and the response was overwhelming.
We want to grow Rocked into a quarterly print magazine that serves the rock community all year long.
Words from The “WEISSGUY“ – Eighties rock has transcended time to become truly multi- generational. Today, we pay homage not only to the music itself but also to the iconic magazines and MTV that shaped rock and metal music, and to the internet, which continues to introduce these larger-than-life rockstars to new generations. Michal, our powerhouse designer and creative director, is pouring her vision and passion into every detail of this issue of ROCKED. With an uncompromising eye for design and a deep love for rock & roll, she ensures every page captures the spirit of the music.
I still remember my teenage years as a CIRCUS magazine subscriber in the ‘70s. Like many, I was instantly drawn to the centerfold, not just a page, but a piece of art, a shrine to my rock heroes, destined for my bedroom wall. The thrill of seeing my first photograph in CIRCUS, a centerfold featuring Steven Tyler of Aerosmith in 1978, ignited my journey as a rock & roll photographer. Back then, sneaking my camera into shows was challenging but rewarding, with no idea of what was to come.
Fast forward to today, and as I reflect on a half a century of capturing the essence of rock, many of these images remain unseen in the magazines I once worked for. You might recall my work in CIRCUS, Hit Parader, Creem, Rock Scene, Metal Edge, RIP and Rolling Stone, where my photographs not only told stories but also became the wall paper of many bedrooms. That’s the heartbeat of ROCKED: a celebration of memories and a flashback to when nothing mattered more than the music, the scene, and the stories we still tell today. Each issue brings those days back, while shining a light on the concerts of today.
Each issue is packed with iconic photography by Mark, featuring a mix of classic shots, personal reflections, and a selection of rare and never-before-seen images from his archives of the eighties. It’s more than a magazine, it’s a collector’s item.
We’re launching this Kickstarter to raise the funds we need for ongoing production and printing. ROCKED requires additional support to sustain regular production, and with your help, we can keep it alive and growing. We’ve already started work on Issue #3, featuring David Lee Roth on the cover. The creative director of ROCKED, Michal Pellicone, has already designed the cover and begun work on the Van Halen featured layout. We need your help to bring this issue to completion, along with Issue #4, which is already in development. Your backing helps us keep the spirit of rock alive in print.
Michal Pellicone is the Co-founder, Creative Director, Designer, and Web Developer of ROCKED magazine. She is also the Founder and CEO of Custom Barres, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of custom ballet barres (custombarres.com).
Michal’s creative journey began in the performing arts, with professional training in ballet, jazz, and character dance, alongside a lifelong pursuit of music and visual art. After earning her degree from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and performing and teaching dance for over 35 years, she pivoted her career to design and technology, teaching herself graphic design and web development. In 1997, she founded MP Media, where she helped clients build their brands for over a decade.
In 2010, she launched Custom Barres, combining her dance expertise with her design and technical skills. What began as a niche concept has evolved into a globally recognized brand, trusted by Nike, Ritz Carlton, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Crunch Fitness, and featured on television shows including Glee and Smash. In 2018, Michal developed the company’s eCommerce website, which was recognized as one of the Top 20 BigCommerce stores worldwide. Today, Custom Barres designs, manufactures, and ships internationally from its headquarters in Jackson, NJ.
In 2022, Michal co-founded MiMa Productions and MiMa Publishing, partnering with legendary rock photographer Mark Weiss to release Keep on Rollin’, a tribute to Kevin DuBrow and Quiet Riot, followed by the launch of ROCKED Magazine (rockedmag.com). She continues to collaborate with Mark on mixed-media artworks, featured in Wentworth Gallery and other premier exhibitions, and has also designed album covers for artists including The Dictators.
Driven by a passion for music, art, and innovation, Michal continues to merge creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship, bringing bold ideas to life across every project she leads.
Metal Sludge would like to encourage our readers to check out ROCKED, share and support.
The ROCKED MAGAZINE website is HERE and the KICKSTARTER is HERE.
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