So What! is a quarterly magazine published by the fan club of the mega-metal band Metallica. I design and produce the magazine for them. Unsurprisingly, the magazine is all about the doings, on and off the stage, of the band and it’s members individually. The special thing about this magazine is the ease with which the band can communicate, without the stress and facade of the rock star hype machine. Yes, So What! is a PR vehicle for the band. But it allows them to speak in a more human way that they can through the mainstream music press. The comfort shows, and the lead interview with James in this issue is a great example of that. The cover supports this point of view by presenting James without the trappings of fame or the layers of rock stardom between him and the reader.
