Publisher A.P. Smith First issue September 11, 2006 | Frequency Monthly Final issue 2009 | |
Categories Arts & Culture Magazine Circulation 50,000 unique daily visitors | ||
Chief Magazine was a free, monthly online arts and culture magazine based in Brooklyn, New York. The magazine consisted primarily of interviews with underground musicians, artists and writers and is known for its irreverent tone and use of humor. Chief hosts parties and events in Brooklyn and owns a music venue, Chief Bodega, and a record label, Chief Records.
Contents
Chief Magazine, under A.P. Smith's direction, published content and hosted events from 2006 through 2009.
History
Chief Magazine was founded by A.P. Smith on September 11, 2006. For the second issue, Smith partnered with Ed Zipco to run the project. Zipco and Smith originally became friends while attending the Pratt Institute of Art and Design. Smith went on to work for COLORS Magazine while Zipco went to work for Vice, until the two decided to launch their own independent magazine in 2006. Nick Chatfield-Taylor, whose former projects include the film B.I.K.E. and directing Matt & Kim's 'Yea Yea' music video, joined on as Photo Editor in mid-2007 and was promoted to Junior Editor in early 2008. Jacqueline Lewis, former writer of Gawker's now defunct "Bloghorrea NYC" column, became managing editor of chief in 2007.
In 2009, Zipco, Lewis and Smith ended Chief Magazine and went on to work on other projects.
Content
Chief interviewed George Saunders, Paper Rad, The Death Set, Brad Neely, Eugene Mirman, MGMT, Matt and Kim, Wham City, Man Man and Japanther.
Chief also has a continuing series called PenPals, which consists of celebrity photographs as well as their post addresses.
Chief Bodega
The Chief Bodega, an underground music venue in Brooklyn, New York, was originally a local grocery (which are called bodegas in NYC) that was closed down in the summer of 2007 after police raided the premises and found a heroin distribution network. After lying dormant for a year, the first two floors were leased by Chief and renovated into Chief Bodega, which functioned as an underground music venue in the summer of 2008. After throwing underground parties four nights a week for that entire summer, Zipco and Smith went into business with Jessica Lee Wertz in an effort to bring the venue up to legal status.
Since its grand opening on June 6, Bodega has thrown shows with close friends Japanther, The Death Set, Ninjasonik, Danger, DJ Dirty Finger, Smarts, Hidden Power, The Hood Gang, and dozens of other local and touring acts.
In October 2008, The Chief Bodega hosted a secret Street Fighter IV release party for Capcom.
In 2009, Bodega was closed down indefinitely.
Chief records
Chief Records was launched in 2007 and includes artists Ninjasonik, DJ Dirty Finger and Andersonic.