MOJO Magazine – September 2003 – Issue 118 – The Strokes, The Cramps, Small Faces & Hip Hop Special

Original UK Music Magazine | September 2003 | Issue 118 | The Strokes Cover

An original September 2003 edition of MOJO Magazine, Issue 118, featuring American garage-rock revival band The Strokes on the front cover.

This issue captures an important period in early-2000s alternative rock, with an exclusive interview examining The Strokes as they prepared their second studio album, Room on Fire.

The magazine also features substantial articles on The Cramps, Small Faces, Steely Dan, My Morning Jacket, Public Enemy, De La Soul, Neil Young and the Zoot Suit Riots.

Additional coverage includes Elton John, Sparklehorse, Beth Gibbons, Black Keys, Fred Neil, The Clash, Syd Barrett, Bill Wyman, Sam Cooke, Mudhoney and Gene Vincent.

An interesting original music publication for collectors of garage rock, indie rock, alternative music, hip hop, psychedelic rock and classic music journalism.

Front Cover – The Strokes

The striking front cover features a large colour group photograph of The Strokes, set against a vivid yellow background.

The photograph shows all five members of the band:

• Julian Casablancas – vocals

• Nick Valensi – guitar

• Albert Hammond Jr. – guitar

• Nikolai Fraiture – bass guitar

• Fabrizio Moretti – drums

The musicians are photographed in a relaxed group arrangement, wearing a mixture of leather jackets, casual clothing, jeans and trainers.

The photograph reflects the band's distinctive early-2000s New York garage-rock image.

Cover Photography and Styling

One band member is pictured seated towards the left wearing a dark jacket and rolled-up jeans, with bare feet visible at the bottom of the photograph.

Another stands behind him wearing a black leather jacket.

A third stands centrally towards the back in a leather jacket, shirt and tie.

Another member sits towards the right wearing a light-coloured jacket over a printed T-shirt.

The fifth musician sits in the foreground wearing a baseball cap, a dark Rolling Stones T-shirt, jeans and worn red Converse-style trainers.

The combination of casual poses, vintage-inspired clothing and the bold yellow background gives the cover a distinctive early-2000s indie-rock appearance.

The large black MOJO masthead appears behind the musicians, with bright pink headlines contrasting against the yellow background.

Main Cover Headline

THE STROKES – NEW ALBUM. NEW INTERVIEW. NEW YORK.

The headline advertises an exclusive feature about the band's return with their second album.

The Strokes had become internationally recognised following the release of their debut album Is This It in 2001.

Their music helped popularise a renewed interest in guitar-based garage rock and indie rock during the early 2000s.

The September 2003 issue captures the band during the period leading up to their second album, Room on Fire, released later that year.

Additional Front Cover Headlines

The cover also advertises:

• Small Faces – On Acid. For A Year...

• The Cramps – Garage Freaks A-Go-Go!

• Public Enemy

• De La Soul

• The Hip Hop Revolution

• Steely Dan

• Neil Young

• Zoot Suit Riots

A pink circular graphic announces 184 CDs, books and DVDs reviewed.

The upper-left corner also advertises a free CD, although the original promotional CD is not included with this copy.

Main Feature – The Strokes – Page 80

One of the issue's most significant articles is the exclusive feature on The Strokes, beginning on page 80.

The photographed contents page describes the article as examining whether the band could repeat the success of their acclaimed debut album.

The feature is credited to Andrew Male, who travelled to New York to investigate.

The Strokes and Their Second Album

By September 2003, The Strokes had established themselves as one of the most talked-about bands of the early-2000s garage-rock revival.

Their debut album Is This It had attracted widespread attention for its stripped-back production, distinctive guitar arrangements and energetic songwriting.

Well-known recordings from the period include:

• Last Nite

• Hard to Explain

• Someday

• The Modern Age

• New York City Cops

The band's second album, Room on Fire, would subsequently include recordings such as:

• 12:51

• Reptilia

• The End Has No End

• Automatic Stop

The article offers a contemporary perspective on the expectations surrounding the band's second release.

Interior Photography

The photographed contents page includes a second colour group photograph of The Strokes.

All five members are shown walking together outdoors in an urban setting.

The photograph features leather jackets, dark clothing and casual styling, with an industrial-looking background and cloudy sky.

This additional image complements the studio photograph used on the front cover.

Major Feature – Small Faces – Page 44

A substantial article examines Small Faces, the influential British rock group associated with the 1960s mod and psychedelic movements.

The contents page describes the band's progression from their mod beginnings into psychedelic experimentation.

The article is credited to Pat Gilbert.

Small Faces – Musical History

Small Faces became known for their energetic rhythm-and-blues-inspired sound before moving towards more experimental psychedelic music.

The group included musicians such as:

• Steve Marriott

• Ronnie Lane

• Ian McLagan

• Kenney Jones

Their recordings include:

• All or Nothing

• Itchycoo Park

• Tin Soldier

• Lazy Sunday

• Afterglow (Of Your Love)

The band became an important part of British popular music during the late 1960s.

Interior Photograph

The contents page features a black-and-white archival group photograph of Small Faces.

The image shows the musicians arranged together in a studio-style portrait, with distinctive 1960s hairstyles and clothing.

The photograph adds historical interest to the feature and makes the issue appealing to collectors of British mod and psychedelic music.

Major Feature – The Cramps – Page 56

An article on The Cramps, the American band known for combining rockabilly, garage rock, punk and horror-inspired imagery.

The contents page describes the feature as a look at the band's rock-and-roll lifestyle and home.

The article is credited to Bill Holdship.

The Cramps – Garage Rock and Psychobilly

The Cramps became influential through their distinctive combination of vintage rock-and-roll influences, raw guitar sounds and theatrical performances.

The band's best-known members included:

• Lux Interior – vocals

• Poison Ivy – guitar

Their recordings include:

• Human Fly

• Goo Goo Muck

• Garbageman

• I Was a Teenage Werewolf

• Bikini Girls with Machine Guns

The band developed a devoted following among fans of garage rock, punk and psychobilly.

Interior Photography

The photographed contents page includes a colour portrait associated with The Cramps.

The image shows a musician with long dark hair and a cigarette, photographed against a muted background.

The portrait complements the article's focus on the band's distinctive image and musical identity.

Major Feature – Steely Dan – Page 38

An article on Steely Dan, the American group associated with sophisticated studio production, jazz-influenced rock and complex songwriting.

The contents page describes the feature as covering the group's musical approach and touring experiences.

The article is credited to Dave DiMartino.

Steely Dan were founded by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.

Their recordings include:

• Reelin' in the Years

• Do It Again

• Rikki Don't Lose That Number

• Peg

• Deacon Blues

• Hey Nineteen

The feature offers another perspective on the magazine's wide-ranging musical coverage.

Major Feature – My Morning Jacket – Page 52

An article on American alternative-rock band My Morning Jacket.

The contents page describes their music in relation to the influence of Neil Young.

The feature is credited to Jenny Bulley.

My Morning Jacket became known for combining alternative rock, country-rock influences and atmospheric guitar arrangements.

The band's early recordings include:

• The Way That He Sings

• Lowdown

• One Big Holiday

• Mahgeetah

Interior Photograph

The photographed contents page includes a live-performance photograph showing a musician playing guitar on stage.

The image captures an energetic performance, with movement and dramatic stage lighting.

Major Feature – Hip Hop – Page 68

One of the issue's particularly interesting features examines the development of hip hop during its formative years.

The article focuses on the genre's rise and the artists who helped establish its musical identity.

The photographed contents page specifically identifies Public Enemy and De La Soul as central subjects.

The article is credited to Angus Batey.

Public Enemy

Public Enemy became one of the most influential groups in hip-hop history.

Their music combined politically charged lyrics, innovative sampling and powerful production.

Important recordings include:

• Fight the Power

• Bring the Noise

• Don't Believe the Hype

• Rebel Without a Pause

• 911 Is a Joke

De La Soul

De La Soul became known for their inventive approach to hip hop, combining imaginative sampling, humour and unconventional lyrical themes.

Their recordings include:

• Me Myself and I

• The Magic Number

• Eye Know

• Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)

• Stakes Is High

The feature explores an important period in hip-hop history and its influence on later generations.

Interior Photography

The contents page features a close-up portrait of a person wearing a baseball cap, with the face partly obscured by the cap's shadow.

The image provides a distinctive visual introduction to the hip-hop feature.

Major Feature – Zoot Suit Riots – Page 64

A historical article examining the Zoot Suit Riots and their connection with American youth culture, clothing and swing music.

The feature is credited to Don Waller.

The Zoot Suit Riots took place in Los Angeles during the 1940s and became associated with wider tensions surrounding race, identity and youth culture.

The article provides historical context for the distinctive zoot suit style and the music associated with the period.

Neil Young Coverage

The magazine also contains coverage relating to Neil Young.

The photographed contents page identifies Neil Young in the album-review section on page 95.

The issue also includes additional references to his music and influence.

Neil Young is particularly associated with recordings including:

• Heart of Gold

• Old Man

• Cinnamon Girl

• Rockin' in the Free World

• Harvest Moon

The inclusion of Neil Young adds further interest for collectors of classic rock and singer-songwriter music.

Additional Contents and Regular Features

The photographed contents pages reveal a wide selection of music journalism, album reviews, historical features and regular columns.

Page 9 – All Back to My Place

A regular feature referencing Will Self, Andy Garcia and Holly Golightly.

Page 11 – Theories, Rants, Etc

Music commentary, reader opinions and contributions.

Page 15 – Hot News

The music-news section includes references to:

• Elton John

• Roger Daltrey

• The Beatles

• Charlie Walker

• Steve Winwood

Page 32 – The MOJO X-Word

The magazine's regular music-themed crossword.

Page 36 – Real Gone

A retrospective section referencing:

• Barry White

• Herbie Mann

• Compay Segundo

• Benny Carter

Page 95 – Albums

Album reviews and commentary featuring:

• Neil Young

• Kraftwerk

• Outkast

• Guided By Voices

• Spiritualized

• Ziggyotic Mynci

Page 114 – Reissues

Coverage of classic and previously released recordings, including:

• Stax recordings

• Mudhoney

• Fred Neil

• Ann Peebles

Page 126 – DVDs

Music-related DVD reviews, including references to:

• The Clash

• Syd Barrett

• Bill Wyman

Page 128 – Books

Reviews of music-related books and biographies.

Page 132 – Lives

Live-performance reviews featuring:

• Beth Gibbons

• Sparklehorse

• Black Keys

Page 142 – The Buzz

Music collecting and cultural commentary.

Page 144 – How To Buy

A regular guide to music recordings and collecting.

Page 146 – Nuggets

A collecting-related feature mentioning a Gene Vincent item.

Page 148 – Enlightenment

The magazine's regular question-and-answer section.

Page 150 – Buried Treasure

A feature examining a lesser-known 1972 album.

Page 154 – Hello, Goodbye

A retrospective section referencing Earl Scruggs and Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys.

Interior Photography and Artwork

The supplied photographs show several original interior pages.

Page 3 – Main Features

The contents page includes:

• A black-and-white archival photograph of Small Faces.

• A colour group photograph of The Strokes.

• A portrait associated with The Cramps.

• A hip-hop-themed close-up photograph.

• A live-performance photograph associated with My Morning Jacket.

The page uses MOJO's distinctive editorial design, with gold-coloured page numbers, black headings and a carefully arranged selection of photographs.

Page 4 – Regular Features and Reviews

The photographed page includes several additional images.

These include:

Elton John Cows: A photograph of a brightly coloured decorative cow sculpture associated with Elton John.

Sparklehorse: A live-performance photograph showing a guitarist playing on stage.

Albums: A selection of album-cover artwork accompanying the review section.

Reissues: An image of a Sam Cooke record sleeve.

Neil Young: Artwork accompanying the magazine's Neil Young coverage.

These images illustrate the magazine's mixture of contemporary music journalism, historical retrospectives and music collecting.

Publication Details

Magazine: MOJO

Issue Number: 118

Publication Date: September 2003

Original UK Cover Price: £3.80

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Format: Printed Music Magazine

Main Cover Artist: The Strokes

Main Cover Feature: The Strokes – New Album, New Interview, New York

Featured Artists: The Strokes, Small Faces, The Cramps, Steely Dan, My Morning Jacket, Public Enemy, De La Soul, Neil Young and others

Publisher: EMAP (MOJO)

SKU: 1590

Condition – Important Information

Pre-owned original magazine with visible signs of previous handling and age-related wear.

The photographs show the actual magazine being offered.

Front Cover

The bright yellow front cover remains visually striking, with the main photograph of The Strokes clearly visible.

The large black MOJO masthead and pink headlines remain legible.

The cover shows some general signs of handling and age-related wear.

Visible Wear and Imperfections

• Light surface rubbing and handling marks.

• Minor scuffing across portions of the glossy front cover.

• Some small marks visible against the yellow background.

• Minor wear along the upper edge.

• Slight wear around the upper corners.

• Light rubbing along the right-hand edge.

• Minor wear around the lower corners.

• Some rubbing and handling wear around the spine.

• A small amount of wear visible near the lower-left cover corner.

• Natural page curvature visible in the photographed interior pages.

• Light general handling wear to the interior pages shown.

The front cover does not show any obvious major tears or large missing sections in the supplied photographs.

Spine and Binding

The spine appears present, with minor visible handling wear along the edge.

The magazine opens sufficiently to display the photographed contents pages.

However, the entire binding has not been inspected page by page.

Interior Pages

The photographed interior pages appear generally clean and readable.

The colour photographs, headings and printed text remain clearly visible.

Some natural curvature is visible where the magazine has been opened.

No obvious major tears are visible on the photographed pages.

The entire magazine has not been checked page by page, so full internal completeness cannot be guaranteed.

Overall Condition

Good pre-owned vintage appearance based on the supplied photographs.

The magazine displays light general handling wear, minor surface marks and some edge and corner wear.

It is not being sold as mint or immaculate.

Please examine all supplied photographs carefully, as they form part of the condition description.

Important – Original Free CD and Additional Items

MAGAZINE ONLY – ORIGINAL FREE CD NOT INCLUDED.

The front cover advertises a free CD, and the interior contents page identifies it as a Roots of Hip Hop CD.

The original promotional CD is no longer included with this copy.

Any other original free gifts, promotional items, loose inserts or additional materials that may originally have accompanied the magazine are also not included.

Only the printed magazine shown in the photographs is being sold.

Packaging and Delivery

The magazine will be carefully packaged to help protect it during transit.

UK Orders: Dispatched in a protective hardback envelope.

International Orders: Dispatched in a sturdy cardboard mail-size box for additional protection during overseas shipping.

Collector Appeal

This original September 2003 MOJO issue may appeal to collectors of:

• MOJO Magazine back issues.

• The Strokes.

• Julian Casablancas.

• Nick Valensi.

• Albert Hammond Jr.

• Nikolai Fraiture.

• Fabrizio Moretti.

• Early-2000s New York garage rock.

• The Cramps.

• Lux Interior and Poison Ivy.

• Small Faces.

• Steve Marriott.

• Ronnie Lane.

• Steely Dan.

• Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.

• My Morning Jacket.

• Public Enemy.

• De La Soul.

• Hip-hop history.

• Neil Young.

• British psychedelic rock.

• American garage rock.

• Vintage music journalism.

• Early-2000s alternative music.

• Original band photography.

• Collectible music-magazine cover artwork.

Summary

An original MOJO Magazine, September 2003, Issue 118, featuring The Strokes on the front cover.

The magazine includes an exclusive feature examining the band's forthcoming second album, alongside substantial coverage of The Cramps, Small Faces, Steely Dan, My Morning Jacket, Public Enemy, De La Soul, Neil Young and the Zoot Suit Riots.

Additional articles and reviews feature Elton John, Sparklehorse, Beth Gibbons, Black Keys, Fred Neil, The Clash, Syd Barrett, Bill Wyman and other important musicians.

Condition: Good pre-owned vintage appearance with light surface rubbing, minor edge and corner wear and general handling marks. Full internal completeness has not been verified.

Important: The original Roots of Hip Hop promotional CD and any other accompanying free gifts are not included.

UK Packaging: Protective hardback envelope.

International Packaging: Sturdy cardboard mail-size box.

SKU: 1590