Poets and Punks Blog: The Rocket Magazine, Seattle
The Rocket was a free music magazine in Seattle during the 80’s and 90’s. I was on the fringe of the freelance writers, and covered jazz, blues, rock, reggae, art-rock, alternative vibes, and the Pike Place Market musicians who entertain visitors year round. Unlike the main character, Violet Wander, I did not cover grunge music. Those prime shows or interviews were assigned to the staff writers.
I loved jazz, blues, funk so it was a cool gig. I loved seeing Tower of Power and War perform live at The Pier on Seattle’s waterfront the summer of 1994.
I do own this magazine and took the photo. This is Wilum Pugmire’s cover story, an interview with girrrl power punk band: 7 Year Bitch. Wilum was one of my favorite people at The Rocket.
Charles R. Cross was the Editor in Chief for many years, but started out as a freelancer or contributing writer. He worked his way up the ladder and finally bought the zine from the original owners. He went on to publish the magazine until 2000, and wrote several best selling biographies.
Charles was editing Pink Umbrellas Love Rainydaze during 2024, but suddenly passed away that August. He was helping me craft an authentic voice while keeping a journalistic tone. It was an honor to have him edit my work as he was also trying to finish his own memoir.
He was kind and helpful. This screenshot is from edits he made to Chapter Three
Pink Umbrellas is not a memoir, but fiction based on true events. It’s about a freelance music writer who bartends at a grunge club in Pioneer Square. Much of the action is driven by deadlines and the challenges of getting the job done under unusual circumstances.
I’ve interviewed many performers that knew Charles, and they have lent their memories and voice to the characters. Former art director, Art Chantry has sketched the floor plan of the Jordan building’s second floor.
John Keister, Nancy Guppy and Joe Guppy of King Five TV’s comedy sketch show Almost Live have allowed me to re-tell the infamous April Fool’s day prank they played on the city of Seattle. According to John Keister and Joe Guppy the joke was misunderstood throughout the Pacific Northwest, and even the UK and Asia.
“People all over the world thought the Space Needle had collapsed.” John and Joe said during an interview in December of 2024. “We pitched it to our program director, and the sketch was approved. They signed off on it if we had a large banner across the screen that read: APRIL FOOLS. We had all of that, but the sketch was not understood to be a joke by many people watching the (comedy) show.”
The Rocket’s digital archives can be most easily accessed by searching:
The Rocket magazine washington digital newspaper archives
Anyone can search a distribution day and month, or search by the writer’s name (columnist Johnny Renton ie John Keister) it’s free, public information and very interesting.
Pink Umbrellas Love Rainydaze Out Now On Amazon.com
