If you left a copy in “the reading room” there was always another on top of the nearest cigarette machine. It was the paper with its finger on the pulse of Rockford’s (sometimes) vibrant music scene. If anything, you knew what bands were playing,where and when. More importantly you knew where and when the quarter beer nights were.

Founded by Gary Wilmer in 1981, the monthly was driven by Gary’s untiring commitment to local music. He wanted you to take some time and check out a young band that got their first gig, the local favorites and those national acts books at the Metro Centre or the rapidly-growing On The Waterfront festival. He was also the point guy for a few national promoters. I will do a whole Bob Remembers on Gary Wilmer sometime. He died too young at the age of 43 in 1994.

There still are local “Entertainment Guides” and websites. Some are merely a medium to sell advertisement to strip joints; some are actually dedicated to spreading the word about local talent. RAM Magazine set the standard that has only been matched by publications in much bigger towns.