THE FRONT COVER is a gorgeous 1981 backstage photo of LOU REED, subject of a phenomenal feature by former NY Rocker contributor LISA JANE PERSKY

INSIDE you will also find:

* GRATEFUL DEAD: KURT VILE tries to explain them to none other than TOM SCHARPLING
* A special new piece about the making of the Velvet Underground's LOADED
* MYRIAM GENDRON: Track by track guide to her highly anticipated second album
* LEE SCRATCH PERRY: Reprint of the best feature we ever read about him, by ERIK DAVIS
* KINKE KOOI: Recent works on paper
* MICHAEL HURLEY: Talks to old friend TARA JANE O'NEIL on Hurley's first studio album in years
* DOUG HENNING: The magician's radical roots in Canada's thriving 1970s prog/glam scene
* SISTER ROSETTA THARPE: Why she rules so hard, but there's no need to call her the 'godmother of rock 'n' roll' again, thanks
* GRETCHEN GONZALES DAVIDSON: The mystery and mastery of Detroit's drone warrior, by Destroy All Monsters' CARY LOREN

* THE GOATS: The 1990s' most forgotten hip-hop collective?
* DEAN WAREHAM: A multi-page comic strip by MARLY BEYER, on drinking coffee with Dean and Britta and why his new solo record is so excellent
* PHEW: Japanese experimental artist gets the ANDY BETA treatment
* ORCHESTRE TOUT POUISSANT MARCEL DUCHAMP by the great SARA JAFFE