    alternative press is an american music magazine based in cleveland, ohio. it generally provides readers with band interviews, photos, information on upcoming releases, and music charts. it was founded in 1985 by mike shea, who is the current president. joe scarpelli is the current general manager. jason pettigrew is editor in chief and scott heisel is managing editor. ==beginnings== the first issue of alternative press was simply a photocopied fanzine, distributed at concerts in cleveland, ohio beginning in june 1985 by ap's founder, mike shea. he disliked the music that was then being broadcast on radio stations and believed that bands playing underground music should be given more media coverage "all in the same spot", he said. shea began working on his first issue in his mother's house in aurora, ohio. shea and a friend, jimmy kosicki, targeted the cleveland neighborhood of coventry. "i took my high school newspaper from aurora high that looked nice and clean and offset print. i'd walk into these flower shops and hallmark shops, and i'd say 'we're going to put out an entertainment publication, and it's going to be for kids and [the ad is] only $25.' and they'd look at my high school newspaper and say, 'it's really professional...' that's how we got enough money to make the first issue." financial problems plagued ap in its early years. of the fledgling magazine's struggles in 1986, shea said: "after the last few punk concerts we promoted that year failed to make any money to help finance the magazine, i had to start begging my mom for money to keep ap going: $1,500 here, $2,500 there. my mom was super-supportive of the whole endeavor, and she seeme
American_music_magazines Publications_established_in_1985