On Monday this week I got the latest issue of Rolling Stone in the mail. As you know, Rolling Stone is the music industry's leading publication. They cover any and everything rock and roll. The premiere source for music news, even.

The cover said "Rock & Roll Yearbook 2001". This issue, a special double sized issue, covers the best and worst of rock and roll from the past year. You just know that it's going to be so very in depth that-- hey, wait, the damn year isn't over yet!!

The publishers of Rolling Stone got hit with that fact hard-core when the biggest music news of the year wasn't covered in their year end issue. George Harrison, a freakin' Beatle for the love of God, passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2001.

But for me to get my Rolling Stone "Rock & Roll Yearbook 2001" on Monday, December 3, 2001, they had to have shipped it on Saturday, December 1, 2001. At least. Maybe even Friday, November 30, 2001. There was no way at all that this tragic event could make it into my magazine, which would be fine if it was a normal issue.

That's where my problem is.

Why does Rolling Stone have to publish their year-end issue before the month of November is done? This is foolish. They're leaving out any important music news that might happen in late-November or, heck, all of December. This just blows my little mind. I have no doubt that the next issue of Rolling Stone is going to be devoted damn near completely to George. But I say, "too little, too late, punks."

That, and, "save the year in review until after the year is done." God knows what other aging rock star might kick-off in the next twenty-four days ...

- Josh Edwards