RIP CITY: After 13 years as the...

RIP CITY: After 13 years as the editor of Rip, one of the leading hard-rock-oriented magazines, Lonn Friend is jumping over to the industry side, taking a job at Arista Records, effective July 1.

Friend will assume the title of vice president A&R; West Coast and head up Arista’s new effort to compete in the rock world, where the company, known mostly for such pop and R&B; acts as Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin, has been a largely negligible presence.

Friend, who also had been visible through his regular features on MTV’s “Headbangers Ball” and as host of his own nationally syndicated radio show, says he had received offers in the past for similar positions, but that this one was too good to pass up.

“Nothing comes close to this opportunity,” he says. “This is a chance to create a whole new environment at a company where that doesn’t exist, to build a rock organization at a company that doesn’t have one.”

But the move also comes at a time when Rip’s fortunes have fallen. With pop-metal stars that were once the magazine’s staple having been replaced by the earthier likes of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, Rip’s readership has dropped, and the publication’s staff was recently cut.

Friend insists that his leaving has nothing to do with that, and that he’s going to do all he can to help out his as-yet-unselected replacement. He’s certainly leaving on a high note: The final Friend-edited issue, on sale July 26, will feature a cover story on Pearl Jam written by Ministry’s Al Jourgensen.