This historic April 1 1971 issue of Rolling Stone features a landmark cover story titled As The World Turns The Greening of Nicholas Johnson which explores the radical evolution of the then Federal Communications Commission commissioner. The iconic black and white cover portrait is famously accented with a playful paper mustache cutout reflecting the countercultural spirit and sharp political commentary of the early seventies.

Inside this edition collectors will find a significant centerfold and feature on the avant garde legend Captain Beefheart alongside the investigative Donovan Bess report on the Altamont trial. The musical landscape of the era is further captured through Lenny Kaye reviews of Jimi Hendrix and mentions of artists like Cat Stevens and David Bowie. As a prime example of the Straight Arrow Publishers era under editor Jann Wenner this volume remains a vital piece of media history for those documenting the intersection of rock journalism and American social change.