1. Boy George – The Second Issue, No. 2, 1980
A then unknown George Alan O’Dowd starred in the second ever issue of i-D – back when it was stuck, pasted and typewritten. “I’m a budding celebrity… the immaculate conception,” he told us while being shot for one of our first ever series of Straight Ups. Wearing a handmade nun’s habit and a crucifix “given to me by the Vatican,” it was clear that he was going to be famous.
2. The Smiths – Survival Bible Part 1, No. 11, February 1983
In what has been identified as ‘probably their earliest ever interview’ by many Smiths fan sites, Morrissey introduced the band and told us “the name doesn’t mean anything, it simply serves its purpose. I think it’s very important not to be defined in any one category. Once you’re defined, you’re limited, and musically that petrifies me.” Johnny Marr added that “music today is back to the mid ’70’s – people need to start thinking again and now’s the time for a band like us to get things together.”
3. Madonna – The Sexsense Issue, No. 15, May 1984
In London launching her debut album, we asked Madge to swing by to see Mark Lebon for a quick portrait. Her i-D cover was the Queen of Pop’s first ever time fronting a magazine and she was so unknown at the time that many people thought she was Boy George’s friend Marilyn. Her interview involved long-forgotten classics such as “I never saw naked bodies when I was a kid – gosh, when I was 17 I hadn’t seen a penis! I was shocked when I saw my first one, I thought it was really gross!” and “I want stardom. Up until a year ago I was living on the street but I still feel the same way. Money will never be a problem for me. If you worry about it, it’s a problem.”
4. John Lydon aka Jonny Rotten –The Madness Issue, No. 34
“In Japan I’m worshipped like I’m God. In Australia I’m liked by very violent thugs. In England they’re just suspicious.” John Lydon of the Sex Pistols told Dylan Jones over a can of Red Stripe.
5. Sade – The All Star Issue, April 1983
Shot by Nick Knight a whole year before she landed her first record deal, this was the burgeoning talent’s first ever magazine cover and the issue that marked our switch from landscape to portrait. We obviously had a feeling that she was a Smooth Operator, destined to bring the world No Ordinary Love.
6. Iggy Pop – The Beauty Issue, No.42, November 1986
“Can the idiot wink? Is David Bowie rich? The thin white duke and the thin white puke on sunglasses, heroin and wild wild women.” Circa Blah Blah Blah, Iggy showed that knowledge is power and the right eye is the right eye as he flashed his finest for us. His Lust For Life will never die.
7. David Bowie – The Film Issue, No. 49, July 1987
Bowie was already a star when i-D’s original mom Tricia Jones interviewed him in Amsterdam in ’87. Having discussed his albums, films and having a son, he was asked for some good advice. “Never even consider becoming involved with drugs,” he told her. “Something I could never underestimate the importance of. It’s absolutely tragic, what it can do to you and how it can screw you up.” He went on to admit, “I haven’t got a clue about fashion!” and “I don’t give a fuck how I’m remembered. It doesn’t occur to me… its just nice to have got through it all.” David is still very much an icon today.
8. LL Cool J – The Happy Issue, No.54, December 1987
Joining the Beastie Boys and Public Enemy in ensuring Def Jam’s success, everyone’s favorite bad boy LL Cool J was back with a second LP Bigger And Deffer and hitting up the pages of yours truly. On the verge of making it big, LL was feeling the pressure. “I can’t lie. It is getting more hectic. It’s getting to the point where I drive to the local McDonalds, roll down my window and they scream.” A million fly girls can’t be wrong.
9. Beastie Boys – The Network Issue, No. 126, March 1994
Okay, we admit it, the Beasties were already really famous by this point, but they were still releasing music and still cementing their legacy. “Sometimes I’m tempted to say we’ve gone beyond hip hop, but really it’s just that we’re taking hip hop to where it’s never been before. you can stretch hip hop a long way before it stops being hip hop. Its appetite and ability to swallow stuff and incorporate influences is infinite.” explained Mike D. “We smoke a joint, play for a bit, then use the best and worst bits and patch it together.”
10. Neneh Cherry – The Positive Issue, No. 100, January 1992
Beautiful buffalo kid Neneh turned the cover of our 100th issue bright pink,and kept things strictly personal in what was a special ‘action on AIDS’ issue. “I’d rather stand by something that matters to me than go on Wogan in a glimmery dress,” she stated, before reflecting on the death of a close friend to the disease and the importance of awareness. The milestone issue even came with a free i-D condom inside. FUN FACT: Neneh has since appeared on the cover of i-D’s Wise Up Issue in 2012, with her talented musician daughter Tyson McVey having starred in this year’s Spring issue.
11. Shaggy – The Comedy Issue, No. 114, March 1993
A full eight years before the release of the omnipotent It Wasn’t Me, a then 24-year-old Shaggy sat before i-D in an oversized wide-striped hoodie. “I always aim to entertain,” he told us. “I want to put a smile on people’s faces, not just the reggae people but all people.”
12. Courtney Love – The Sex Issue, No. 127, April 1994
“I can’t stop being who I am. It’s always been this way. Every New Year my resolution has been to be more quiet and to be more mysterious.” Courtney told i-D in an issue that, sadly, would be shortly followed by Kurt’s death. “I think that to have me and Kurt married has challenged a certain idea about coupling. It’s a good thing if we could alter who a lame ass rock star guy is supposed to go out with. Instead of a stupid skinny little thing with a little pea brain, why, he’s got me!”
13. The Prodigy – The Saturday Night Issue, No. 135, December 1994
i-D spoke to The Prodigy boys way before the hype of 1997’s Firestarter and Smack My Bitch Up that the ‘Essex lads’ have since become known for. A rave anthem, one huge album and a Mercury-nomination down, we hung out with them backstage.
14. Blur – The Saturday Night Issue, No. 135, December 1994
Sitting around throwing banter backwards and forwards, Blur were clearly hanging following the London premiere of Pulp Fiction the previous night. “You know, all the supermodels were there and they were very friendly. They were all snogging us and they all said they had a copy of Parklife and really liked it,” bragged Damon. “I think supermodels are alright, although they’re slightly sinister in a way. I don’t think they’re stupid. I thought Helena Christensen was lovely. Have I still got her lipstick on my mouth? I thought I did earlier!” Alex helpfully suggests that in actual fact, it might be ‘the herp’. Wheyyy!
15. Aaliyah – The Pin-Ups Issue, No. 138, March 1995
When i-D featured Aaliyah circa Down With The Clique, rumors were flying around that Age Aint Nothin’ But A Number was autobiographical and that the then 27-year-old R.Kelly had swept the young star off her feet, lied about her age and wified her in secret. Some even said she was pregnant. “As we can all see, I’m not pregnant” the newly 16-year-old giggled. “I’m not pregnant, I’m not married, so… just let the public know from me, it’s not true.” As for any form of relationship, her dad (sitting in on the interview) set the record straight. Did Kelly make a play for Aaliyah? “I’d rather not comment on that. To be honest with you, it was a situation that happened. It’s gone now. She’s getting on with her life.”
16. The Wu Tang Clan – The Fun & Games Issue, No.114, September 1995
“Right now, Wu-Tang Clan are the biggest stars in the hip hop firmament,” their 1995 i-D feature began. “Since the release of 1993’s album Enter The 36 Chambers, they’ve single-handedly regained the rap crown from the West Coast’s young pretenders. What started as a self-sufficient entity now dominates an entire industry, with each member of the deep space nine working on solo projects: Method Man’s album has gone platinum, Ol’ Dirty Bastard is on his way, and this month comes Chef Raekwon. Welcome to the weird world of Wu-Tang.” CHECK OUT RAEKWON’S PHONE!
17. PJ Harvey, The Fun & Games Issue, No.114, September 1995
Singer, songwriter, poet, artist, Polly Jean Harvey MBE is Wonder Woman. Or at least, she was for the cover of i-D’s The Fun & Games Issue. “I enjoy looking like a tart and thinking like a politician,” she told us with an almighty side-eye.
18. Bjork & Goldie – The Love Life Issue, No. 154, July 1996
We spoke with a very hyper Bjork (“tell me to calm down! I haven’t slept in the last three days!”) and her then boyfriend, Jungle’s first celebrity, Goldie. “Bjork is an amazing woman,” he told us. “She makes music from her heart and she does it well. We could cover the whole spectrum of the world with the music we make – which is mad!”
19. Mel B – The Influential Issue, No. 170, November 1997
Back in prime Spice Girl era, Scary told i-D about the time she made eye contact with Madonna at the MTV Awards. “It was quite strange and, at the same time, it was quite nice to know that if you do get to be big like she has and last that long, you can still be quite normal, maybe a bit crazy because of the industry and the people around you, but still, deep down, normal.” Great tats, Mel.
21. Lil’ kim – The Hotel Issue No. 196, April 2000
Back in the Y2K we quizzed the sexiest rapper in the world on the eve of her second album, Notorious KIM, named so after her boy Biggie. Then aged just 24, she told us “It’s a lot of work being a celebrity and it’s not all fun. We go through money problems, we go through depression problems, we go through wanting to be ourselves days when we can’t, and we women all get our menstruation.” Preach girl. “People in the hip hop industry are really starting to get more involved with the fashion world, which is great because we love to dress up,” she told us. “I spend tens of thousands of dollars a month on clothes. I mean, sometimes I can’t even count.”
22. Lil’ Bow Wow – The Man And Beast Issue, No. 211, July 2001
Lil Bow Wow and his dog, “I was at a concert and Snoop asked some people to come on stage with him. I actually jumped up and did my thing; afterwards he wanted me to come backstage, so we met and that’s how it all started. The next day I was on my way to LA with him and my mom to go to a studio. I was six.” One highlight: “Do you keep your bedroom tidy?” “My mom makes me keep it clean.”
23. Justin Timberlake – The Individual Issue, No. 230, 2003
Rising above the ‘boyfriend of’ taglines and instant noodle hair, 22-year-old Justin Timberlake was becoming something of a phenomenon. Appealing to both screaming hormonal masses and the rap world, he sung like an angel and danced like the devil as he co-headlined the Justified/Stripped Tour with Xtina. Later this year he would record the I’m Lovin’ It theme for Mickey Dees and feature on Nelly’s Work It. Justin’s Matt Jones-shot i-D feature is one wet tshirt contest that we wanna be at.
24. Kelis – The Lovers Issue, No. 238, December 2003
When we featured 22-year-old Kelis in our Lovers Issue, she was very much in love with and engaged to Nas. “When we first met, Nas said ‘wow, I’ve been wanting to make you my wife for about a year now.’ And without even thinking I was like, ‘wow, ‘cos that’s what I’ve been thinking I’d want to be.'” She was back in the game post-Neptunes and had a lot to say about the industry and record labels too. “Because I started this so young and because I’m a women, people treat you as though you’re incompetent. Either that or you’re just… a girl. They have no idea that there’s shit in your head. Even when they take that shit from you and feed off your creativity. There’s no such thing as an artist who works for a record label. It’s a pimp-ho situation.” She also confessed that she would “so do Burger King. That’s why I wrote fucking Milkshake. I want that Burger King ad!”
25. Diplo – The Passionate Issue, No. 244, June 2004
Before the collaboration with M.I.A that would set his production game on fire, Diplo was one half of DJ duo Hollertronix alongside his lesser-known mate, Mike Mcguire. “We treat every party like it’s a wedding or birthday party. We’re trying to get the call back,” he told i-D back then, before explaining how to he came to leave his parents’ farm in Florida for NY. “Son, you go preach the gospel of the realness, go hold it down,” they apparently told him. And so off he went, “with a bag on a stick and some Reebok Classics” to a future of Hollywood hills and super producer bills.
26. Pharrell – No. 261, December 2004
“Don’t tell anybody,” a then 33-year-old whispered to i-D. “But I look at this like it’s a big fucking dream.”Back then he was part of N*E*R*D while working with Nigo on BBC and Ice Cream. He was about to go solo and the world wasn’t ready for his overwhelmingly #HAPPY attitude. Now 43 – though his face hasn’t aged a day – he might have become mononymous but he’s still just as humble.
26. Kanye West – The Signature Issue, No. 257, August 2005
West was in London to attend a press conference with his, at that time, far more famous label boss Dame Dash, who had just collaborated with Victoria Beckham. After being given a demo of the College Dropout, i-D immediately asked if we could interview this interesting newcomer. A restless West was an journalist’s dream, even back then.”I am what music will be for the next four years at least,” he exclaimed. “What happens to the people who wear chains, like to have sex, believe in God and have a little bit of intelligence about black history. I feel like I represent the little guy,” he insisted. “I will be to producer-stroke-rappers what Eminem was to white rappers. Even if I wasn’t me I’d be so happy to have a me. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t me just so I could enjoy myself more. I actually like to see my most asshole statements in black and white. But it’s not arrogant whatsoever – it’s straight confidence.”
27. M.I.A. – The Declaration Issue, No. 225, June 2005
As a 28-year-old M.I.A. released her brilliant debut album, Arular, the world was ready for something different. “People shouldn’t be afraid to take risks. why would you wake up every morning in your life and let other people’s notions control you? it took me a while to learn that. I want the kids who work in call centres to have some fun! I’ve worked in a call centre. They don’t let you have a personality. Every human being’s got the greatest potential.”
29. Chris Brown – The Upbeat Issue, No. 264, March 2006
Sweet sixteen, this “R&B newcomer isn’t your average bump-n-grind teen.” Fresh outta Tappahanock, Virginia, Chris told us about making music and drawing anime-inspired cartoon characters before boldly stating, “I’m looking at the long term for sure. I think the key to making it from kid singer to adult icon is to keep focus and love what you do.”
29. Amy Winehouse – The Hot Beaches Issue, No. 288, December 2007
Back before Valerie catapulted her to international fame, Bryan Adams shot a beautiful series of portraits of 19-year-old Amy on a private Caribbean island for i-D.
30. Lily Allen – The F.U.N Issue, No. 301, Summer 2009
“I like sex, not so keen on drugs anymore, fame is something that confuses me.” Styled by Kate Moss (yes, really) and shot by Alasdair McLellan, Lily’s shoot featured boobs, panda costumes and Spongebob stickers.
31. Justin Bieber – The Home Is Where The Heart Is Issue, No. 306, Spring 2010
When i-D’s Hattie Collins met a 15 year-old Justin Bieber, he was on a promo tour of Europe. On arrival at the shoot with Alastair McLellan, he dropped dramatically to the ground. “I’m tired,” he sighed. It had been a big few months for the Canadian teen. “Sometimes it’s hard travellng all the time and not having my friends with me, and being in a regular school environment, but you get used to it. This whole experience is definitely really fun and worth it,” he decided, before sharing the best bits of his life to date. “Performing for President Obama was definitely an honor, it was amazing. That’s something that I’ll never forget. I got to shake his hand and take a picture. It was the first time he’d heard of me but he told me his daughters were fans.” He went on to tell us, “I don’t hate the Jonas Brothers or Miley. I mean, I’m not a big fan but I respect their work.” And “Usher is like a big brother to me, he takes me out to dinner and we go go-karting. It’s not just business, we’re like friends too.” Cute.
32. Drake – The Define Yourself Issue, No. 309, Autumn 2010
“My confidence comes from years of insecurity, yeah, that’s where it came from. Confidence comes from a lot of character building – being mixed race, being Jewish, going to a predominantly black school, going to an all-white school, having things happen with my father through my childhood… Acting, but being the only member of the cast that was a minority, at first. I’ve got a lot of unique layers to my life and I just had to push my chest out and smile. That’s all I do.” After the interview, Al asked Drake if he minded going outside to shoot some pictures. We left the hotel and wandered over to Trafalgar Square. Though Drake was yet to release his first album, several young kids instantly recognized him. Within about 45 seconds he was surrounded by squealing teens. He was gracious, charming and generous with his time. He made a lot of fans that day.
33. Lana del Rey – The Winter Warm Up Issue, No. 316, Winter 2011
“If I had realized just how many people were gonna watch Video Games then I would have had my hair and make-up done. And maybe I wouldn’t have shot it on my laptop!” i-D spoke to the sultry singer back when it all began. In typical Lana fashion, things took a turn for the dark, talking about her lowest moments. “It was only by fate and luck that I was allowed to keep going. Not by my own means. It’s been a long, difficult road… love lost, having no money, and a number of other things.” Full interview here.
34. Charli XCX – The Whatever The Weather Issue, No. 317, Pre-Spring 2012
“I make dark pop. I’ve been doing this for a while and I feel like I’ve worked really hard. I deserve to be doing stuff now because, for me, my music is real pop music with beautiful, visual, cinematic lyrics that will hopefully put interesting pictures into people’s heads.” Cue #1 singles, collaborations with the likes of Iggy Azalea, a large handful of awards, and a forthcoming US tour with Lena Dunham’s boyfriend, Jack Antonoff of Bleachers.
35. Twigs – The Just Kids Issue, No. 320, Pre-Fall 2012
Tahliah Debrett Barnett was an i-D cover star before she had adopted the ‘FKA’, and even before she had released any music. Having already featured in previous issues as a model, she fronted this with all the youthful charm of a future star. “What makes her so interesting is that she knows what she wants,” Matthew Stone later said of working with the singer on the cover. “Twigs had this self-awareness and strong vision of where her work would be going and a confidence in her own career and her own creativity – I knew that wasn’t going to go away.”
Photography Matthew Stone. Styling Matthew Josephs.