Mike Shea.

Gives gay rock acts their due as the publisher of the glossy, gritty music magazine Alternative Press

If Hedwig had press agents looking for media outlets that would appreciate their client's gender-bending, kick-ass rock `n' roll, they'd surely call Alternative Press. Out publisher and CEO Mike Shea's glossy and sharp alternative music magazine began in 1985 as a punky fanzine out of Cleveland, offering relief to those tired of Brace Springsteen features in Rolling Stone. Throughout its 16 years, Shea has dictated that numerous queer and queer-interest acts be covered, including Pansy Division, Extra Fancy, and the Smiths. Yet this former "punk rock kid in Doc Martens and a trench coat listening to goth" admits that the publication world has changed in recent years, making saucy and sordid the priority if you want to move copies--which isn't entirely bad for the queer reader.

"It's a culture of shock and sex and famous people," he notes. "Actually, I've got a photo spread [running in the August issue] that touts Dave Navarro in the raw, and there will be lots of girls and boys who will buy that. P.S.--Dave, you're hot!"