By Sarah Johnson, marketingmagazine.co.uk, 03 July 2009, 12:30pm

Smash Hits returns for Michael Jackson tribute issue

LONDON - Smash Hits is returning to newsstands next week for a one-off Michael Jackson tribute issue more than three years after it closed.

The 52-page teen music magazine will go on sale for £2.99 on Tuesday. It has been produced by a team under Barry McIlheney, the founder of Zoo Weekly, who edited Smash Hits between 1986 and 1989.

The magazine will be published by Bauer Media. Its content includes an interview with Jackson billed as his last in the UK. The interview was done by Smash Hits journalist Mark Ellen in 1982.

The tribute issue will also include posters, reports from Jackson's tours and the story of Jackson's pet monkey, Bubbles.

Since the close of the Smash Hits magazine the brand has continued as a multi-media brand, with a music TV channel, a digital radio station and an online presence. This is the first time the magazine has been resurrected.

Last week The National Magazine Company published a one-off unbranded commemorative magazine to celebrate the life of Jackson.

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All Comments

James Ainsworth - 03 July 2009

shrewd move or cynical quick cash in? If it funds a long term return of Smash Hits then all is good-print fights back!

Jeremy Lee - 03 July 2009

A star is gorn. Will nobody think of the children - Blanket, Prince Michael 2 and Pushchair?

Nicola Clark - 03 July 2009

Poor teenagers of today, deprived of the weekly joy of Smash Hits.. no posters, or song lyrics.or stickers...perhaps we should start a campaign to bring it back?!