Australian punk rock band Amyl and the Sniffers are the latest cover stars of Rolling Stone AU/NZ, featured on the March – May 2025 edition, available from 3 March. The issue highlights the band’s rapid rise from local venues to international stages, reflecting their growing influence in the global music scene.
The band’s momentum continues with high-profile achievements, including a BRIT Awards nomination and supporting Foo Fighters on their US tour. Their feature in Rolling Stone AU/NZ underscores their crossover appeal and cultural impact as they reach new audiences.
Frontwoman Amy Taylor, who hails from Mullumbimby in New South Wales, told print editor James Jennings: “Growing up, if I went to shows in my local area, I would never really see women on stage. But then I’d watch the guys and be like, ‘I can definitely do it better than them.”
Amy continued: “I want to make people proud. I want them to be like, ‘F**k yeah, those guys did it. The music industry is dying and somehow those four f**kwits have done something good’. What we’re doing is risky – you put yourself out there and be physically, emotionally, and spiritually vulnerable every time you do anything, because you’re in the public eye. If people do wanna bitch about us, that’s fine – as long as they’re bitching about us becoming successful.”
Following a whirlwind few years, the band were photographed in Melbourne for the exclusive Rolling Stone AU/NZ cover shoot by Michelle Pitiris.
Guitarist Declan Mehrtens said: “I hate being at home. We’ve got this app called Master Tour, and it tells you what your day’s going to be almost every hour of the day. And I miss it so much when I’m at home. I just wake up and I feel like I’m a Sim that doesn’t have its person at the computer. I’m like, ‘What do I want for breakfast?’ When you’re on tour you have very limited things you can choose from each day.”
Also featured in the issue is the magazine’s annual Females in Focus photo essay, marking Women’s History Month with a showcase of leading female artists. Photographed by Pitiris, the feature highlights Barkaa, Meg Washington, Kaiit, Angie McMahon, Phoebe Go, and more, celebrating their contributions to music and storytelling.
The feature explores the artists’ perspectives on the evolving role of women in the music industry, as well as the impact they hope to leave for future generations. Through candid discussions, they share insights on creativity, resilience, and the shifts they want to see in the industry.
Barkaa said: “The legacy that I want to leave behind for female artists is a Blak one, an unapologetic one, a radical one. I want my legacy to be left behind where people are still pumping my music even when I’m dead and gone.”
The issue also highlights rising and established acts, including Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers,
Barkaa
who reflect on their journey from discovering School of Rock at a sleepover to opening for Pearl Jam in stadiums. Spacey Jane discuss their third album, If That Makes Sense – their first major release post-pandemic – while Lady Gaga offers insight into her latest track, Disease.
Beyond music, the magazine covers a range of cultural and social topics, including an in-depth look at Australia’s food waste crisis, examining its scale and consequences. The Rolling Stone editorial team also weighs in on the best albums of the 21st century, adding to the issue’s mix of industry insights, artist interviews, and thought-provoking commentary.
Rolling Stone is owned by Vinyl Group who also own this publication.