This is a list of people (real or fictional) appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in the 1970s. This list is for the regular biweekly issues of the magazine, including variant covers, and does not include special issues. Issue numbers that include a slash (XXX/YYY) are combined double issues.
1970
Issue numberCover datePeople on coverNotes50January 21, 1970N/AAltamont Free Concert cover story; cover includes unidentified concertgoers51February 7, 1970John Lennon, Yoko Ono52February 21, 1970Creedence Clearwater Revival (Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty)53March 7, 1970Zabriskie Point cast (Mark Frechette, Daria Halprin)54March 19, 1970Sly & the Family Stone (Greg Errico, Larry Graham, Jerry Martini, Cynthia Robinson, Freddie Stone, Rose Stone, Sly Stone)55April 2, 1970Abbie Hoffman56April 16, 1970Dennis Hopper57April 30, 1970Paul McCartney58May 14, 1970Captain Beefheart59May 28, 1970Little Richard60June 11, 1970N/A"On America 1970" cover story; cover includes unidentified antiwar demonstrators61June 25, 1970Charles Manson62July 9, 1970Van Morrison63July 23, 1970David Crosby64August 6, 1970Janis Joplin65September 3, 1970Performance cast (Mick Jagger, Anita Pallenberg)66September 17, 1970The Grateful Dead (Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Bob Weir)67October 1, 1970The Rascals (Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish, Dino Danelli)68October 15, 1970Jimi Hendrix69October 29, 1970Janis Joplin70November 12, 1970Grace Slick71November 26, 1970Meher Baba72December 10, 1970Leon Russell73December 24, 1970Rod Stewart
1971
Issue numberCover datePeople on coverNotes74January 21, 1971John Lennon75February 4, 1971John Lennon, Yoko Ono76February 18, 1971James Taylor77March 4, 1971Bob Dylan78March 18, 1971Muhammad Ali79April 1, 1971Nicholas Johnson80April 15, 1971Joe DallesandroDallesandro appears with his son, Joseph Jr.81April 29, 1971Michael Jackson82May 13, 1971Peter Fonda83May 27, 1971Country Joe McDonald, Robin Menken84June 10, 1971Elton John85June 24, 1971Tricia NixonNixon appears with unidentified girl86July 8, 1971Doug Sahm87July 22, 1971Ian Anderson88August 5, 1971Jim Morrison89August 19, 1971Keith Richards90September 2, 1971George Harrison91September 16, 1971The Incredible Hulk92September 30, 1971Jefferson Airplane (Jack Casady, Joey Covington, Papa John Creach, Paul Kantner, Jorma Kaukonen, Grace Slick)93October 14, 1971Ike & Tina Turner (Ike Turner, Tina Turner)94October 28, 1971The Beach Boys (Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, Mike Love, Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson)95November 11, 1971N/A"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" cover story96November 25, 1971N/A"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Part Two" cover story97December 9, 1971Pete Townshend98December 23, 1971Mel Lyman
1972
Issue numberCover datePeople on coverNotes99January 6, 1972Cat Stevens100January 20, 1972Jerry Garcia101February 3, 1972The Grateful Dead (Jerry Garcia, Keith Godchaux, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Bob Weir)102February 17, 1972Gerritt Van Raam"Nark, a Tale of Terror" cover story103March 2, 1972Bob Dylan104March 16, 1972Bob Dylan105March 30, 1972Alice Cooper106April 13, 1972N/AErotic massage cover story; cover includes unidentified man and woman107April 27, 1972Marvin Gaye, Hubert HumphreyVarious cover stories; cover includes unidentified man at Dripping Springs Reunion festival108May 11, 1972David Cassidy109May 25, 1972Jane Fonda110June 8, 1972George McGovern111June 22, 1972Van Morrison112July 6, 1972Mick Jagger113July 20, 1972Paul Simon114August 3, 1972Huey Newton115August 17, 1972George McGovern116August 31, 1972Randy Newman117September 14, 1972Three Dog Night (Michael Allsup, Jimmy Greenspoon, Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron, Joe Schermie, Floyd Sneed, Cory Wells)118September 28, 1972Richard Nixon119October 12, 1972Sally Struthers120October 26, 1972Jeff Beck121November 9, 1972David Bowie122November 23, 1972Joe ConforteConforte appears with unidentified women123December 7, 1972Carlos Santana124December 21, 1972Keith Moon
1973
Issue numberCover datePeople on coverNotes125January 4, 1973Carly Simon, James Taylor126January 18, 1973N/AApollo 17 cover story127February 1, 1973Diana Ross128February 15, 1973Bette Midler129March 1, 1973Mick Jagger130March 15, 1973Robert Mitchum131March 29, 1973Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show (Billy Francis, Dennis Locorriere, Ray Sawyer)Appeared on the cover as "What's-Their-Names" (drawn caricatures, not photographed) after releasing the song "The Cover of the Rolling Stone"132April 12, 1973Truman Capote133April 26, 1973Mark Spitz134May 10, 1973Alice Cooper135May 24, 1973Dirk Dickenson"Death in the Wilderness" cover story136June 7, 1973N/AJesus freaks cover story137June 21, 1973Rod Stewart138July 5, 1973Paul Newman139July 19, 1973Tatum O'Neal140August 2, 1973Peter Wolf141August 16, 1973Elton John142August 30, 1973Dan HicksHicks appears with unidentified woman143September 13, 1973Sam Ervin144September 27, 1973Richard Nixon145October 11, 1973Art Garfunkel146October 25, 1973Gene Autry147November 8, 1973Daniel Ellsberg148November 22, 1973Jerry Garcia149December 6, 1973Gregg Allman150December 20, 1973Hugh Hefner
1974
Issue numberCover datePeople on coverNotes151January 3, 1974The Spirit of Ecstasy"Funky Chic" cover story152January 17, 1974Lady Liberty, Richard Nixon153January 31, 1974Linda McCartney, Paul McCartney154February 14, 1974Bob Dylan155February 28, 1974N/A"Fear and Loathing at the Super Bowl" cover story156March 14, 1974Bob Dylan157March 28, 1974Rick Springman"The POW Who Laid Down His Gun" cover story158April 11, 1974Marvin Gaye159April 25, 1974Kris Kristofferson160May 9, 1974John Paul Getty III161May 23, 1974Jackson BrowneBrowne appears with his son, Ethan162June 6, 1974Uncle Sam, Oliver "Daddy" WarbucksCover story on the economy of the United States; cover is a parody of The Sting movie poster163June 20, 1974James Dean164July 4, 1974The Carpenters (Karen Carpenter, Richard Carpenter)165July 18, 1974Eric Clapton166August 1, 1974Maria Muldaur167August 15, 1974Steely DanCover did not show the band members, only an illustration of a woman riding a silver vibrator in reference to the band's name168August 29, 1974Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (David Crosby, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Neil Young)169September 12, 1974Richard Nixon170September 26, 1974Tanya Tucker171October 10, 1974Richard Pryor, Lily Tomlin172October 24, 1974The Beatles (George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr)173November 7, 1974Evel Knievel174November 21, 1974Elton John175December 5, 1974Dustin Hoffman176December 19, 1974George Harrison
1975
Issue numberCover datePeople on coverNotes177January 2, 1975Suzi Quatro178January 16, 1975Gregg Allman179January 30, 1975Freddie Prinze180February 13, 1975PanCover story on musical instruments181February 27, 1975Loggins & Messina (Kenny Loggins, Jim Messina)182March 13, 1975Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant)183March 27, 1975Linda Ronstadt184April 10, 1975Roger Daltrey185April 24, 1975Peter Falk186May 8, 1975John Denver187May 22, 1975Carly Simon188June 5, 1975Phoebe Snow189June 19, 1975Stevie Wonder190July 3, 1975Labelle (Sarah Dash, Nona Hendryx, Patti LaBelle)191July 17, 1975The Rolling Stones (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)192July 31, 1975Richard Dreyfuss193August 14, 1975Neil Young194August 28, 1975Doonesbury cast (MacArthur, Uncle Duke)195September 11, 1975Mick Jagger196September 25, 1975The Eagles (Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner)197October 9, 1975Muhammad Ali198October 23, 1975Patty Hearst199November 6, 1975Britt Ekland, Rod Stewart200November 20, 1975Randolph Apperson HearstPatty Hearst appears in a background portrait201December 4, 1975Jack Nicholson202December 18, 1975Bonnie Raitt
1976
Issue numberCover datePeople on coverNotes203January 1, 1976Jefferson Starship (Marty Balin, Paul Kantner, Grace Slick)204January 15, 1976Joan Baez, Bob Dylan205January 29, 1976Pat Boone206February 12, 1976David Bowie207February 26, 1976John Cipollina, Jerry Garcia, Dan Hicks, Steve Miller, Grace SlickSan Francisco cover story208March 11, 1976Donny Osmond209March 25, 1976Louise Lasser210April 8, 1976All the President's Men cast (Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford)211April 22, 1976Peter FramptonFrampton faces forward in cover photoPeter FramptonFrampton faces left in cover photo212May 6, 1976Carlos Santana213May 20, 1976Marlon Brando214June 3, 1976Jimmy CarterCover illustration also includes Gregg Allman, Hubert Humphrey, Mr. Peanut, and Hunter S. Thompson215June 17, 1976Linda McCartney, Paul McCartney216July 1, 1976Paul Simon217July 15, 1976The Beatles (George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr)218July 29, 1976John Gardner Ford219August 12, 1976Bob Marley220August 26, 1976Steven Tyler221September 9, 1976Doonesbury cast (Ginny Slade, Jimmy Thudpucker)222September 23, 1976Neil Diamond223October 7, 1976Elton John224October 21, 1976NoneCover story on Richard Avedon's portfolio "The Family 1976"225November 4, 1976Brian Wilson226November 18, 1976Janis Joplin227December 2, 1976Linda Ronstadt228December 16, 1976Jackson Browne229December 30, 1976Moishe
1977
Issue numberCover datePeople on coverNotes230January 13, 1977Rod Stewart231January 27, 1977Jeff Bridges232February 10, 1977Peter Frampton233February 24, 1977Boz Scaggs234March 10, 1977Princess Caroline of Monaco235March 24, 1977Fleetwood Mac (Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, Stevie Nicks)236April 7, 1977Lily Tomlin237April 21, 1977Hall & Oates (Daryl Hall, John Oates)238May 5, 1977Mark Fidrych239May 19, 1977Hamilton Jordan, Joseph Lester Powell240June 2, 1977Crosby, Stills & Nash (David Crosby, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills)241June 16, 1977Robert De Niro242June 30, 1977Diane Keaton243July 14, 1977The Bee Gees (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb)244July 28, 1977Heart (Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson)245August 11, 1977Diana Ross246August 25, 1977Star Wars cast (Chewbacca, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill)247September 8, 1977O. J. Simpson248September 22, 1977Elvis Presley249October 6, 1977Bella Abzug250October 20, 1977John Lydon251November 3, 1977Ron Wood252November 17, 1977Pete Townshend253December 1, 1977Steve Martin254December 15, 1977None10th anniversary issue255December 29, 1977Peter Asher, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor
1978
Issue numberCover datePeople on coverNotes256January 12, 1978Fleetwood Mac (Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, Stevie Nicks)257January 26, 1978Bob Dylan258February 9, 1978Jimmy Thudpucker259February 23, 1978Rita Coolidge, Kris Kristofferson260March 9, 1978Jane Fonda261March 23, 1978Donna Summer262April 6, 1978Brooke Shields263April 20, 1978Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band cast (The Bee Gees (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb), Peter Frampton)264May 4, 1978Muhammad Ali265May 18, 1978Jefferson Starship (Marty Balin, John Barbata, Craig Chaquiço, David Freiberg, Paul Kantner, Pete Sears, Grace Slick)266June 1, 1978Carly Simon267June 15, 1978John Travolta268June 29, 1978Mick Jagger269July 13, 1978Willie Nelson270July 27, 1978Patti Smith271August 10, 1978John Belushi272August 24, 1978Bruce Springsteen273September 7, 1978The Rolling Stones (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)274September 21, 1978Gary Busey275October 5, 1978The Who (Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Pete Townshend)276October 19, 1978Linda Ronstadt277November 2, 1978Gilda Radner278November 16, 1978Bob Dylan279November 30, 1978Steve Martin, Gilda Radner, Linda Ronstadt280December 14, 1978Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Cheech & Chong (Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin)281/282December 28, 1978 – January 11, 1979Richard Dreyfuss
1979