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Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner is looking for a new publisher for the flagship magazine of his Wenner Media empire.
Steve DeLuca, publisher of Rolling Stone, resigned yesterday after not quite two years in the gig.
Insiders say the departure arises from a dispute over how to celebrate the magazine's 1,000th cover issue, due out in May.
The anniversary cover will feature every star who ever graced the cover of the magazine in a similar layout to the Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, which had miniature heads of pop stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando in the background.
The RS cover would feature rockers from Mick Jagger to Bruce Springsteen and Bono.
DeLuca, who jumped from a lower-level ad sales job at Condé Nast's Vanity Fair to Rolling Stone's publisher's job two years ago, could not be reached.
A company spokesman said the departure was a mutual decision, although one source said, "It is pretty clear he got whacked."
No permanent replacement has been named.
Rolling Stone had a flat year in 2005, with ad pages down 2.8 percent to 1,704 after DeLuca's upbeat rookie year in 2004.
DeLuca's exit is also the first executive level change since longtime general manager Kent Brownridge retired last year.
When Brownridge left, DeLuca had to report to the chief marketing officer Gary Armstrong, and sources say he and DeLuca "never got along."
One sign of friction came up with plans for marketing the magazine launch party.
Sources said Wenner initially envisioned a spectacular outdoor bash with live entertainment in Rockefeller Plaza.
But when Wenner, who is notoriously tightfisted, got the estimated tab of close to $3 million, he promptly scuttled the project.
Armstrong suggested looking at the lower-priced and more conventional party venue at the Hammerstein Ballroom across from Madison Square Garden.
DeLuca was upset because he had been selling the issue to advertisers against the promise of a big blowout party.
Now, even the Hammerstein ballroom plan is in doubt.
When queried on the plans, a Wenner spokesman said, "Nothing has been finalized on that." keith.kelly@nypost.com
Copyright 2004 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
