View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Publishers
  2. Magazines
June 23, 2014updated 24 Jun 2014 3:32pm

Magazine publisher Felix Dennis ‘famed for his maverick and entrepreneurial style’ has died aged 67

By Press Gazette

Publisher Felix Dennis has died aged 67 "after a long and painful battle with cancer".

The businessman first found fame as one of the founders of 1960s counterculture magazine Oz, which was caught up in a high-profile obscenity trial in 1971.

He went on to make a fortune through Dennis Publishing, the magazine stable behind Maxim and The Week.

A statement released by his office said: "We are deeply saddened to announce that Felix Dennis passed away yesterday surrounded by his loved ones. After a long and painful battle with cancer, Felix died peacefully at his home in Dorsington, aged 67.

"Felix was a publishing legend, famed for his maverick and entrepreneurial style and, more lately, a successful and much-loved poet. He will be greatly missed.

"Thank you for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Felix, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief."

Dennis's riotous approach to life included spending an estimated 100 million US dollars on what he described as "sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll" and becoming the first person to say c*** on British television.

Content from our partners
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it
Impress: Regulation, arbitration and complaints resolution

His foul-mouth first came during an episode of The David Frost Programme which included a lengthy interview with a group of hippies. He later said his mother refused to speak to him for three years afterwards.

Dennis grew up in the London suburbs and went to Harrow College of Art but left to play in a series of bands which flopped but served as his introduction to the capital's counter-culture.

His involvement with Oz saw him stand trial charged with conspiracy to corrupt public morals after a special issue included a pornographic version of Rupert the Bear.

The trial was a sensation and make Dennis and his fellow defendants famous. They were defended by lawyer and novelist John Mortimer and eventually acquitted on appeal.

Dennis made his millions in publishing where he was a pioneer in the world of computer magazines.

He became a published poet following a life-threatening illness and embarked on a series of book tours and sponsored a prominent poetry prize.

In 2008, he told The Times that he once killed a man by pushing him off the edge of a cliff but later denied the story, claiming he was drunk at the time of the interview.

Dennis, who divided his time between homes in Warwickshire, London, New York, Connecticut and the Caribbean island of Mustique, claimed to have become rich by "accident" and listed his other interests as "planting trees, commissioning bronze sculpture, drinking French wine and avoiding business meetings".

Dennis Publishing's current brands include: Men's Fitness, The Week, Viz, Auto Express, Evo, Computer Shopper, PC Pro, Women's Fitness, Bizarre, Cyclist, Computer Active and Octane.

Topics in this article : ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network