At its inception Rancid News was a punk zine, which began circulation in April 2003 with interviews from AFI, One Minute Silence, and Johnny Truant, alongside articles, columns and reviews. "Rancid News" was initially launched at a time when the "Fracture" and "Reason To Believe" zines were still in existence. After those publications ceased, "Rancid News" assumed their mantel documenting the UK punk . A key difference between "Rancid News" and the aforementioned zines is that "Rancid News" was sold outside gigs, and in record and comic stores rather than being available free. It was compared to San Francisco-based "Maximum RocknRoll", due largely to similar political beliefs and style of music covered.