>> INSIDER WIRE —Some are surprised that Fabien Baron is being welcomed back at Interview, given the magazine's financial state and that Baron was originally let go because he was going over budget.  Apparently, fashion director Joe McKenna — who is expected to leave — cancelled a recent shoot on grounds of nonpayment, creative directors Michael Amzalag and Mathias Augustyniak of M/M Paris quit because they are owed three months pay plus expenses, and a number of retouchers and photographers are owed, including Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, who have not been paid for their August 2009 cover story. [FWD]

>> INSIDER WIRE —Fabien Baron may be back at Interview, but it sounds like creative directors Michael Amzalag and Mathias Augustyniak of M/M Paris and fashion director Joe McKenna, who both came on after Baron left the magazine in January, are on their way out.  Karl Templer, who served as creative director under Baron the first time, is expected back imminently — official announcements are expected within a week. [FWD]

>> BLOWING THE COVER —M/M Paris's revamp of Interview, complete with new handwritten logo (influenced by the one used in the '70s) and new layout (which supposedly includes less model-heavy fashion editorial), debuts with the April 2009 issue featuring Zac Efron.  There seems to be no hard feelings between Fabien Baron and one half of M/M Paris, Michael Amzalag, but the graphic design duo, together with newly-named fashion director Joe McKenna (who replaces Karl Templer) have their work cut out for them: ad pages dropped 27 percent in 2008, and another 38 percent in the first quarter of 2009. [WWD]

>>  If one fashion magazine isn't hurt by the current economic conditions, it has to be Katie Grand's new endeavor for Conde Nast UK, Love.  The "high-end," "edgy" magazine, which was originally being tossed around for a February or March 2009 launch, is going full-steam ahead — new logo above — with an official launch on Feb. 19.  Katie has taken most of her team from POP — including creative directors Lee Swillingham and Stuart Spalding, plus fashion editor Phoebe Arnold, who masqueraded around as a gravestone with the POP logo on it at Halloween.

New additions to the team include — as rumored — Francesca Burns, formerly of i-D, as senior fashion editor-at-large, plus Mark Frith, former editor of celebrity rag Heat, as editorial consultant.  And Katie won't be the only stylist heavyweight on board — Joe McKenna is on the masthead as senior contributing fashion editor.