Classic Rock

Every month Classic Rock is packed with exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes features on rock’s biggest names, from Led Zeppelin to Deep Purple, from Guns N’ Roses to the Rolling Stones, from the Sex Pistols to AC/DC and beyond. Each issue plays host to the heftiest rock reviews section on the planet. In an average issue, you’ll find over 150 albums reviewed, all from the ever-varied, multi-faceted world of rock - whether it’s hard rock or heavy metal, prog or punk, goth rock or southern rock, we’ve got it covered.

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This month’s contributors

Classic Rock

BRIAN JAMES February 18, 1951 – March 6, 2025 • Ian Fortnam looks back at the life, times and music of the original Damned guitarist, who went from R&B and blues to being one of the architects of UK punk and took it to the masses.

RIP • Thank you… and good night.

Andy Peebles • December 13, 1948 – March 22, 2025

Marty Callner • August 25, 1946 – March 17, 2025

More Maiden • Band announce official film and book coming in autumn.

Just One More Kiss, Dear • Simmons cancels dates, but he and Stanley to reunite.

NEWS

Love/Hate • They coulda, maybe shoulda, but didn’t, but ever-present frontman Jizzy Pearl is happy with his/their lot.

Split Dogs • Punk’n’rollers bust out of their West Country origins to show that they’re best in breed.

Early Beatles Tape Discovered • After 63 years, audition reel-to-reel surfaces in Canada.

“I’m not as humourless as my music!” • Steven Wilson books comics for Palladium shows.

Erja Lyytinen • The Finnish slide ace on murder ballads, the joys of vinyl and playing a skeleton on The Masked Singer.

The Blue Stones • Ascending Canadian bluesy duo tell us how Christopher Nolan inspired their trippy new LP.

Joe Walsh Rocky Mountain Way • A career crossroads, snow-capped mountains and a runaway lawnmower all played a part in the creation of Joe Walsh’s signature hit, recorded more than 50 years ago.

Don Airey • The Deep Purple keyboard player, go-to session guy and solo artist on his new album, touring, Purple, Blackmore…

A NIGHT OUT • CR presents the second in an exclusive series from Alan Niven’s forthcoming book Sound N’ Fury.

CALIFORNIA GOLD • With Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham on board, Fleetwood Mac’s 1975 self-titled White Album was the first record by what became the band’s most beloved and successful line-up. “It was where all the planets aligned for us,” said Christine McVie.

HIGHER GROUND • There’s more to life than rock’n’roll. On their new album God Shaped Hole, Those Damn Crows turn their attention to some of the things most of us look to for meaning in the world, and in life.

PETE TOWNSHEND • With The Who he wrote some of the great songs from the first wave of pop, then went on to conquer the rock world. In recent years he’s mostly been involved in solo work. In the 60s he famously wrote the lyric: ‘Hope I die before I get old.’ Thankfully he didn’t.

ALIVE AND KICKING • In an exclusive book extract from Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival, we look at how down-the-bill sudden stars Pearl Jam’s performances on the 1992 tour sparked crowd frenzies verging on riots.

LOVE, SEX AND HEARTBREAK • Finally unveiling his first solo album, Struts frontman Luke Spiller mixes classic flavours, velvet-lined pop and old European flair with a modern Hollywood love story.

RUNNIN’ DOWN A DREAM • With his autobiography just published, Mike Campbell talks frankly about his years as Tom Petty’s right-hand man in the Heartbreakers, early-days self-doubt, playing with Bob Dylan and Fleetwood Mac, and two heart-warming love stories.

EVER MEET LEMMY? • He’s...