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.

Classic Rock

WELCOME

This month’s contributors

Aerosmith Resume Farewell Tour • Joe Perry insists Steven Tyler is “in good shape”.

RIP • Thank you… and good night.'

NEWS

Fu Manchu • Going from hardcore punks to stoner rock is a big leap, but they made it – with a little help from Melvins.

Black Smoke Trigger • Meet the small-town NZ rockers with big-time ambitions and big-band influences.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats • They might not be party animals any more, but there’s no shortage of energy when it comes to their music

Big Special • With Free “a huge influence”, and pithy lyrics, they might soon live up to their name.

Dio Holy Diver • A song begun by Ronnie Dio when he was fronting Black Sabbath and completed after he’d been fired, it transformed his career and became one of the classic metal tracks of the 80s.

Suzi Quatro • The glam icon on not resting on her laurels, paving the way for other women in rock, social media, age, working hard…

RE-BORN • Recorded with “just what I had lying around”, Born In the U.S.A. remains Bruce Springsteen’s best-known and most commercially successful album. Forty years on, we look at the making of the record that elevated him from star to global superstar.

STRANGER THAN FICTION • With their frontman now slimmed down and sobered up, Orange Goblin’s new album Science, Not Fiction is similarly fat-free, ferocious and muscular. “I’ve discovered myself,” says the singer.

FISH • He had a successful career as the frontman with Marillion, then flourished as a solo artist. After next year’s farewell tour he’s leaving music and the bright lights behind to live with his wife (and 13 sheep) on a Scottish island. He might not miss music, but music will miss him.

Mama Kin • Ten years, four albums and some huge changes on from their breakout debut, Blues Pills have ditched the self-imposed constraints and made exactly the record they wanted.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDINGTO DUFF McKAGAN • Addiction can be beaten. Understand money. Put your partner first. Don’t hold grudges. Clothes maketh the man. These are among the things that shape his world view.

IAN PAICE + IAN GLLAN + ROGER GOVER +DON AIREY + SIMON McBRIDE = DEEP PuRPLE MKIX • Deep Purple might never have been fashionable, but they’ve stuck to their guns (if not band members) and are one of the last great survivors from rock’s first golden age. And with a new guitarist on board and a brand new album, they look likely to be around for some time yet…

Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown

CHECKOUT • WHAT TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN SPENT £50 ON.

THE RHYTHM BEHIND THE BLUES • In a storied 60-year career, Canned HeatM drummer Fito de la Parra has survived changing trends, the deaths of all his original bandmates, and over 40 personnel changes. “I will continue to play this music until I can’t,” he says. “No question about that.”

EVER MEET LEMMY? • He’s been star-struck at dinner with Dylan, was a Ramone, been treated like royalty when touring with Nancy Sinatra, reckons Debbie Harry “is as talented as Bowie”, got hot dogs and advice from Jerry Nolan, played with Pete Townshend, Iggy Pop and many others…. He’s Blondie drummer and more Clem...