Classic Rock

The definitive voice in rock journalism, going behind the scenes to bring the real stories behind rock legends from Led Zeppelin to Metallica, to Marilyn Manson and beyond. Please note: This digital version of the magazine does not currently include the covermount items or content you would find on printed newsstand copies

WELCOME

This month’s contributors

Classic Rock

Got It Covered • New book of Led Zep sleeves from around the world includes hundreds of designs other than the ones we’re familiar with.

RIP • Thank you and good night.

Festivals Are Go! • This year’s Steelhouse, Bloodstock and Reading and Leeds Festivals finally get the go-ahead to take place.

Metallica’s Black Album Gets Reboot • And the stars come out for a companion set.

NEWS

Guitarist Doubts Aerosmith Will Play Live Again • Brad Whitford fears more gigs could be a “pipe dream”.

Rick Wakeman “Gobsmacked” By CBE Award • Modest keyboard maestro thought news of his Queen's honour was “a hoax!”

Night Ranger • The hard rockers on lockdown recording, longevity and appearing in a cocaine-filled house in Boogie Nights.

Tigercub • After the album session from hell, these Brighton alt.rockers have earned their stripes.

MY FIRST LOVE • Minor Threat OUT OF STEP

The Wallflowers • Jakob Dylan on “noisy guitars”, transitioning from Trump, and why songwriting brings out his Mr Hyde.

The Moon City Masters • These harmonising brothers are putting fun, sunshine and colour back into rock’n’roll.

Don McLean American Pie • Half a century on, the folk-rock anthem about the souring of the American Dream continues to confound and inspire.

Imelda May • The singer-songwriter on spirituality, the number 11:11, her new album, activism and sticking it to music industry ageism.

METAL GODS • There’ve been ups, there’ve been downs, and after 50-plus years they’re still very much around. We spoke to all current members about life in, and out of, one of the greatest metal bands of them all: Judas Priest.

IAN HILL • The bassist has been with Priest from the beginning, through thick and thin. And while he’s enjoyed spending time at home with his family recently, he’s missing being out on the road.

GLENN TIPTON • It hasn’t all been a joyride, but the guitarist wouldn’t want to have done anything other than “travelling the world, doing what I love most – playing guitar”.

SCOTT TRAVIS • The former Racer X drummer was already a Priest fan before he joined them in 1989, and he was also in Rob Halford’s side project Fight.

RICHIE FAULKNER • Priest’s ‘new boy’, who replaced KK Downing, has been with the band since 2011 and has so far played on 2014’s Redeemer Of Souls and their latest album, 2018’s Firepower.

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT • Over 50 years they’ve cruised through heavenly highs and weathered hellish lows. Now, with their latest album, Styx continue to enjoy their latest creative and popular high.

DEAR MR FANTASY • With the band Traffic Jim Capaldi made some wonderful and classic music of the 60s and 70s, and his solo records reflected his talents as a songwriter as well as a musician.

ADVERTISING STANDARDS AUTHORITY • A Pop Art album of great music interspersed with radio-style ads and jingles and released in an iconic sleeve, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey spill the beans about The Who Sell Out.

THE ROAD TO UTOPIAN • He’s collaborated with Crazy Horse, Ringo Starr and even auditioned for Brookside, but now Icicle Works founder and current solo artist Ian McNabb is ready to conclude his latest trilogy.

Size Doesn’t Matter • Despite its title, Tiny Music was a huge album for Stone Temple Pilots. At the time, sadly, frontman Scott...