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.

WELCOME

The Dirt

GARY ROSSINGTON • We look back at the life, times and music of the Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist who survived the band’s plane crash in 1977, and also survived all the band’s other founder members.

RIP

Record Store Day Is Here Again!

NEWS

Last In Line • Vivian Campbell reboots his side band – “but it’s a serious side band for me” – with album number three.

Elles Bailey • With the august influences of Raitt, Hart and May, Bailey’s bluesy rock is winning hearts.

THE HUMAN INSTINCT

dEUS • The Belgian art-rockers will be hoping first album in 10 years is music to the ears of some of their famous fans.

NEWS

Doomsday Outlaw • From rough metal to a refined melodic blues rock, England’s north will rise again.

Richard Marx • He only recorded it to prove people wrong and he considered it his worst ever song. So just how did the AOR singer’s global smash hit come about?

Joey Tempest • Celebrating their 40th anniversary with a tour, documentary, and new music, Europe’s singer reflects on the band and that song.

Inspector Cluzo • Environmentally-friendly French farming is a proving ground we didn’t predict, but blues rock has always been rooted (geddit?) in the country.

MEN FOR ALL SEASONS • Stranger things: in their 40-plus years Metallica have gone from being a cult metal band to a commercial juggernaut and a household name. But even with new album 72 Seasons ready to storm charts worldwide they’re still angry, still insecure.

168 SEASONS • Kirk Hammett provides some snapshots from Metallica’s 42-year odyssey.

THE CLASSIC ROCK INTERVIEW IAN HUNTER • He’s older than rock’n’roll itself, and back with an all-star cast on his new album on Sun Records. Here he talks to CR about working with Jeff Beck and Taylor Hawkins, punk rock, Alex Harvey, David Bowie, and sex and drugs in the 70s. This is what he’s here for.

THE MAGIC FLUTE • The second new Jethro Tull album in two years, Rökflöte, explores Ragnarök, the Norse interpretation of the apocalypse. So naturally, we spoke to Ian Anderson about the end of the world.

TIME BANDITS • Some bands are retro. Some bands are very retro. Dutch trio DeWolff take that to the max in everything they do, looking back for inspiration and feeding it into something new.

STRING THEORY • Next month Def Leppard release Drastic Symphonies, reworked classic Leps tracks accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. They invited us to Abbey Road Studios to watch it take shape.

RESURRECTION DAYS • After a career peppered with notable successes – and a fair few line-up changes and fall-outs – in the mid-80s Kansas came close to being dead and buried. But, taking the advice of their most famous song title, they picked themselves up and carried on…

The Hot List • The Essential New Rock Tracks You Need To Hear This Month And The Bands To Have On Your Radar

HARD THE STUFF ALBUMS

THE HARD STUFF REISSUES

THE HARD STUFF STUFF BOOKS & DVDs

CHANTEL MCGREGOR

Mike + The Mechanics • The one-time Genesis side project returns for an extensive UK tour – with some special treats in store.

Voivod • What to expect from 40 years of the respected prog...