CLASSIC ROCK

Editor Siân Llewellyn Now playing: Karnivool, In Verses

WELCOME

Long-time readers of Classic Rock may be shocked

This month’s contributors

HENRY YATES A music writer for 22 years,

BOB WEIR

October 16, 1947 – January 10, 2026

Tetsu Yamauchi

October 21, 1946 – December 4, 2025

Chris Rea

March 4, 1951 – December 22, 2025

RIP

Thank you… and good night.

Mick Abrahams

April 7, 1943 - December 19, 2025

Perry Bamonte

September 3, 1960 – December 24, 2025

Rob Reiner

March 6, 1947 – December 14, 2025

Joe Ely

February 9, 1947 – December 15, 2025

New Crowes LP

The Robinsons return with some Feathers in March.

Nazareth Replace Singer

Carl Sentance out, ex-Victory man Gianni Pontillo in.

NEWS

David Bowie’ s childhood home in Plaistow Grove

Gluecifer

Having said new music was unlikely, the Norwegians return with their first album in two decades.

Kashus Culpepper

Meet the singer-songwriter who’s shot from small cog in the navy to a big wheel in Nashville.

“o\i o\i!”

New Peter Gabriel album on the way.

“Kiss me. Hug me tight.”

Sharon Osbourne reveals Ozzy’s last words.

NEWS

Former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth has

James Bruner

He was drawn into rock by the greats, but rock’s not the only string on his guitar.

The Boomtown Rats

I Don’t Like Mondays

Jay Buchanan

Rival Sons’ frontman on his solo album, songwriting, the call of the wild, storytellers, falling in love, destroying his past…

THE WORLD IS NOR ENOUGH

Magic hexes, hotel robberies and cut-throat deals: band members and associates chronicle the heady days of 1972/73, when Led Zeppelin seized control of the industry and became the biggest rock band on the planet.

Whatever Will Be, Will Be.

Joan Armatrading refused to change her name, refused to sing covers and baffled session pros with her unique timing. Here, she tells the story of her uncompromising debut album.

MICHAEL MONROE

From Black Sabbath awakening to jam band to Hanoi Rocks to decades-straddling solo artist, via Finland, London, NYC and beyond, he’s been up, down and up again, through thrills, spills, triumph and tragedy. You could say he’s really lived the rock’n’roll life, but that would be an understatement.

THE A-Z OF B.B.KING

With Joe Bonamassa having gathered the cream of the scene for the B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 tribute album – and written the intro to this feature – we take an alphabetised look back at the blues legend’s classic tracks, hotel bombings, car crashes, conspiracy theories, towering infernos and more…

"I COULD USE A GUY LIKE YOU"

So Paul McCartney said to Danny Francis in 1974. Francis, who passed away last year, spent the best part of 40 years putting himself between rock stars and trouble – and keeping them out of trouble. But, working with some of the rock world’s biggest names, he was more than just a bodyguard.

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND

Thirty years after its release, Billy Corgan looks back at the making of The Smashing Pumpkins ’ era-defining big, bold, bombastic masterpiece Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness .

STICK TO YOUR GUNS

Despite falling record sales and changes in the musical landscape, Tyketto stayed true to their style. Now, they’re finding a new audience, and release their first album in a decade.

ROLLING BACK THE YEARS

He turned down Hendrix, butted heads with Lemmy, was saved from a bad trip by Pete Townshend, present at a thousand pop-culture flashpoints… Ten Years After bassist Leo Lyons explains why he’s like “the rock’n’roll Forrest Gump”.

The HOT LIST

THE ESSENTIAL NEW ROCK TRACKS YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS MONTH AND THE BANDS TO HAVE ON YOUR RADAR

The Damned

New tribute to their former guitarist Brian James is delivered with real passion.

Francis Rossi

The Accidental EARMUSIC

ROUND-UP: MELODIC ROCK

ENZO MAZZEOPRESS Black Swan Paralyzed FRONTIERS Black Swan

The Pineapple Thief

Retracing Our Steps (2007–2014) KSCOPE

Babyshambles

Down In Albion 20th Anniversary Edition ROUGH TRADE

Sid Vicious

Sid Lives JUNGLE

Eddie And The Hot Rods

Teenage Depression / Life On The Line CAPTAIN OI

A Trick Of Memory

Martin Barre MCNIDDER & GRACE

The Mission

Goth’s bleak misanthropy was upcycled and infused with hippiefied glam by the band, who celebrate their 40th this year.

Clutch

Ever-reliable stalwarts deliver a trailblazing show in London.

Smith/Kotzen

Guitarists Adrian and Richie prepare to take their side project on the road with shows in the UK.

Samantha Fish

The contemporary blueser hits UK venues in February/March.

Atomic Rooster

On the back of their first album in 42 years, the prog-rockers are currently playing shows in the UK.

Tour Dates

STU FORSTER/GETTY IMAGES GILBERT FLORES/PENSKE MEDIA VIA GETTY

Ash

Mike The Pies, Listowel, Co Kerry

Orange Goblin / Grand Magus / Urne

London The Forum

Primal Scream

London The Roundhouse

Last Days

London Royal Opera House

The Dedication To Phil Lynott

Dublin 3Arena

The Soundtrack Of My Life

Singer/guitarist/ Time Lord Peter Capaldi on the records, artists and gigs that are of lasting significance to him.