WELCOME

We made it! Welcome to the 300th

CLASSIC Rock

The Classic Rock team choose their favourite album released during the magazine’s lifetime…

the DIRT

“I’m the band’s Mister Common Sense”

Mark Lanegan

Everett True remembers one of the greatest singers of his generation

RIP Thank you… and good night.

Betty Davis July 26, 1945 – February 9,

Ian McDonald

June 25, 1946 – February 9, 2022

Gavin Martin

NME, Daily Mirror and Classic Rock writer has died in Barbados, aged 60

Gary Brooker

May 29, 1945 – February 19, 2022

The Ultimate Celebration

Join us, as rock’n’roll’s great and good look

JIMMY PAGE

As the gatekeeper of Led Zeppelin’s legacy, even performing Whole Lotta Love at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Classic Rock ’s Living Legend continues to inspire new generations

GENE SIMMONS

The God of Thunder ponders the meaning of life, love and loss, and the end of the road for Kiss.

When JOE BONAMASSA met GLENN HUGHES

Two defining figures of Classic Rock ’s lifetime discuss their respective prolific careers, cringing at cover shoots, and why rock’s future will suffer from a lack of small venues

RICK NIELSEN

With Cheap Trick inching towards their half-century, the band’s guitarist and songwriter toasts the past, present and future in his own inimitable style

SCOTT HOLIDAY

The Rival Sons guitarist on “toothy”, “dirty” rock‘n’roll and the death of the guitar hero

PHIL CAMPBELL

The former Motörhead man is working on the third Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons album

ALICE COOPER

There’s no such thing as retirement when you’re The Godfather Of Shock Rock, but, as he tells Classic Rock, he’s never had any intention of stopping anyway

FRANCICS ROSSI

The last original Status Quo member still in the band had hits before we came along, but to him we’ve “always been there”

BAZ MILLS

Massive Wagons’ frontman recalls the band’s rise

JOE ELLIOTT

He can look back on a long and successful past with Def Leppard and Down ‘N’ Outz, but he ends this interview teasing Classic Rock with what is yet to come

STEVEN WILSON

Prog’s man of our times is insistent on never repeating himself, and the former Classic Rock reviewer says Porcupine Tree’s first album in 13 years could only have been made right now

MICK BOX

The Uriah Heep founder and guitarist says things aren’t as good as they used to be

JUSTIN HAWKINS

From writing advertising jingles music in a London bedsit, to headlining Wembley Arena fronting The Darkness, a lot has happened to the singer-guitarist during Classic Rock ’s lifetime

When LZZY HALE Met ANN WILSON

The Heart and Halestorm stars talk singing, siblings and the stress of stardom

GEDDY LEE

The former Rush singer/bassist, who is due to publish his memoir in the spring of next year, talks us through his career highlights from the 20-plus years of Classic Rock ’s lifetime

LUKE SPILLER

The Struts frontman talks MySpace, and embarrassing videos on YouTube

MIKE CAMPBELL

The Heartbreaker carries the musical torch for the man who was like a brother to him

JOSH KISZKA

Greta Van Fleet’s vocal powerhouse on heroes, haters and giving audiences “something spectacular”

KLAUS MEINE & RUDOLF SCHENKER

We asked Scorpions what the key to their longevity is

GINGER WILDHEART

The Wildhearts frontman – the man the Manics call “the great lost English songwriter” – on that band, working outside of the mainstream and why music really is the best medicine

BIFF BYFORD

Saxon’s redoubtable frontman talks about keeping the faith

JOEL O'KEEFFE

Airbourne’s frontman on small-town dreams, stage-climbs and joining the Mile-High Club

OZZY OSBOURNE

The Prince Of Darkness talks to Classic Rock about Black Sabbath, sobriety, burying the hatchet, beating the booze and sticking it to Lollapalooza

SCOTT GORHAM

Thin Lizzy’s custodian talks Lynott, Lemmy, and levelling up as a guitarist

KIRKHAMMETT

The Metallica guitarist has long been a master of diverse musical styles, but only in his sixtieth year is he fully showcasing those talents, on his solo album Portals.

THE TOP 30 ALBUMS OF OUR LIFETIME

It was a very tough call, but after much deliberation – and an online readers’ poll – we’ve narrowed the many excellent albums of the past 24 years down to these scorchers

BRIAN MAY

The Queen guitarist talks to us about solo albums, astronomy, recording with Axl, hanging out with EVH, and how his band has gone on to have the most unexpected second chapter

BONNIE RAITT

Across her 50-year career, the fiery guitarist and singer has stayed true to her blues muse

JUSTIN HAYWARD

Seventy million album sales later, the Moody is still at it

TONY BANKS

In the midst of their last-ever tour, the Genesis keyboard player and composer tells Classic Rock how he never really wanted to play live, and how that all changed

DANNY BOWES

Thunder have been with Classic Rock all the way

JAREN JOHNSTON

The Cadillac Three’s potent blend of southern rock and country grooves only gets better with age

BRUCE DICKINSON

The man with “the world’s most ridiculous trousers” mulls over a fruitful quarter-century during which he rejoined Maiden and helped make them bigger than ever before

ADRIAN SMITH

The guitarist, who rejoined Maiden in the late 90s, on the state of Maiden, and of rock

JERRY CANTRELL

Alice In Chains’ guitarist on rock’s rude health, and making music for outsiders

When STEVE VAI Met JOE SATRIANI

It might sound like cliché to say old friends often finish each other’s sentences, but, talking to Classic Rock, with these two guitar legends it’s true

MARK TREMONTI

The Alter Bridge guitarist and co-songwriter and leader of his own band has had to work hard for his reputation, and now he’s even won the approval of the Sinatra estate

DUFF McKAGAN

The Guns N’ Roses bassist tells us that rock’n’roll is in good hands

FISH

Now 63, unlike most people the singer says he actually enjoys getting old, thank you very much

NEIL FALLON

The Clutch frontman talks about niches, Prince, and the importance of eavesdropping

JOEY TEMPEST

The Europe frontman looks back on a magnificent couple of decades for the band – from inaction to reunion – and forward to the possibilities that lie ahead

MIKKO VON HERTZEN

Von Hertzen Brothers’ frontman shares the power of Finland’s icy beauty

BEN WARD

For Orange Goblin, the past 24 years have consisted mostly of heavy metal and beer

When LARKIN POE Met TYLER BRYANT

We collared three of rock’n’roll’s brightest stars and rootsy torchbearers. Here’s what they had to say to us, and to each other

SLASH

The ultimate guitar slinger on being a CR cover star more than anyone else, and getting tongue-twisted giving a gong to Ozzy at the Classic Rock Awards

NIKKI SIXX

The Crüe bassist on embarrasing YouTube footage, and too much music being overproduced these days

THE HARD STUFF

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Unlimited Love WARNER

ROUND-UP: SLEAZE

Bitch Queens: a glorious rock’n’roll record. Bitch Queens

Ann Wilson

Fierce Bliss SILVER LINING

ROUND-UP: MELODIC ROCK

Ronnie Atkins: one of the most satisfying artistic statements

Thunder

Dopamine BMG

ROUND-UP: BLUES

Dom Martin: a sprawling talent. JIM HEAL/PRESS Dom

Reef

Shoot Me Your Ace RAGING SEA

BEST OF THE REST

Other new releases out this month

Rush

Moving Pictures – 40th Anniversary UME

Frank Zappa & The Mothers

The Mothers 1971 ZAPPA/UME

T.Rex

1972 DEMON

Echo & The Bunnymen

Songs To Learn & Sing RHINO

Brian May

Another World Deluxe Edition EMI

RECORD STORE DAY RELEASES

Fan-fleecing, vendor-supporting industry bean feast celebrates its fifteenth year

The Light Pours Out Of Me: The Authorised Biography Of John McGeoch

Rory Sullivan-Burke OMNIBUS

Killing Joke

With the Doomsday Clock ticking again, Jaz Coleman says this is the perfect time for Killing Joke

The Mentulls

Guitarist Andrew Pipe has a message for Uriah Heep

Reef

Frontman Gary Stringer tells Classic Rock he can’t wait to “get sweaty and noisy” on tour again

Tour Dates

Festivals

Halestorm

Birmingham O2 Academy Nashville-based rockers live up to

Van der Graaf Generator

Van der Graaf Generator: truly one of a

THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIFETIME

There have been many, many great songs released since this magazine began. We’ve crammed as many good ‘uns onto this page as possible, and with a handy link to listen to them all below!