There’s usually something that I have vaguely planned to write in this intro page, and this issue was no exception. I was going to say a little bit about how we were all still in lockdown mode and just about getting used to the new normal, then I’d maybe write something explaining our epic rundown of the greatest songs of the century so far, and how we put it together - lots of fights, an incredibly long shortlist and then over to you at classicrockmagazine.com to vote (and remind us of stuff we’d missed). That was the plan, anyway.
And then important events in the real world took precedence. As a community, as a society, as humans, we have to come to terms with the aftermath of the horrific murder of George Floyd and the anti-racism protests and support for #BlackLivesMatter that ignited it its wake. We have to understand the terrible injustice that people of colour have to deal with every day of their lives. And we stand with them a hundred per cent. It’s our responsibility to do better. We have to educate ourselves. And we will. Taking part in #TheShowMustBePaused (p12) was our first - very small - step, and that was only the start.