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

This month’s contributors

Classic Rock

“Life is full of surprises” • Rush return with a new drummer, Anika Nilles.

RIP • Thank you… and good night.

Chris Dreja • November 11, 1946 – September 25, 2025

Danny Thompson • April 4, 1939 – September 23, 2025

Thommy Price • December 9, 1956 – October 10, 2025

Viv Prince • August 9, 1941 – September 2025

Ace Finchum • January 19, 1963 – October 2025

John Lodge • July 20, 1943 – October 10, 2025

Film Of Bowie’s Berlin Years • BBC preps documentary on his art-rock era.

Iron Maiden run to Knebworth! • Plus: their classic live album celebrates its 40th in style.

Holly Golightly • After seven years, the cult favourite resurfaces with a new album steeped in southern alt.blues flavour.

NEWS

Die Spitz • They hate being touted as the next big thing. They hate interviews. But they love rock.

Foos Surprise-Release Live EP • Six-tracker recorded at recent low-key dates.

Magnum Keep Their Night Light Burning • New album of Tony Clarkin songs in the works.

The Trews • CR’s Best New Band 2007 nominees return with their eighth studio album, and still have “an eye on the prize”.

Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram • A triple-threat blues prodigy channels the ghosts of the past on his new album.

ACE FREHLEY • He went from teen wannabe to global superstar as the founding guitarist with Kiss, with whom he toured the world and sold millions of albums. In a career blighted by problems often caused by substance abuse, as a guitarist the Space Ace was unique and an inspiration to many.

“THERE’S A LITTLE ACE FREHLEY IN ALL OF US” • STARS PAY TRIBUTE

Levellers Hope Street • During an era of post-grunge, the Levellers were derided as obsolete crusties, but one of their biggest hits was influenced by classic 70s rock.

Ian Gillan • His pole vaulting days may be behind him, but even at the age of 80 the Deep Purple singer is still in demand.

FORGING THE IRON • As Iron Maiden’s driving force, bassist and main songwriter, Steve Harris has steered the band from pub gigs and demos to the world’s biggest stadiums and multimillion-selling albums.

BUILDING THE BEAST • By 1981 Iron Maiden had made a name for themselves, and second album Killers was a powerful statement of intent. But one cog in the momentum-gathering machine was a little loose and needed replacing. The replacement was Bruce Dickinson, and the result was transformative, as our exclusive extract from the band’s Infinite Dreams explains.

INTO THE FIRE • Becoming a band’s new singer is never easy. But when he saw Maiden play, Bruce Dickinson knew they were the band he needed to be in – and that he was the singer they needed.

MAN ON FIRE • Heartbroken and stricken with cancer, Stephen Dale Petit found his masterpiece in the shape of Be The Love, an album that burns with the urgency and creativity of a man on borrowed time.

QUIET RIOT • On his third Mammoth album, Wolfgang Van Halen raises his playing, singing and songwriting game, in the process channelling recent tours with A-listers, meeting legends and years of personal demons.

’KILLER ON THE...