Classic Rock

Classic Rock

Classic Rock is the online home of the world's best rock'n'roll magazine. We bring you breaking news, exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes features, as well as unrivalled access to the biggest names in rock music; from Led Zeppelin to Deep Purple, Guns N’ Roses to the Rolling Stones, AC/DC to the Sex Pistols, and everything in between. Our expert writers bring you the very best on established and emerging bands plus everything you need to know about the mightiest new music releases.

Articles by: Classic Rock

Black Sabbath in 1989 backstage with an inset of Ozzy Osbourne

“You could have anyone from Dio to Pavarotti, and it will never be Sabbath. Don’t belittle that band, Tony, move on”: the furious open letter Ozzy Osbourne sent to Tony Iommi telling him to end Black Sabbath

By Classic Rock published

In the brand new issue of Classic Rock, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi looks back on the band’s late 80s ‘wilderness period’ – and a war of words with Ozzy Osbourne

Chris Cornell playing the guitar in a recording studio

“He has that incredible baritone and that haunted, tortured persona”: these are Chris Cornell’s five favourite singers, in his own words

By Classic Rock published

Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell passed away on May 18, 2017. Eight years earlier, he told Classic Rock about the singers who had inspired him

Kerry King in 2024 and Jeff Hanneman in 2001

“When I was doing this record, I thought, ‘Jeff would ****ing love this. There’s plenty of hate’”: Kerry King says his new solo album would have got ex-Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman’s approval

By Classic Rock published

What would late Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman have thought of his former bandmate’s new album? Kerry King thinks he knows

Deep Purple’s In Rock album cover with an inset of Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi

“It shows every member of the band doing what they did best – Gillan’s vocals, Jon Lord’s keyboards”: the In Rock classic that’s Tony Iommi‘s favourite Deep Purple song

By Classic Rock published

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi reveals his favourite song by fellow rock pioneers Deep Purple

A montage of Rush albums sleeves

The 11 greatest Rush album sleeves, by the man who created them

By Classic Rock published

Rush album cover artist Hugh Syme looks back on his favourite covers

Scorpions standing in front of a red wall in 1994

“The record company said, ‘You are completely out of your mind!’ Which I was!”: Scorpions’ hit song Rock You Like A Hurricane originally had a different title, and it was definitely NSFW

By Classic Rock published

Ex-Scorpions drummer Herman Rarebell reveals the title he originally had in mind for their 1984 classic Rock You Like A Hurricane

Yes sitting around at table in 1973

The Yes albums you should definitely own

By Classic Rock published

The musicians may have changed, but the search for musical transcendence never wavered. These are the very best albums by Yes

ELO Over and Out tour

Jeff Lynne’s ELO announce final Over And Out tour, with 27 North American shows

By Classic Rock published

And so, the end is near

Stevie Nicks, 2024

Stevie Nicks adds shows in the UK, Ireland and Europe to her summer 2024 schedule

By Classic Rock published

Attention Fleetwood Mac fans in Europe: your chances of seeing Stevie Nicks this summer just improved

Judas Priest‘s Rob Halford and Bob Dylan

“Bob says: ‘Where you from?’ I say, ‘Birmingham’. He goes, ‘Birmingham? How’s Ozzy!’”: the unlikely time Rob Halford met Bob Dylan, the man who gave Judas Priest their name

By Classic Rock published

Rob Halford has only met Bob Dylan once, but he’s never forgotten the hilarious conversation that followed

Judas Priest in 2024 with an inset of the Invisible Shield album artwork

Judas Priest have just scored their highest charting album ever with Invincible Sheield

By Classic Rock published

Judas Priest’s new album Invincible Shield has trounced British Steel, Screaming For Vengeance and Firepower in the UK charts

Queen’s Freddie Mercury and Brian May onstage at Live Aid

“We hesitated to say yes. The chances of making fools of ourselves were so big”: Live Aid was Queen’s crowning glory. But they nearly turned it down

By Classic Rock published

In the brand new issue of Classic Rock, Queen reveal how one of the greatest live performances in history almost didn’t happen

Gavin Rossdale and Carlos Santana backstage at the 2010 American Music Awards

“He told me I was like a shaman onstage. I reminded him of Jim Morrison”: Carlos Santana once wanted to start a delta blues band… with Gavin Rossdale from Bush

By Classic Rock published

The story of Mud, the Carlos Santana/Gavin Rossdale supergroup that never was

Photos of Judas Priest’s Rob Halford and Motorhead’s Lemmy

“I have fond memories of sitting on Lemmy‘s lap after he’d come offstage, with his hair in a white towel turban”: Rob Halford says Judas Priest‘s new album has a tribute to Lemmy and Ronnie James Dio

By Classic Rock published

New Judas Priest song Giants In The Sky from upcoming album Invincible Shield pays tribute to Lemmy, Ronnie James Dio and other great rock icons

Covers from eight classic Scandinavian AOR albums

10 essential Scandinavian AOR albums

By Mik Gaffney, Classic Rock published

Set the dials to ‘good times’ – here are 10 perfect Scandinavian hard rock albums that party like it’s 1989

A studio portrait of Mick Mars with insets of King Crimson and Gentle Giant

“Stumbling on King Crimson and Gentle Giant was eye-opening for me. I went, ‘How can you do that so fast?’”: ex-Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars reveals his secret love of 70s prog

By Classic Rock published

Forget Shout At The Devil – Mick Mars is all about 21st Century Schizoid Man

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, Mr Bean, James Hetfield of Metallica and Ja Rule

The 11 most WTF collaborations in rock history

By Classic Rock published

Bruce Dickinson and Mr Bean? Ozzy and Miss Piggy? Metallica and Ja Rule? Prepare to cringe at these heroically wrong-headed collaborations

The cover of the Doors’ Morrison Hotel album

“It was the kind of place where you could start a religion or plan a murder”: the story behind The Doors’ Morrison Hotel album cover

By Classic Rock published

How an LA flophouse and the original Hard Rock Café played a part in creating the iconic artwork of The Doors’ Morrison Hotel album

Former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley with an inset of Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley

“I consider myself friends with Paul and Gene – we’re like brothers, brothers have arguments”: Ace Frehley offers an olive branch to his old Kiss bandmates, takes a swipe at backing tapes and avatars

By Classic Rock published

Ace Frehley talks to Classic Rock about his relationship with Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons

Thin Lizzy in 1973

"They're as good as anything anyone's ever written": My 10 favourite Thin Lizzy songs, by Brian Downey

By Classic Rock published

Drummer Brian Downey, who co-founded Thin Lizzy with Phil Lynott, picks his 10 favourite Lizzy tracks

https://secure.rsc.org.uk/overview/a-midsummer-nights-dream

“If one person deserves a knighthood, it’s Ozzy Osbourne”: Judas Priest’s Rob Halford urges King Charles to knight the Prince Of Darkness

By Classic Rock published

“Arise, Sir Ozzy” – at least that’s what it would be if Rob Halford had his way

Photos of Cronos of Venom, King Diamond of Mercyful Fate and Udo Dirkschenider of Accept

10 songs that invented thrash metal, according to Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian

By Classic Rock published

Scott Ian on 10 proto-thrash bangers that changed the face of 80s metal

Iron Maiden line up in 1992

“The phone rang, it was Steve Harris: ‘Are you interested in joining Maiden?’”: this is what it’s like to audition to replace Bruce Dickinson in Iron Maiden, by three singers who went for the job

By Classic Rock published

In 1994, Blaze Bayley became Maiden’s new singer – but he wasn’t the only contender for the job

Kiss’s classic 1970s line up

B-movie monsters, IQ tests and The Village People: 50 obscure Kiss facts only hardcore Kiss fans know

By Classic Rock published

Kiss played their very first gig on January 30, 1973, in front of 10 people. Half a century on, here are 50 obscure facts about the Hottest Band In The World

Late musicians David Crosby, Jeff Beck, Tina Turner and Gary Rossington

In Memoriam: remembering the rock musicians we lost in 2023

By Classic Rock published

Raising a toast to those musicians, producers, songwriters and artists who passed away in 2023