Articles by Dave Ling, News/Lives Editor, Classic Rock

Dave Ling was a co-founder of Classic Rock magazine. His words have appeared in a variety of music publications, including RAW, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Prog, Rock Candy, Fireworks and Sounds. Dave’s life was shaped in 1974 through the purchase of a copy of Sweet’s album ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’, along with early gig experiences from Status Quo, Rush, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Yes and Queen. As a lifelong season ticket holder of Crystal Palace FC, he is completely incapable of uttering the word ‘Br***ton’.

Articles by: Dave Ling

"I've changed it all around. I now meet each fan privately, instead of all in a room together": Cherie Currie on meet & greets, fan camaraderie, and the global cabal behind a worldwide takeover

By Dave Ling published 11 November 24

Former Runaway Cherie Currie plans to play "the songs I know people love" on what will likely be her final UK tour

Love/Hate posing for a photograph on flight cases in 1990

“I’d indulge in all-night orgies of sex, violence, fighting, drinking and driving. Sometimes I even bit people on the street”: The chaotic story of Love/Hate, the greatest Sunset Strip band nobody cared about

By Dave Ling published 9 November 24

Love/Hate blazed out of late 80s LA with killer debut Blackout In The Red Room – only to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

"I can’t see us knocking Taylor Swift off the top of the charts": Balaam And The Angel are back but they're still not quite sure where they fit in

By Dave Ling published 6 November 24

Former too-rock-for-goth family affair Balaam And The Angel are about to kick off an eight-date UK tour

"Playing for fifteen people can be amazing experience if you make the night of ten of those people": Sepultura are coming to the end of the road and they're getting the crowd involved

By Dave Ling published 5 November 24

Retiring Brazillian metallers Sepultura are about to bring the hammer down on the anvil for the last time

"We almost went to prison in Eastern Europe because of Lemmy": In the 90s Terrorvision were high flyers, but the fall hit them hard. Now they're back

By Dave Ling published 5 November 24

We Are Not Robots is Terrorvision's first new album in more than a decade, and it’s full of top tunes

“We knew not everybody would like The Astonishing – we’re not blind and we’re not stupid – but we did it anyway. After a long career we reserve the right to do that”: Jordan Rudess’ life and times with Dream Theater

By Dave Ling published 4 November 24

He started out in a college so strict that he couldn’t understand prog when he first heard it. But the composer, educator and tech fan, has made the most of opportunities that came his way

“The only way of getting back on track was to regain control of just about every facet of the band”: When Mike Portnoy quit Dream Theater for the first time, the shakeup led to epic double-album Metropolis Pt. 2

By Dave Ling published 26 October 24

1999 modern prog masterpiece – their first record with Jordan Rudess – came after the dismissal of Derek Sherinian, the demise of internal “fake democracy” and fights with their label and the media

“We don’t write as proggy as we used to; we’re older and lazier, but you hear a lot on those early albums”: Doug Pinnick, who stole his sound from Chris Squire, would do everything differently if King’s X went round again

By Dave Ling published 23 October 24

Bassist/vocalist reflects on his band being called the next big thing – but also the most unsellable product of all time

Paul Di'Anno's 10 greatest performances with Iron Maiden

By Dave Ling published 22 October 24

Some fans still cite Iron Maiden's first two albums as their greatest. This is the best of Paul Di'Anno, the late, great man who sang on them

Van Halen’s Michael Anthony posing with a custom Jack Daniel’s bass in 1986

“When Eddie was singled out, I can tell you right now, I never felt any jealousy”: From Led Zeppelin to Eddie Van Halen, these are the musicians that shaped ex-Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony’s life

By Dave Ling published 19 October 24

Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones and his ex-bandmate - these are former Van Halen man Michael Anthony’s biggest musical influences

"The public needs fantasy and escapism": Creeper are gearing up for Devil's Night and a huge, pomp-filled night in North London

By Dave Ling published 14 October 24

It’ll be fangs, coffins and fake blood at Wembley Arena later this month

John Petrucci of Dream Theater performs at Mediolanum Forum of Assago on May 07, 2022 in Milan, Italy. at Mediolanum Forum on May 07, 2022 in Milan, Italy

"There are no reasons why brothers should not be able to resolve any trauma that they've been through": John Petrucci on the return of Mike Portnoy to Dream Theater

By Dave Ling published 11 October 24

With friends (and bandmates) reunited for Dream Theater’s 40th anniversary, it’ll be a special night for fans at Wembley Arena later this month

“Well-structured harmonies were important and we liked to be quite artsy… but there was pressure to become more and more commercial”: The tale of prog-tinged City Boy, who landed a hit pop-rock single and never recovered

By Dave Ling published 10 October 24

Starting as an art-rock project in the vein of 10cc or Queen, work with producer Mutt Lange and the 1978 single 5.7.0.5. let to dispute, distraction and eventual destruction after several promising proggy albums

"When all those glamour models were banging at my door, I should have opened it and let them all in": Phil Mogg on 50 years with UFO, life on the road and new band Moggs Motel

By Dave Ling published 8 October 24

Phil Mogg reveals why Moggs Motel doesn't have an apostrophe

Gov’t Mule posing for a photograph in a bar in 2015

“A whole generation of bands are standing on the brink of extinction. Look around and see how many have gone”: How Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes became one of American rock’s great unsung heroes

By Dave Ling published 6 October 24

Slash, Billy Gibbons and members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Doors – they’re all fans of Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes

"It was a watershed moment for the band, with our existence very much under threat": Steve Hackett on The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and keeping the Genesis flame alight

By Dave Ling published 19 September 24

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett's latest 'themed' tour enables him to visit "the best of both worlds"

"Hustle, write, be authentic, collaborate": Blues-rocker, radio host and award winner Elles Bailey on how to succeed in the music industry

By Dave Ling published 18 September 24

British blueser Ellles Bailey begins a UK tour in late September

"I wanted to go back to being a cult band, which is what I had sought all along": After 35 years, Monster Magnet know exactly what they want

By Dave Ling published 17 September 24

"It's all-energy. It's rock excitement, psychedelic glory and space-rock hooks" - Dave Wyndorf

"I'm an R&B singer in the body of a metal guy": Why Armored Saint recorded a cover of a Four Tops classic

By Dave Ling published 5 September 24

American metallers Armored Saint are steeling themselves for a US tour with W.A.S.P. via the magic of Motown

"We're taking a step back from the soap opera": The ongoing saga with The Quireboys ends as the Black Eyed Sons emerge from the wreckage

By Dave Ling published 5 September 24

Members of The Quireboys and Down n' Outz combine for an all-star album featuring Joe Elliott, Ryan Roxie, Charlie Starr and more

“When I heard the synth intro to The Final Countdown, my reaction was: ‘This is nuts, we can’t use this.’ Thank God they didn’t listen to me”: The epic story of Europe, the band who were more than just a one hit wonder

By Dave Ling published 31 August 24

From partying with Guns N’ Roses to pushing back against those poodle perms, this is the story of Swedish hard rock heroes Europe

"We went ahead and did it, and it exploded in everybody's faces. It was embarrassing": How UFO fell apart then found themselves again

By Dave Ling published 28 August 24

After debacles with former guitarist Michael Schenker, UFO returned with a new lineup in 2004 for another shot at the big time

Gene Simmons posing for a photograph in 2004

“I am in the Gene Simmons business. I am the biggest fan of Gene Simmons”: Happy 75th birthday to Gene Simmons, Kiss bassist and unrepentant asshole

By Dave Ling published 25 August 24

Self-confessed “asshole”, politically incorrect philanderer, money-obsessed businessman, rock superstar – god bless Gene Simmons

Guitarist Bernie Marsden from the band Whitesnake posed with guitar and Marshall amplifiers in Acton, London in October 1983.

"There has been no better ambassador for the electric guitar": Bernie Marsden, remembered

By Dave Ling published 24 August 24

Best known for co-founding Whitesnake and as a writer of some of their classic songs, Bernie Marsden spent a lifetime walking in the shadow of the blues

Blackberry Smoke's lead singer Charlie Starr performs during the first day of Toender Festival 2023, in Toender, on August 24, 2023

"Nobody wants a reggae or a hip-hop record from us": How Blackberry Smoke keep moving forwards

By Dave Ling published 21 August 24

Still dealing with the sad loss of their drummer, southern rockers Blackberry Smoke are gearing up for a European tour

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