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

"We know we’re good - As a live band nobody can touch us": Even after almost 50 years, Raven are still playing it hot, playing it hard and playing it loud

By Dave Ling published 24 August 23

Athletic rockers Raven reveal why they're better than Rammstein, ponder the reversal of their relationship with Metallica, and say why they'll never play Download

"I don't know if she's aware that Jessie’s Girl is about her": The true story of the Rick Springfield song that turned him into a superstar

By Dave Ling published 23 August 23

Rick Springfield's 1981 hit Jessie's Girl elevated him from soap star to new wave icon - he recalls how the song came to life, and the girl who inspired it

Graham Nash and David Crosby onstage in 2014

“I waited for the call from David but it never came. Two days later he was dead”: Graham Nash and David Crosby were on the verge of reconciling earlier this year

By Classic Rock published 18 August 23

Graham Nash reveals he came close to patching up his friendship with former Crosby, Stills & Nash bandmate David Crosby days before before Crosby’s death

"We did have a couple of séances, but I didn't see any ghosts, though I know the place was haunted": Glenn Hughes on the recording of Deep Purple's Burn

By Dave Ling published 17 August 23

Bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes on joining Deep Purple, almost joining Rainbow, leaving the Dead Daisies, the future of Black Country Communion, and 50 years of Burn

"At this point we certainly don't do it for fame or money, because there is none to be had": The Defiants' new album is a throwback to better days

By Dave Ling published 15 August 23

Former Danger Danger men The Defiants' new album might not give them a Pyromania moment, but their classy AOR will put smiles on a lot of faces

A montage of album covers picked by famous musicians

30 musicians on the album that changed their life as a kid

By Classic Rock published 13 August 23

Members of Kiss, Black Sabbath, Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard, Rage Against The Machine and more reveal the albums that set them on the path to rock stardom

"Had we come along two years earlier, before grunge took over, things could have turned out better": Thunder's Luke Morley is at peace with the past

By Dave Ling published 4 August 23

Thunder guitarist Luke Morley on his new solo album, singer Danny Bowes’ illness and rehabilitation, fans’ generosity, and feeling old when hearing his songs being covered

10 bands whose best album was recorded live

By Fraser Lewry, Geoff Barton, Sleazegrinder, Paul Elliot, Dave Ling, Rob Hughes, Malcolm Dome published 27 July 23

10 live albums that remain a career pinnacle for 10 legendary bands

Guns N' Roses at the UIC Pavillion in Chicago, Illinois, August 21, 1987.

The 50 greatest Guns N’ Roses songs ever, and the stories behind them

By Dave Everley published 17 July 23

Guns N' Roses changed the shape of rock'n'roll when they emerged in the mid-eighties. Here's a half-century of their very best, and the stories behind them.

Wishbone Ash's Andy Powell: the soundtrack of my life

By Dave Ling published 7 July 23

Wishbone Ash guitarist/singer Andy Powell picks his albums, artists and gigs of lasting significance, and names the guitarist who "led the way in music and fashion, everything, really"

"This is my first album where nobody dies" - The White Buffalo

By Dave Ling published 4 July 23

As The White Buffalo a.k.a. Jake Smith prepares to embark on a European tour, he talks about stepping outside his comfort zone for the fascinating Year Of The Dark Horse

Fee Waybill onstage dressed as Quay Lude

The Tubes: Fee Waybill on departed band members, the Hollywood Vampires, and why the 80s will never die

By Dave Ling published 3 July 23

Expect theatrics, humour and some great music as The Tubes head out on the road with Alice Cooper's other band – and Quay Lewd’s 12-inch donger, of course

Winger have taken the knocks and they've been knocked out, but at least Metallica have apologised

By Dave Ling published 3 July 23

Kip Winger and Reb Beach on Winger's first album in almost a decade, that call from James Hetfield, and supporting Steel Panther: "They’re a spoof band, but we’re the ones they’re spoofing on"

"Like Starcastle fronted by Bruce Dickinson!" - how Metal Church man went prog with Presto Ballet

By Dave Ling published 28 June 23

Metal Church guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof reveals a much proggier side to his musical character with US prog outfit Presto Ballet

Billy Gibbons has an unfinished song he wrote with Jeff Beck called Chocolate Meatballs

By Dave Ling published 27 June 23

Billy Gibbons reflects on his solo shows, life without Dusty Hill, and new life with Elwood Francis

LONDON - 7th JUNE: Scottish rock band Nazareth posed by The Mall in London on 7th June 1972. Left to right: guitarist Manny Charlton, bassist Pete Agnew, vocalist Dan McCafferty and drummer Darrell Sweet.

"We’ve been a rock band, we’ve been pop stars, and then we became dinosaurs. But if you can live through the dinosaur period you become a legend..." The epic saga of Nazareth

By Dave Ling published 25 June 23

Axl is a huge fan. Robert Plant owes them money. They were almost on that plane with Skynyrd. Nazareth: the full crazy story

Island Of Love hanging on a washing line

Island Of Love: the Third Man signings hitting the sweet spot between spit and polish

By Dave Ling published 21 June 23

The first signings to the UK branch of Jack White's Third Man Records, Island Of Love's ‘nice’ songs come laced with energy and edge

"If an arrow has been shot at me, I shoot it back..." The life and career of Ronnie James Dio, in his own words

By Dave Ling published 20 June 23

The amazing life and career of a true metal legend, as explained by the man himself

The cover of Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left and and inset of Mikael Åkerfeldt

Why I ❤️ Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left, by Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt

By Dave Ling published 19 June 23

"Some of the most beautiful songs I’d ever heard": Mikael Åkerfeldt, guitarist/vocalist with Swedish proggers Opeth, on one of his biggest influences

Judas Priest's Living After Midnight single sleeve with Clint Eastwood

"I sounded like Clint Eastwood clutching a condom!" The story behind Judas Priest's Living After Midnight

By Dave Ling published 17 June 23

How John Lennon – and Rob Halford complaining that his bandmates were making a racket – inspired a metal classic

The covers of Rainbow’s Rising, Lou Reed’s Transformer, Meat Loaf’s Bat Out Of Hell and Foo Fighters’ The Colour And The Shape

20 bands whose second album is the best thing they ever did

By Classic Rock published 15 June 23

The bands who defied the sophomore slump to deliver the greatest albums of their career

Goo Goo Dolls' John Rzeznik and Robby Takac

Goo Goo Dolls: "As soon as any song comes out and becomes available to the public, that’s when I wave goodbye"

By Dave Ling published 13 June 23

As Goo Goo Dolls and Those Damn Crows head out on tour, Dolls' mainman John Rzeznik talks doing good, internet celebrity, and the differences between US and UK audiences

Chris Holmes: "I don't know any other guitarist on this planet that plays the way I do"

By Dave Ling published 12 June 23

Expect plenty of W.A.S.P. songs from former guitarist Chris Holmes when he tours this month, but don’t ask Blackie Lawless to show up

Disturbed: "Sometimes people cannot handle that a band they loved privately is shared with the world"

By Dave Ling published 30 May 23

Disturbed frontman David Draiman on a divided America, fickle fans, and their plans for Download 2023

"I hate the term 'neo prog'!" Frost* and the making of Falling Satellites

By Dave Ling published 25 May 23

Five years after he called an indefinite hiatus on the band, Jem Godfrey and Frost* returned with their third studio album Falling Satellites

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