Henry Yates

Henry Yates

Henry Yates has been a freelance journalist since 2002 and written about music for titles including The Guardian, The Telegraph, NME, Classic Rock, Guitarist, Total Guitar and Metal Hammer. He is the author of Walter Trout's official biography, Rescued From Reality, a music pundit on Times Radio and BBC TV, and an interviewer who has spoken to Brian May, Jimmy Page, Ozzy Osbourne, Ronnie Wood, Dave Grohl, Marilyn Manson, Kiefer Sutherland and many more. 

Articles by: Henry Yates

Thundermother - Heatwave

Thundermother's Heat Wave: not a death rattle but a battle cry

By Henry Yates published

Strikingly hooky return on Heat Wave from regenerated Swedes Thundermother

Spinal Tap

The 10 best scenes from This Is Spinal Tap - and the inspiration behind them

By Henry Yates published

Released in 1984, Spinal Tap's satirical take on the world of heavy metal was brilliantly funny – and painfully accurate

Muddy Waters onstage

Muddy Waters: a guide to his best albums

By Henry Yates published

The best albums from Muddy Waters, the electric warrior of fine blues who mobilised the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton

Bryan Adams in 1983

Bryan Adams: the surprisingly sexual story of Summer Of '69

By Henry Yates published

Bryan Adams’ hit single Summer Of '69 wasn’t about childhood innocence and forgotten friendships – it was an ode to topsy-turvy lurve-makin’

Steve Earle & The Dukes: Ghosts Of West Virginia

Steve Earle's Ghosts of West Virginia: an undeniably powerful, angry work

By Henry Yates published

Veteran Steve Earle rages on retelling of 2010 West Virginia mining disaster

The Freddie Mercury statue by Lake Geneva

The Last Goodbye: How Queen made Innuendo and Made In Heaven

By Henry Yates published

Even as his time ran out, Freddie Mercury was the driving force behind Queen’s 1991 album Innuendo and the voice from beyond the grave on 1995’s Made In Heaven. Here’s how Queen went out with a bang

Jeff HEaley

The story of the great 'lost' Jeff Healey album, Heal My Soul

By Henry Yates last updated

Jeff Healey arguably never sounded more alive than on his lost album, Heal My Soul

Ace Frehley in 1974

Ace Frehley interview: street gangs, stabbings, and Paul Stanley's IQ

By Henry Yates last updated

Former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley answers rock's heaviest questions

The Story Behind The Song: Anthrax and Public Enemy’s Bring The Noise

By Henry Yates last updated

How thrash kingpins Anthrax and hip hop titans Public Enemy created the greatest rap-metal song of all

Argent

Argent - God Gave Rock And Roll To You: the story behind the song

By Henry Yates published

Now a rock anthem, Argent's God Gave Rock And Roll To You was written under the storm cloud of cancer and enjoyed a superstar second wind

Interview: Neal Schon

By Henry Yates last updated

The Journey lynchpin on sobriety, nagging spouses and that long-awaited Santana album.

Glenn Hughes

Glenn Hughes interview: "we’re all gonna die... so live each day"

By Henry Yates last updated

Glenn Hughes on health and happiness, looking back at Black Country Communion, and joining The Dead Daisies

50 Years Of Heavy Metal Playlist

50 years, 50 tracks: the Ultimate Heavy Metal Playlist

By Geoff Barton, Malcolm Dome, Lee Dorrian, Ian Fortnam, Paul Henderson, Dave Ling, Sian Llewellyn, Scott Rowley, Jonathan Selzer, Henry Yates, Fraser Lewry last updated

As humanity celebrates 50 years of heavy metal, here’s half a century’s worth of pioneering heavy music, from the classics to the contemporary hard-hitters

The Darkness - Easter Is Cancelled

Christmas comes early on The Darkness's sixth album Easter Is Cancelled

By Henry Yates published

Merry men The Darkness tread winning tightrope between sublime and ridiculous on Easter Is Cancelled

Henry's Funeral Shoe

The 5 best new blues albums you need to hear right now

By Henry Yates published

New releases from Henry’s Funeral Shoe, Kris Barras Band, P.P. Arnold, Sunjay and Katie Brooks

Hollis Brown

Hollis Brown: making a blood-spattered journey from the garage to the stars

By Henry Yates published

Six things you need to know about New York rising stars Hollis Brown

Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac's wild ride: the story of the Blues Years

By Henry Yates published

From 1967 to 1974, Fleetwood Mac teetered on the line between triumph and oblivion. Co-founder Mick Fleetwood recalls the band’s early years…

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix: the life and times of a genius

By Max Bell, Johnny Black, Rob Hughes, Hugh Fielder, Ken Sharp, Mick Wall, Henry Yates published

Classic Rock talks to Jimi Hendrix's friends, admirers and other musicians about his life and importance

Jack White

How to buy the very best of Jack White

By Henry Yates published

From The White Stripes to The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather and beyond, Jack White is Detroit's favourite son...

Pearl Jam

Every song on Pearl Jam's Ten ranked from worst to best

By Henry Yates published

Pearl Jam's Ten lit grunge's blue touch paper then retreated to a safe distance to watch everything explode. Here's every track, re-ordered from worst to best

Brian May interview

Brian May interview: how Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody movie was made

By Henry Yates published

Exclusive! Brian May interview: The Queen guitarist on Rami Malek, Roger Taylor's socks, and what Freddie would have made of it all...

Ace Frehley - Spaceman

Ace Frehley - Spaceman album review

By Henry Yates published

While his guitar playing can still thrill, words fail former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley

Scorpions in 1979

6 of the best Scorpions songs, as chosen by Dave Mustaine

By Henry Yates published

Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine selects half a dozen classics from Klaus Meine and Co...

John Mayall & The Story of the Lost & Legendary Bluesbreakers Lineup

By Henry Yates published

The mythologised Bluesbreakers line-up of John Mayall, Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood never made a studio album and shattered after just three months.

The Trial Of Oli Brown

By Henry Yates published

Former Brit-blues wonderboy Oli Brown stands accused of betraying the scene with his new hard rock trio RavenEye. Will the defendant please rise…