Articles by Neil Jeffries

Freelance contributor to Classic Rock and several of its offshoots since 2006. In the 1980s he began a 15-year spell working for Kerrang! intially as a cub reviewer and later as Geoff Barton’s deputy and then pouring precious metal into test tubes as editor of its Special Projects division. Has spent quality time with Robert Plant, Keith Richards, Ritchie Blackmore, Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore – and also spent time in a maximum security prison alongside Love/Hate. Loves Rush, Aerosmith and beer. Will work for food.

Articles by: Neil Jeffries

"This guy Bon Scott sounds like he’s got peanut butter stuck to the roof of his mouth!": Megadeth's Dave Mustaine on how AC/DC changed his life

By Neil Jeffries published 3 August 23

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine on how Let There Be Rock – and a girl called Cindy – blew his mind

Eric Clapton - The Definitive 24 Nights cover art

Eric Clapton's deluxe upgrade of 24 Nights: a hits collection and a collectors dream

By Neil Jeffries published 24 June 23

The Definitive 24 Nights is a deluxe upgrade of the original 24 Nights, the celebration of Eric Clapton's early ’90s Royal Albert Hall residencies

Hanoi Rocks: The Days We Spent Underground 1981-1984 cover art

Hanoi Rocks' first five albums repackaged: No bells, no whistles, but what a beautiful noise

By Neil Jeffries published 25 May 23

Hanoi Rocks: The Days We Spent Underground 1981-1984 celebrates the pre-major label days of the band who reinvented the template for high-energy, sleazy rock’n’roll

Blackmore’s Night: Shadow Of The Moon (25th Anniversary edition) cover art

Ritchie Blackmore's "private music" celebrates its 25th birthday with another public outing

By Neil Jeffries published 10 March 23

Originally greeted by a mixture of controversy and ridicule, Blackmore’s Night's Shadow Of The Moon has improved with age

On the Winery Dogs' third album it's the wizardry that lingers, not the songs

By Neil Jeffries published 5 February 23

Who let Messrs Kotzen, Sheehan and Portnoy out again?

Thin Lizzy - Live And Dangerous deluxe edition packshot

Thin Lizzy's Live And Dangerous: now more live and more dangerous than ever

By Neil Jeffries published 23 January 23

Thin Lizzy's Live And Dangerous a.k.a. The Greatest Live Album Of All Time – reissued alongside the seven shows recorded to make it

Lee Aaron: pop music in leather trousers, and not in as good way

By Neil Jeffries published 25 November 22

Canadian ‘Metal Queen’ Lee Aaron gets a fresh polish, 40 years after her debut

Guns N' Roses: a super deluxe reminder of a band who were never the same again

By Neil Jeffries published 11 November 22

If the original 30 Use Your Illusion tracks weren’t enough for you, here’s a box set that adds 47 contemporaneous live performances

O.R.k pitch gentle dexterity against bludgeon on the beautiful Screamnasium

By Neil Jeffries published 22 October 22

Screamnasium is the fourth album from Anglo-Italian proggers O.R.k

Rory Gallagher: Deuce (50th Anniversary) cover art

Rory Gallagher's Deuce expanded and remixed but still sounding good at 50

By Neil Jeffries published 30 September 22

Late Irish bluesmaster Rory Gallagher's second album gets the bells-and-whistles treatment

Kid Kapichi: Here's What You Could Have Won cover art

If Britain is going to hell in a handcart then Kid Kapichi are the soundtrack

By Neil Jeffries published 23 September 22

Here's What You Could Have Won is a series of potent rants from Kid Kapichi, Hastings’ four angriest young men

Marco Mendoza belts out the anthemic power pop metal on New Direction

By Neil Jeffries published 16 September 22

New Direction is the fourth solo album from much-travelled singing bassist Marco Mendoza

Mike Tramp's new album is gentle, melodic, and entirely in Danish

By Neil Jeffries published 2 September 22

Mike Tramp's memories of Denmark are sung in his native tongue on 13th studio album For Første Gang

Every Rush album ranked from worst to best

By Neil Jeffries last updated 30 August 22

Canada's prog rock heroes have amassed an immense discography over a 50 year career. Here's every album ranked

Neil Young + Promise Of The Real: Noise & Flower cover art

Neil Young's Noise & Flowers: a heartfelt tribute to a fallen friend

By Neil Jeffries published 5 August 22

Twentieth-century gems from Neil Young, performed live in 2019 with Promise Of The Real

Bernie Marsden has delivered another master class in rock history

By Neil Jeffries published 5 August 22

Bernie Marsden latest album pays tribute to guitar heroes and the art of the power trio

Whiskey Myers swagger confidently into southern rock's promised land

By Neil Jeffries published 29 July 22

Southern rock’s brightest stars Whiskey Myers turn up the dazzle on sixth album Tornillo

Beth Blade & The Beautiful Disasters: Mythos, Confession, Tragedy & Love cover art

Beth Blade & The Beautiful Disasters are polished and poised for stardom

By Neil Jeffries published 8 July 22

Third album Mythos, Confession, Tragedy & Love delivers a sound powerful enough to match Beth McDonald’s extraordinary voice

Dan Reed Network: Let's Hear It For The King cover art

Dan Reed Network's new album is funky, dripping with melody, and a joy to hear

By Neil Jeffries published 17 June 22

Funk-rock lives. Dance to the hills!

Argent: Hold Your Head Up - The Best Of Argent cover art

Argent's latest collection reveals them to be ripe for rediscovery

By Neil Jeffries published 3 June 22

Mixing proggy keyboards with radio-friendly hits, early-70s also-rans Argent sound far more vital today

Def Leppard: Diamond Star Halos cover art

Def Leppard have just released their best album in 30 years

By Neil Jeffries published 27 May 22

Def Leppard studio album number 12 Diamond Star Halos is a sparkling set that proves there’s life in these old cats yet

Cave In explore the noisy landscape between grunge and metalcore on Heavy Pendulum

By Neil Jeffries published 20 May 22

Massachusetts heavyweights Cave In return with first full album in 11 years, Heavy Pendulum

John Illsley's VIII: a decent album with fining playing but skip the Beatles cover

By Neil Jeffries published 6 May 22

The eighth solo album by former Dire Straits bassist John Illsley reconfirms his allegiance to their signature sound

Suzi Quatro: Back To The Spotlight cover art

Jeff Beck? Rihanna? Goldfrapp? It can only be a Suzi Quatro reissue

By Neil Jeffries published 15 April 22

The two albums that sparked Suzi Quatro's 21st-century renaissance have been repackaged as a satisfactory single set

Moving Pictures (40th Anniversary) cover art

The 40th anniversary edition of Rush's Moving Pictures is a goddamn treasure

By Neil Jeffries published 15 April 22

Rush's impossibly good eighth studio album Moving Pictures is now boosted by complete hometown live set

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