Articles by Peter Makowski

Pete Makowski joined Sounds music weekly aged 15 as a messenger boy, and was soon reviewing albums. When no-one at the paper wanted to review Deep Purple's Made In Japan in December 1972, Makowski did the honours. The following week the phone rang in the Sounds office. It was Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. "Thanks for the review," said Blackmore. "How would you like to come on tour with us in Europe?"

Pete had a spell as a press officer for the likes of Black Sabbath, Hawkwind, Motörhead, the New York Dolls and more. When punk hit, Makowski championed the championing the Sex Pistols, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers and The Only Ones, and played guitar in the Snivelling Shits. (The band originally only lasted for two singles but re-formed in 2018, playing five gigs, including the Rebellion Festival.) He wrote for Street Life, New Music News, Kerrang!, Soundcheck, Metal Hammer and This Is Rock. When Geoff Barton became the Editor of Sounds he introduced Makowski to photographer Ross Halfin with the words, “You’ll be bad for each other,” creating a partnership that spanned three decades and filing legend-creating stories on bands like Aerosmith, Rainbow and UFO. Halfin and Makowski went on to work on dozens of stories for Classic Rock in the 00-10s, bringing back stories that crackled with humour and insight. Pete died in November 2021.

Articles by: Peter Makowski

How Aerosmith got their wings: a look back at their classic first four albums

By Peter Makowski published 13 November 18

Drugs don’t work? No one told Aerosmith, whose use of stimulants and undoubted talent helped them go stellar

Robin Trower: From Pale Rider To Blues Brother

By Peter Makowski published 26 July 18

Robin Trower talks about his lengthy career, from pop success with Procol Harum to Hendrix clone claims and solo success

Scott Weiland: A guide to his best albums

By Peter Makowski published 17 January 18

With Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver the singer helped make some of the best hard rock albums of the early 21st century

The Turbulent Story Of The Scorpions

By Peter Makowski published 6 November 16

Whether it’s thinking about changing their name to Stalingrad, titling their album Virgin Killer or filling their big hit with lots of whistling, there’s always a sting in the Scorpions' tale

The Downward Spiral: How Scott Weiland And Velvet Revolver Fell To Pieces

By Peter Makowski published 27 October 16

Rehab, retribution and in-fighting. After an acclaimed multi-million selling debut, the wheels quickly started coming off for Velvet Revolver and their estranged and troubled singer...

Interview: Alice Cooper on God, golf, heroes and villains

By Peter Makowski published 4 August 16

Church goer, golf addict, former alcoholic, Alice Cooper has been ploughing his gore-drenched heavyrock B-movie furrow for more than 40 years, and is still showing no sign of slowing down

ZZ Top's Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons onstage

ZZ Top: The First Time I Met The Blues

By Peter Makowski published 28 July 16

Sneaking out to Texan blues joints, playing bum notes with Chuck Berry and carrying Jimmy Reed’s bottle – all part of ZZ Top’s musical schooling.

Deep Purple - Playing With Fire

By Peter Makowski published 19 July 16

Deep Purple’s teenybopper rock irked critics and failed to conquer the charts. Then came the transformation: enter leonine singer Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Blackmore's screaming Strat...

70s rockers Sharks reform

By Peter Makowski published 8 April 16

Sharks attack... again!

Scott Weiland: 1967 – 2015

By Peter Makowski published 6 December 15

“There’s people that love me and there’s people that probably think I’m a prick” - Scott Weiland, Classic Rock, 2008

The Return To Heaven And Hell

By Peter Makowski published 19 May 14

Dio’s Sabbath story wasn’t over when he left after 1992’s Dehumanizer. He would return for one final hurrah...

Dio: The Joker

By Peter Makowski published 19 May 14

It wasn’t all about dragon-slaying, you know. On tour, Dio’s humour always shone through, whether it involved wearing a gorilla mask or being mistaken for a Mafia hitman.

Welcome Back: 10cc

By Peter Makowski published 12 May 14

On May 12, 1975, 10cc released the famed single I'm Not In Love. To commemorate this, here's a feature that first appeared in Classic Rock issue 111

Q&A: Biff Byford

By Peter Makowski published 9 May 14

The NOWOBHM luminary is still leading his Saxon horde. After a decade-long eclipse during the grunge-fixated 90s and a reality TV show, he says things have never been better...

Q&A: Steve Winwood

By Peter Makowski published 8 May 14

The former Spencer Davis/Traffic frontman and R&B veteran speaks about adapting to a music industry in meltdown.

Q&A: Lemmy

By Peter Makowski published 7 May 14

In his early 60s and still a fixture on the summer festival circuit, the Motörhead mainman dispels some favourite rumours about drink, drugs and death.

Rainbow Rising: how Ritchie Blackmore aimed for the stars

By Peter Makowski published 14 April 14

Rainbow Rising was hailed as an instant classic upon its release in 1976. Ritchie Blackmore and his band reflect on that album and their rise and fall...