The story of Spin The Black Circle, the song where Pearl Jam turned away from what was expected of them
The lead single from Vitalogy turns 30 this week and now appears to be a line in the sand for the Seattle giants
Classic Rock Features
Latest Updates
“We knew not everybody would like The Astonishing”: Jordan Rudess’ life with Dream Theater
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
Gavin Friday on what being U2’s Creative Director entails
The former Virgin Prune and solo artist has been U2’s official Tell It Like It Is Correspondent since the mid-80s
The story of the 1993 single that Radiohead want you to forget about
If you thought they didn’t like Creep, wait til you hear what Thom Yorke & co. make of Pop Is Dead
What happened when Prince played Purple Rain for the first time
Prince's Purple Rain was the epic ballad that reclaimed rock for black musicians, enjoying airplay everywhere from country to rock radio
The best new rock songs you need to hear right now
Including Black Stone Cherry, CJ Wildheart, Night Flight Orchestra and five other rock-it scientists
The history of Rush’s live albums, by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson
From All The World’s A Stage to Rush In Rio, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson look back over Rush’s journey as a live band
How Lenny Kravitz brought together rock, soul and funk and became a superstar in the process
Bowie and Petty loved him, Jagger danced onstage with him, Slash jammed with him – this how Lenny Kravitz’s retro mix of rock, soul and funk made him a crossover star
How Ronnie James Dio escaped Black Sabbath and launched one of metal‘s greatest solo careers
Singer, band leader, icon – this is the story of Ronnie James Dio’s epic solo career
The triumph and tragedy of Peter Green, the man who founded Fleetwood Mac
Peter Green was one of the greatest guitarists of the late 60s British blues boom – but he never truly conquered his demons
The tumultuous inside story of Metallica’s St Anger album
In 2003, Metal Hammer flew to New York to interview Metallica ahead of St Anger. We found a band who were bruised, battered but defiant
Nils Lofgren’s wild stories of Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed and more
From The Boss to Chuck Berry, Nils Lofgren has played with them all and lived to tell the tale
The Battle Of Los Angeles at 25: how Rage Against The Machine just about kept it together to create one final masterpiece
The wheels were already beginning to come off Rage Against The Machine by 1998. Luckily, they managed to get into the studio together and prove they had one last statement to give the world
That time Ozzy mooned the audience because he didn't think they were rocking hard enough
How Bill Ward's final performance with Black Sabbath was overshadowed by Ozzy Osbourne's buttocks
The 10 best punk albums of the last decade
Never mind the bollocks - here's the greatest punk albums that have raged against austerity, Trump and so much more
Scott Gorham on Thin Lizzy's breakthrough, Phil Lynott, and why they screwed up their US tours
1976 was a pivotal year for Thin Lizzy. Guitarist Scott Gorham, one half of the band’s classic twin-guitar sound, takes a trip down memory lane
Every album by The Cramps ranked from worst to best
Celebrating the finest in American trash and kitsch culture, The Cramps played rock'n'roll at its delinquent, b-movie best
Best earplugs for concerts 2024: gig-ready hearing protection, tested by music fans and musicians
When it comes to enjoying live music, looking after our hearing is paramount, but where do you start? Our team have pulled together what we think are the best earplugs for live shows, plus we have full reviews and advice from hearing experts
Meddle marked the point where Pink Floyd as we know them really began
Their 1971 album marked the move from experimental live band to studio-based architects, paving the way for a decade of dominance
