The new Classic Rock tells the story of the birth of NWOBHM. It's on sale now

Cover Feature

In the late 70s, rock music was given a steel-booted kick up the backside by a new breed of band. The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal would go on to rule Britannia – and the world. Classic Rock 237 tells the full, remarkable story, and there’s four different covers to choose from…

Features

You may like

Aerosmith
As they prepare for shows that may or may not be their last, we catch up with Toxic Twins Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.

Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin III was panned by the critics and the fans didn’t get it. But was it actually their most important album?

Jason Isbell
We met the Drive-By Trucker-turned-countrified singer-songwriter, on the cusp of his most rock’n’roll solo album yet.

Marillion
A Dutch holiday camp full of devout Marillion fans, hanging out with Marillion themselves? What could go wrong?!

The Who
In 1967 they embarked on their first ever US tour. Cue madness, exploding toilets, stinking fish, cop chases…

Black Lips
The gonzoid punks have played some of rock’s most outrageous shows and been chased out of countries. Has the anarchy lessened over the years?

Manic Street Preachers
Ten years after its release, Bradfield and co. look back on the album that saved their career: Send Away The Tigers.

What’s on your FREE CD?

Listen Up!
Fifteen freshly mined slabs of the best new rock, including The Magpie Salute, Afghan Whigs, Black Lips, Low Cut Connie and more…

And there’s a FREE 98-page book book!

Cult Heroes 10 classic stories from Classic Rock’s back pages, including Spooky Tooth, Montrose, MC5, Foghat, Mother Love Bone, Grand Funk Railroad, Little Angels, Vinegar Joe, Arthur Brown and Blue Cheer.

Regulars

The Dirt
As the epic Iron Maiden UK tour reaches the end of its UK leg, Classic Rock catch them in Nottingham… Pink Floyd’s long-awaited V&A exhibition opens its doors… Welcome back Anathema, Brother Firetribe and Royal Trux … Say hello to Brothers Osbourne, Hunter & The Bear and The Weeks, say goodbye to Allan Holdsworth, J Geils, Keni Richards…

Raw Power
Check out the Steven Wilson ID Series Signature acoustic guitar from Jeff Babicz.

The Stories Behind The Songs: The Police
We take a look at the making of The Police’s mega-hit Message In A Bottle.

Q&A: Gary Brooker
The Procol Harum man talks new music, lyricists and falling off logs in Finland.

Reviews
New albums from Roger Waters, Cheap Trick, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Anathema, Chuck Berry, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Big Big Train, Danzig… Reissues from Iron Maiden, Foreigner, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Status Quo, The Beatles, Can, Jethro Tull… DVDs, films and books on Queen, The Who, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Noise Records… Live reviews of The Who, The Magpie Salute, Pretenders, Steve Hackett, Moon Duo…

Buyer’s Guide: Robin Trower
Your essential guide to the impressive, sometimes overlooked back catalogue of ‘the white Hendrix’.

Live Previews
Must-see gigs from John Otway, Skids, Alter Bridge, Vintage Trouble and Jesus Jones. Plus full gig listings – find out who’s playing where and when.

Heavy Load: John Mellencamp
The former Cougar on celebrity, hypocrisy and not giving a fuck about anything.

The new Classic Rock is on sale now. It can also be read, alongside the latest issues of Metal Hammer and Prog, online at TeamRock+.

Classic Rock

Classic Rock is the online home of the world's best rock'n'roll magazine. We bring you breaking news, exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes features, as well as unrivalled access to the biggest names in rock music; from Led Zeppelin to Deep Purple, Guns N’ Roses to the Rolling Stones, AC/DC to the Sex Pistols, and everything in between. Our expert writers bring you the very best on established and emerging bands plus everything you need to know about the mightiest new music releases.

Read more
Classic Rock 337 - with Iron Maiden's Eddie on the cover
Celebrating 50 years of Iron Maiden with exclusive all-new interviews - only in the new issue of Classic Rock
The cover of Classic Rock 338, featuring The Doors
Sex! Jazz! LSD! The Doors' Robby Krieger and John Densmore on their extraordinary ride - only in the new issue of Classic Rock
The cover of Classic Rock 336, featuring Rush's 'starman' logo
Celebrating 50 Years Of Rush: an exclusive new interview with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson - only in the new issue of Classic Rock
Prog 158
Jethro Tull grace the cover of the new issue of Prog Magazine, which is on sale now!
Prog 157
Steven Wilson's return to the prog fold features on the front cover of the new issue of Prog Magazine, which is on sale now!
Matt Heafy and Matt Tuck pulling scary faces
"We got **** in the press, we got bullied...but we’ve had the same trajectory." Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium are together on the cover of Metal Hammer for the first time ever
Latest in
Queen posing for a photograph in 1978
"Freddie’s ideas were off the wall and cheeky and different, and we tended to encourage them, but sometimes they were not brilliant.” Queen's Brian May reveals one of Freddie Mercury's grand ideas that got vetoed by the rest of the band
Mogwai
“The concept of cool and uncool is completely gone, which is good and bad… people are unashamedly listening to Rick Astley. You’ve got to draw a line somewhere!” Mogwai and the making of prog-curious album The Bad Fire
Adrian Smith performing with Iron Maiden in 2024
Adrian Smith names his favourite Iron Maiden song, even though it’s “awkward” to play
Robert Smith, Lauren Mayberry, Bono
How your purchase of albums by The Cure, U2, Chvrches and more on Record Store Day can help benefit children living in war zones worldwide
Cradle Of Filth performing in 2021 and Ed Sheeran in 2024
Cradle Of Filth’s singer claims Ed Sheeran tried to turn a Toys R Us into a live music venue
The Beatles in 1962
"The quality is unreal. How is this even possible to have?" Record shop owner finds 1962 Beatles' audition tape that a British label famously decided wasn't good enough to earn Lennon and McCartney's band a record deal
Latest in News
Queen posing for a photograph in 1978
"Freddie’s ideas were off the wall and cheeky and different, and we tended to encourage them, but sometimes they were not brilliant.” Queen's Brian May reveals one of Freddie Mercury's grand ideas that got vetoed by the rest of the band
Adrian Smith performing with Iron Maiden in 2024
Adrian Smith names his favourite Iron Maiden song, even though it’s “awkward” to play
Robert Smith, Lauren Mayberry, Bono
How your purchase of albums by The Cure, U2, Chvrches and more on Record Store Day can help benefit children living in war zones worldwide
Cradle Of Filth performing in 2021 and Ed Sheeran in 2024
Cradle Of Filth’s singer claims Ed Sheeran tried to turn a Toys R Us into a live music venue
The Beatles in 1962
"The quality is unreal. How is this even possible to have?" Record shop owner finds 1962 Beatles' audition tape that a British label famously decided wasn't good enough to earn Lennon and McCartney's band a record deal
Lizzo and Sister Rosetta Tharpe onstage
"This is my baby, my passion – because Rosetta deserves": Lizzo to play rock'n'roll pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe in upcoming biopic