Classic Rock

Every month Classic Rock is packed with exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes features on rock’s biggest names, from Led Zeppelin to Deep Purple, from Guns N’ Roses to the Rolling Stones, from the Sex Pistols to AC/DC and beyond. Each issue plays host to the heftiest rock reviews section on the planet. In an average issue, you’ll find over 150 albums reviewed, all from the ever-varied, multi-faceted world of rock - whether it’s hard rock or heavy metal, prog or punk, goth rock or southern rock, we’ve got it covered.

This month’s contributors

WELCOME

CLASSIC Rock

THREE-D MERCURY • Brian May’s stereo photos collated for new exhibition.

Tony McPhee

RIP • Thank you… and good night.

Mick Hutson • Hanging out of helicopters, stopping the New York traffic, sweet-talking kidnappers: a celebration of Mick Hutson, music photographer.

Raven • Even after almost 50 years they're sticking to their MO: playing it hot, playing it hard and playing it loud.

Powder Chutes • Three of them might be still at school, but their blending of rock styles is far from just kids’ stuff.

Royal Thunder • For a while it looked like the Thunder would rumble no more, but they’re back with a new album of fresh ideas.

Gráinne Duffy • The guitarist talks about giving birth, AI songwriting, and being compared to a blues-rock legend.

Gallus • Young Scots on the up, they’ve already won a ‘best rock/alternative band’ award.

Rush • Musically it was influenced by some of the newer bands they were listening to, and sonically it took Rush further into the world of synthesisers – and not all of the trio were happy about that.

Lucinda Williams • The singer-songwriter on post-stroke recovery, losing the ability to play guitar, and the thrill of a Bruce Springsteen cameo.

AC/DC/50 • 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of AC/DC – half a century of riffs, rambunctiousness, schoolboy uniforms and some of the greatest rock’n’roll music ever created.

"I PLAYED HIGH VOLTAGE FOR FIVE MONTHS STRAIGHTS" • Saxon’s Biff Byford on how AC/DC’s debut album changed his life for ever.

"THEY'RE THIS MYTHOLOGICAL VALHALLA BAN FROM DOWN UNDER" • Reef frontman Gary Stringer salutes the genius of High Voltage.

"IT WAS A RETURN TO FROM" • The Answer’s Cormac Neeson on Black Ice, and talking Father Ted with Brian Johnson

"BACK IN BLACK IS ON ANOTHER LEVEL" • Kiss frontman and guitarist Paul Stanley celebrates the album that turned AC/DC into superstars.

"I GOT CHILLS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD IT" • King’s X frontman Dug Pinnick on the magic of If You Want Blood You’ve Got It – and jamming with Brian Johnson.

"THEY GOT BACK TO THE ESSENCE" • Stiff Upper Lip is the closest late AC/DC came to a Bon Scott album, according to Warner E Hodges.

"BIG BALLS MADE MY DAD LAUGH SO HARD" • Wolfgang Van Halen on how he bonded with his dad Eddie over Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.

"HIGHWAY TO HELL IS THE ULTIMATE 'HOWAY THE LADS!'ANTHEM • Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen on jamming Chuck Berry songs with AC/DC and introducing Bon Scott to Mexican food.

"PEOPLE ASSUMED THEY WERE DONE" • Massive Wagons’ Baz Mills on Power Up, the AC/DC album no one thought we’d get.

"AC/DC HAD BECOME EVERYBODY'S BAND" • Ex-Megadeth bassist David Ellefson on an album that had to follow a monster.

"IT ISN'T ROCKET SCINCE. IT'S PURE ROCK'N'ROLL" • Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott on the genius of AC/DC’s Powerage – and why he still owes Bon Scott a tenner.

"BON SCOTT WAS LIKE A STEINWAY PIANO" • Ugly Kid Joe’s Whitfield Crane bows...