Classic Rock

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.

Articles by: Classic Rock

Ozzy Osbourne onstage and flashing his backside

“Ozzy did a great big turd on his car”: how Ozzy Osbourne got his revenge on a promoter who refused to pay him after a disastrous gig

By Classic Rock published

Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler looks back on his disastrous first gig with Ozzy Osbourne – and the ‘dirty protest’ that followed

Queen in the early 1970s and X-Ray Spex’s Poly Styrene onstage in 1978

“Sir, are you married?”: the unlikely connection between Queen’s Brian May and punk band X-Ray Spex

By Classic Rock published

Queen guitarist Brian May crossed paths with a punk icon years before either was famous

Yes guitarist Steve Howe and former Yes singer Jon Anderson

Yes guitarist Steve Howe on a potential reunion with Jon Anderson: “I love Jon – but the only terms I work on is that I’m happy”

By Classic Rock published

Yes’ Steve Howe addresses ex-bandmates, potential reunions and that turbulent Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame appearance in the brand new issue of Classic Rock

Axl Rose and Slash of Guns N’ Roses onstage at Glastonbury

Guns N’ Roses bring out Dave Grohl for their Glastonbury headlining set – but the air-guitaring sign language interpreters win the night

By Classic Rock published

Here’s the full setlist and reactions to Guns N’ Roses’ Glastonbury set – including Dave Grohl and some epic air drumming from the BBC’s British Sign Language interpreters

Motley Crue’s Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx playing live

Mick Mars accuses Mötley Crüe of “trying to take my legacy away”, Nikki Sixx says he’s in a “complete hallucination”

By Classic Rock published

The war of words between ex-Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars and his former bandmates has escalated in a new interview

Eddie Van Halen and Brian May together

Brian May salutes the genius of Eddie Van Halen: “It was like watching Hendrix for the first time”

By Classic Rock published

Queen guitarist Brian May looks back on working with “incredible” Eddie Van Halen on the Star Fleet Project mini album

The covers of Molly Hatchet’s Flirtin’ With Disaster, Allman Brothers Band’sEat A Peach, Lnyrd Skynyrd’s Pronounced Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top’s Tres Hombres and Drive-By Truckers’ Decoration Day

A beginner’s guide to Southern Rock in 5 albums

By Classic Rock published

Southern Rock is inextricably tied to the land and character of the American South - and here are five albums that tell its tale

Aerosmith atthe 2018 Grammy Awards

Joe Perry: “I don’t know if there’ll be a new Aerosmith album”

By Classic Rock published

“If we get time to work on some new music, that would be great,” says Aerosmith guitarist of follow up to 2012’s Music From Another Dimension

Blondie’s Clem Burke, Sex PIstols’ Glen Matlock, Bay City Rollers’ Eric Faulkner

The world nearly got a supergroup featuring members of the Sex Pistols, Blondie and the Bay City Rollers

By Classic Rock published

Blondie’s drummer, the ex-Sex Pistols bassist, the Bay City Rollers’ guitarist and Paul Weller nearly made up punk’s weirdest supergroup

The covers of Rainbow’s Rising, Lou Reed’s Transformer, Meat Loaf’s Bat Out Of Hell and Foo Fighters’ The Colour And The Shape

20 bands whose second album is the best thing they ever did

By Classic Rock published

The bands who defied the sophomore slump to deliver the greatest albums of their career

Joe Perry and Steven Tyler at an awards ceremony

Aerosmith’s Joe Perry on his turbulent relationship with Steven Tyler: “He’s probably my best friend”

By Classic Rock published

In an exclusive new interview with Classic Rock, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry looks back on his eventful 50-year friendship with Steven Tyler

Guns N’ Roses with Alice Cooper

How Alice Cooper ended up singing on a forgotten Guns N’ Roses classic: “Axl called me at two in the morning!”

By Classic Rock published

When GN’R wanted to add some hard rock sneer to a Use Your Illusion track, Alice Cooper was the only person to call

PeMontage featuring Peter Murphy, Robert Smith and Siouxsie Sioux

The first 30 years of Goth in 30 records

By Classic Rock last updated

The albums, singles and tracks shaped goth music over three decades of glorious gloom, 1979 - 2008

The classic line-up of Guns N’ Roses against a red background

Vote for the best Guns N' Roses song of all time

By Classic Rock published

Guns N’ Roses have recorded some of the greatest rock’n’roll songs in history – and we want you to tell us which ones you think are best

Rock Imperium 2023 lineup

Rock Imperium Festival is packing a rock fan's dream lineup - and all in one of sunny Spain's finest locations

By Classic Rock published

Take the chance to see Kiss for the final time in Spain, alongside the likes of Deep Purple, Helloween, Europe and many more
Brian Johnson onstage in 1980

How Brian Johnson joined AC/DC: a strange German, a hoover ad, and an awful pie

By Classic Rock published

Brian Johnson tells the true story behind his AC/DC audition in 1980, complete with multiple comedy accents

Wolfgang Van Halen

"Guys what should my new name be? Wolfgang Led Zeppelin? Wolfgang AC/DC?" Wolfgang VH shares hilarious new Mammoth WVH video, slays Twitter trolls

By Classic Rock published

If you're gonna come for Wolfgang Van Halen, you better come correct

AC/DC albums ranked from worst to best

Every AC/DC album ranked, from worst to best – the ultimate guide

By Classic Rock last updated

Updated From Powerage to Power Up, from Back in Black to Black Ice, from Rock Or Bust to... you get the idea. These are AC/DC's albums ranked, from worst to best

Van Halen in 1977

How Van Halen's debut album changed everything, by the guitarists it changed

By Classic Rock published

Jason Becker, John 5, Alex Skolnick, Paul Gilbert, Bruce Kulick, Myles Kennedy and others look back at the astonishing impact of Van Halen's first album

Nickelback 2022

Nickelback announce 38-city Get Rollin' tour across North America

By Classic Rock published

Canadian radio-rock monsters Nickelback are hitting the road this summer for a suitably king-sized tour of the US and Canada

David Crosby in Japan, 1975

The music world reacts to the death of David Crosby: "David was fearless in life and in music. He leaves behind a tremendous void"

By Classic Rock published

Graham Nash, Brian Wilson, Billy Corgan, Melissa Etheridge and more pay tribute to American singer/songwriter legend David Crosby, dead at 81

Steve Vai

Steve Vai announces lengthy European tour

By Classic Rock published

Guitar maestro Steve Vai will tour Europe in the springtime

The late Jeff Beck, onstage at London's Royal Albert Hall in 2014

"An outstanding, iconic, genius guitar player": Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi lead rock world tributes to Jeff Beck

By Classic Rock published

Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Ozzy Osbourne, Brian May, Ronnie Wood, Tony Iommi and more salute the life and legacy of the late Jeff Beck

Adam Lambert in the video for Ordinary World

Listen to Adam Lambert's atmospheric cover of Duran Duran's Ordinary World from forthcoming covers album High Drama

By Classic Rock published

Queen's Brian May encourages his social media followers to purchase Adam Lambert's first ever covers album

Joe Elliott and Demi Lovato

Def Leppard's Joe Elliott nominates Demi Lovato's Holy Fvck as the best rock album of 2022

By Classic Rock published

Interviewed in the new issue of Classic Rock magazine, Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott selects his albums of the year