
Dave Ling
Dave Ling was a co-founder of Classic Rock magazine. His words have appeared in a variety of music publications, including RAW, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Prog, Rock Candy, Fireworks and Sounds. Dave’s life was shaped in 1974 through the purchase of a copy of Sweet’s album ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’, along with early gig experiences from Status Quo, Rush, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Yes and Queen. As a lifelong season ticket holder of Crystal Palace FC, he is completely incapable of uttering the word ‘Br***ton’.
Latest articles by Dave Ling

Why Graham Gouldman is one of Britain’s greatest songwriters – even if people don’t know it
By Dave Ling published
The former 10cc man has written for The Yardbirds, The Hollies and more – and now he’s taking his songs on the road

The albums by Nazareth you should listen to... and one to avoid
By Dave Ling published
Although never rock A-listers, enduring Scots Nazareth have a recorded catalogue peppered with timeless bluesy rock gems. These are their best albums

The rise and fall of Starz, the 70s rockers who should been the next Kiss
By Dave Ling published
Starz were one of 70s rock’s greatest near misses

Dream Theater were drained after The Astonishing, but wrote Distance Over Time in three weeks
By Dave Ling published
The prog metal giants’ sleek, super-powerful 14th album was a conscious move away from its complex, opinion-splitting predecessor

Recorded in secret, Sweet's Fox On The Run was given a second life by the Guardians Of The Galaxy
By Dave Ling published
Recorded while their regular songwriters were away, Fox On The Run gave Sweet a huge hit and a song that would never go away

Styx fired Dennis DeYoung in 1999, but he still wants a reunion for the fans
By Dave Ling published
Co-founding singer and keyboardist on his prog influences, hiring a shouting woman to conserve his voice, taking a rock-is-dead approach to his final solo albums – and why he doesn’t care if he isn’t remembered

Carl Palmer’s lifelong desire for a life beyond classic prog
By Dave Ling published
After Emerson Lake & Palmer’s High Voltage concert, the drummer shared his thoughts on his former bandmates and pondered an unfulfilled ambition

“It’s their first time listening to prog, and they like it!” Ross Valory on his solo album
By Dave Ling published
Bassist recalls the AOR giants’ progressive early years and explains why he thinks the genre is getting stronger all the time

Uriah Heep's Mick Box on why he's calling time on Uriah Heep as a touring act
By Dave Ling published
Veteran rockers Uriah Heep are saying farewell to the road, but it’s not the end of the band

Papa Roach's Jacoby Shaddix on overnight success, the path to sobriety and the nu metal resurgence
By Dave Ling published
Papa Roach are about to bring their biggest-ever show to the UK and Jacoby Shaddix still has something to prove

The crazed story of The Quireboys, the band who had it all then partied it all away
By Dave Ling published
They've got a ballsy singer and catchy songs. Sharon Osbourne was their manager, Guns N' Roses were their mates. So why aren’t The Quireboys living in mansions?

"It's only afterwards that you realise, 'Hey, Kayak could really have been something'": the story of the Dutch proggers and their 2018 album Seventeen
By Dave Ling published
When Dutch prog rock legends Kayak released album number Seventeen, longstanding keyboard player Ton Scherpenzeel looked back and pondered what might have been

Cutting Crew's Nick Van Eede on (I Just) Died In Your Arms, gangster rap and Tanzanian bandits
By Dave Ling published
Not-one-hit-wonders Cutting Crew are about to celebrate their 40th anniversary

Bullet For My Valentine almost broke up, but a billion streams says they're ready to celebrate
By Dave Ling published
Touring with Trivium, Bullet For My Valentine will be "throwing the kitchen sink at making the show look fantastic"

Brothers Osborne's TJ Osborne on the fine line between country and rock’n’roll
By Dave Ling published
Country rockers Brothers Osborne play UK and Ireland shows in January

25 things we’re looking forward to in 2025
By Dave Ling, Polly Glass published
It's a new dawn, it's a new day, and we're feeling good - and here's 25 reasons why

How Angus and Malcolm Young turned AC/DC into the world’s biggest rock band
By Dave Ling published
AC/DC played their very first gig on New Year’s Eve 1973 – 51 years ago today

"I don’t want to be a tribute act": Joe Bonamassa on paying homage to Rory Gallagher in Ireland
By Dave Ling published
Next year, Joe Bonamassa plays the music of the late, great Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher at three special shows in Cork.

How Big Big Train broke through with The Underfall Yard, the album that nearly broke them
By Dave Ling published
Their sixth album, released in 2009, was their first with singer David Longdon and drummer Nick D'Virgilio – and it nearly broke the band

The 50 Best Rock Albums of 2024
By Classic Rock Magazine published
A-listers, established artists, up-and-comers, previously unknowns and more

Danny Bowes on the long road to recovery and his spoken word tour
By Dave Ling published
Back from the brink: Thunder vocalist Danny Bowes returns after major medical trauma

Cats In Space and Willie Dowling are on tour and cannot get enough of each other
By Dave Ling published
Pop-leaning rock band Cats In Space and multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer and producer Willie Dowling have four dates together this month

Those Damn Crows are used to big crowds, but their next show is the big step up
By Dave Ling published
Welsh rockers Those Damn Crows are going from strength to strength – we check in ahead of the biggest show of their lives
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