Articles by Dave Ling, News/Lives Editor, Classic Rock

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’.

Articles by: Dave Ling

“It’s almost like we’re so preposterously uncool that somehow we became cool”: the turbulent story of Dream Theater’s Images And Words, the album that changed the face of prog metal

By Dave Ling published 11 July 24

The turbulent story of Dream Theater’s Images And Words, the album that changed the face of prog metal

“We were on the right track at the start, but drugs and booze made us lose our way”: the explosive story of Wild Horses, the supergroup who had it all and threw it away

By Dave Ling published 6 July 24

Featuring former members of Thin Lizzy and Rainbow, Wild Horses should have been huge – but chemicals, egos and bitterness got in the way

“I didn't tell the band, but I went to the gig and sat at the back. It was strange to see this other guy singing my lines… I really felt for him”: Michael Sadler was always going to rejoin Saga, and they knew it

By Dave Ling published 5 July 24

Canadian singer’s five-year absence was long enough for his bandmates to fail the challenge of reinventing themselves

"Tony Iommi should have dropped the name and called the band something else": Black Sabbath's least-loved album re-examined, four decades on

By Classic Rock Magazine published 1 July 24

What happened when Tony Iommi brought two familiar faces back on board for Forbidden, an album produced by an extremely unexpected choice

The rock musicians battling against AI: "If they can do it to Steve and they can do it to me, what's next? How far will they go?"

By Dave Ling published 28 June 24

Exclusive: Peter Frampton and Jerry Shirley on the attempts by the owners of the Steve Marriott estate to replicate the singer's voice with AI – and why they're determined to fight it

“If it was up to me, I’d make it the Big Five”: why Testament deserve to be at thrash’s top table

By Dave Ling published 23 June 24

Testament’s 2012 album Dark Roots Of Earth was another classic from thrash’s most dependable band

"We do an incredible version of Forever Changes, close your eyes and you’re listening to the record": Arthur Lee may be gone, but Love have found a way forward

By Dave Ling published 23 June 24

Love's Forever Changes is coming to the UK in full, and if you're lucky it'll be orchestrated

"I'm just racked with self-loathing and criticism": Manic Street Preachers' bassist Nicky Wire once wanted to lacerate the world - now he's doing it to himself

By Dave Ling published 23 June 24

Nicky Wire talks about the upcoming Manics tour, Richey Edwards, Rush and the band’s next album

Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless opens for AC/DC at RCF Arena on May 25, 2024 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy

"Rock'n'roll is alive, and I need it to stay that way": The Pretty Reckless are on the road with AC/DC, and Taylor Momsen is more than ready to rock

By Dave Ling published 23 June 24

Supporting the Rolling Stones and AC/DC in the same week? Sounds like a pretty good few days

“There was alcohol, plenty of fighting, sometimes guns. That was just the women”: the wild career of Cold Chisel, the Aussie hellraisers who should have been as big as AC/DC

By Dave Ling published 22 June 24

Cold Chisel are huge stars in their native Australia, but the rest of the world barely knows who they are

Fancy a bit of heads-down, legs-apart, no-nonsense, mindless boogie? The Status Quo albums you should definitely listen to

By Dave Ling published 20 June 24

With the likes of Marguerita Time and In The Army Now lurking, you need to tread carefully while searching out Status Quo's best albums

"It's lovely to wake up in the morning and be able to remember why you got punched in the head the night before": Pete Agnew and the continuation of Nazareth

By Dave Ling published 19 June 24

With Dan McCafferty gone and their glory days behind them, Nazareth's last surviving original member, Pete Agnew, cannot imagine life without the band

Wishbone Ash's Argus was voted album of the year in 1972: Its standout track went on to influence Steely Dan, Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden

By Dave Ling published 13 June 24

With a riff claimed by both of the band’s guitarists and lyrics inspired by a summer romance, Blowin' Free became Wishbone Ash’s signature song and a rock classic

Deep Purple during the recording of Machine Head

"The freedom and joy we had, and the confidence in each other, is remarkable": Ian Gillan looks back at Deep Purple's Machine Head era

By Dave Ling published 11 June 24

With Deep Purple’s original plans for their sixth album having literally gone up in smoke, Machine Head was a triumph snatched from the jaws of disaster

Avenged Sevenfold under a blue sky in 2007

“There are five million disgraceful heavy metal bands. What’s the point of being just another Metallica imitator?”: how Avenged Sevenfold took on the haters with their epic fourth album

By Dave Ling published 8 June 24

Avenged Sevenfold’s self-titled fourth album found them ripping up their own blueprint - with brilliant results

“We had our pockets stuffed with $16,000 in $100 bills, and there were 8,000 kids in front of us in Bangkok. We caused a riot at the airport coming home”: the rise and fall of Girl, the cult glam rock band who should have been huge

By Dave Ling published 8 June 24

Swaggering and arrogant, NWOBHM-era glam rockers Girl were the biggest band in the world – at least in their own heads

"There was almost a Mafiosi-style meeting about me joining them": Richie Kotzen looks back on life in Poison, Mr Big, the Winery Dogs and more

By Dave Ling published 7 June 24

Richie Kotzen has just arrived in Europe for a lengthy tour, with UK dates in July

Scott Gorham studio portrait and his illustration 'Curiosity'

"His work can be quite disturbing. God alone knows what's going through his mind when he draws": For years Thin Lizzy's Scott Gorham kept his art secret, but all is now revealed

By Dave Ling published 5 June 24

It can only be a matter of time before a band commissions Scott Gorham to produce their album artwork

From viral sensations to superstar support: Meet Mexico’s latest rock export, The Warning

By Dave Ling published 4 June 24

Sister act The Warning have played with Foo Fighters, GN’R, Muse and more, and they're just getting started

"When I'm not interested or unavailable, I believe that Yes should carry on": Steve Howe on the future of Yes and his new version of Tales From Topographic Oceans

By Dave Ling published 31 May 24

Steve Howe on the future of Yes, the band's next leader, and why an Avatar show isn't out of the question

"Ya gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em": Deap Vally are about to play their final shows, but they've got some great memories to look back on

By Dave Ling published 31 May 24

Once described as having the scuzz of the White Stripes and Led Zeppelin’s power, Deap Vally are nearing the end

"My father had an extramarital affair with a woman from another planet": The gospel according to Arthur Brown

By Dave Ling published 23 May 24

The future looks bleak. Money isn’t everything. Embrace getting older. Simple pleasures are the best. These things and more shape the real God Of Hellfire’s world view

"Lots of careers have been made from regurgitating the same record. If I'd made millions, I'd be making jazz records": A spiky interview with Gary Moore

By Dave Ling published 21 May 24

After three spells with Thin Lizzy', the late Gary Moore turned solo artist, ditching hard rock for the music of his childhood, the blues

"I'm picking this one just to annoy Ian Paice, who doesn’t like it": Ian Gillan's five favourite Deep Purple deep cuts

By Dave Ling published 20 May 24

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan picks some personal favourites from the band's bulging catalogue

"The five of us wrote that song together in the castle’s crypt… it felt magical": Glenn Hughes' six favourite Deep Purple songs

By Dave Ling published 16 May 24

Six personal favourites from Deep Purple's other bass player

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