Dave Ling

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 Bites

“Iron Maiden? Don’t make me laugh. We were light years ahead of everyone”: It Bites have no regrets about their 80s arrogance

By Dave Ling published

Francis Dunnery maintains his band went over the heads of music journalists of the era – “they all work at Sainsbury’s now”

Girlschool in 1981

"Had somebody predicted we would still be around 45 years later, I’d have told ’em they were stupid:" how Girlschool silenced the doubters, including themselves

By Dave Ling published

Coming to prominence when “Girls can’t play rock” prevailed, Girlschool have long since proved otherwise

Europe in 1987

"I used to dread putting on those spandex pants. The eighties were just the worst time": Europe look back at the creation of their other classic, Rock The Night

By Dave Ling published

Given wings by producer Kevin Elson when they recorded it a second time, Rock The Night proved that there was more gold in the band’s catalogue than just The Final Countdown

Cliff Burton in 1986

"I could hear James down on the street, drunk. He was screaming, 'Cliff! Cliff! Where are you?'": What happened the night Metallica's Cliff Burton died

By Dave Ling published

On the night of September 27, 1986, a tragic accident took the life of much-loved Metallica bassist Cliff Burton

Duane Betts studio portrait

"It's all a matter of perception - Southern soul music is what I like": Duane Betts on his debut album, a famous dad, and the term 'southern rock'

By Dave Ling published

Allman Betts Band guitarist/singer Duane Betts' debut solo album Wild & Precious Life is out now

Arjen Lucassen

“All of my albums are pretty exhausting," laughs Arjen Lucassen as he tells the story of Ayreon's Transitus

By Dave Ling published

Gothic horror, prog metal and Doctor Who all come together on Ayreon's Transitus album, a love story with a difference

Ash studio portrait

Ash's Tim Wheeler on looking back, Led Zeppelin, and learning every note of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird

By Dave Ling published

Expect songs new and old on Ash's upcoming tour to celebrate new album Race The Night, and see if you can spot the Maiden influences

Dream Theater

"I felt that we were becoming stagnant, too controlled and led into areas that I didn’t feel too connected with." How Dream Theater continued their renaissance with their self titled 2013 album

By Dave Ling published

The story of Dream Theater's self-titled second album with drummer Mike Mangini

John Lees onstage

"I want to quit while I’m ahead": John Lees is taking Barclay James Harvest to Huddersfield for two final UK shows and he's bringing an orchestra

By Dave Ling published

Veteran proggers John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest play a pair of concerts this weekend backed by an 80-piece orchestra

Gong

“Gong is like a boat – people can get on and off again if they wish. It just keeps on floating down the river.” How Steve Hillage and Daevid Allen reunited after 35 years

By Dave Ling published

In 2009 the classic line-up of Gong reunited – and recorded a brand new album 2032. This is the story

Graham Nash onstage

"Someday I would love to sing Yesterday with McCartney, just an acoustic guitar and our two voices": Graham Nash may be 81, but he still has unfinished business

By Dave Ling published

On his current tour Graham Nash will be rolling back the years with songs from throughout his lengthy career as his "amazing journey" continues

Fates Warning

“I loaded a truck with a bed and other household items… If the cops had pulled us over I’d have been busted”: The law-stretching story of what could be Fates Warning’s last album

By Dave Ling published

2020’s Long Day Good Night was completed during lockdown, with singer Ray Alder pushing his luck to track his parts

Ray Alder

“The band didn’t break up. It’s just that there won’t be any more new music. And I need an outlet; music has been my life for over 30 years”: Fates Warning’s Ray Alder looks ahead

By Dave Ling published

Singer explains why he gets involved in so many projects

Kansas onstage

“From that day on, wherever we were we turned on the radio and heard ourselves": the song that sought truth and meaning and turned Kansas into superstars

By Dave Ling published

A last-minute songwriting golden moment that might have had help from ‘above’, Carry On Wayward Son took Kansas – a band on the brink of success – to major stardom

Asia taking a bow onstage

“Prog still lived deeply inside the four of us, but with Asia we sliced away the fat": How Heat Of The Moment turned Asia into a lean, mean, multi-million selling machine

By Dave Ling published

By the early 80s, in the wake of new wave and disco fever, supergroup Asia coined a pared-down version of the prog-rock sound

Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson and Bon Scott onstage

The 50 best AC/DC songs ever

By Fraser Lewry published

From Sydney streets to world domination, AC/DC have never strayed from the path during five decades of unwavering commitment to the cause of righteous rock'n'roll

Marillion backstage in 1985

"In all honesty I’d forgotten how good we were back then": former Marillion frontman Fish on Kayleigh, the song that changed the band for better and worse

By Dave Ling published

Kayleigh was a composite of singer Fish's ex-girlfriends, the lost lover lending her invented name to a new generation of young girls

King's X

"At almost 72, I’m realising that there are things I won’t be able to do forever, such as singing Over My Head." The return of King's X with Three Sides Of One

By Dave Ling published

After a gap of 15 years Texan heavy prog rockers King's X delighted fans by signing with InsideOut Music and releasing new album Three Sides Of One

Segments of four Iron Maiden single covers

The 20 most underrated Iron Maiden songs

By Dave Ling, Dave Everley published

Everyone knows the anthems – but these are the songs that Maiden connoisseurs know rule

Whitesnake in 1987

"I've read that David wrote it after his marriage broke up, or that it was written on a boat in Venezuela": The story behind Whitesnake's Here I Go Again

By Dave Ling published

Here I Go Again began as a two-track demo, but it propelled Whitesnake from journeyman Brit rockers to US chart-topping stardom

Raven larking about

"We know we’re good - As a live band nobody can touch us": Even after almost 50 years, Raven are still playing it hot, playing it hard and playing it loud

By Dave Ling published

Athletic rockers Raven reveal why they're better than Rammstein, ponder the reversal of their relationship with Metallica, and say why they'll never play Download

Rick Springfield close-up

"I don't know if she's aware that Jessie’s Girl is about her": The true story of the Rick Springfield song that turned him into a superstar

By Dave Ling published

Rick Springfield's 1981 hit Jessie's Girl elevated him from soap star to new wave icon - he recalls how the song came to life, and the girl who inspired it

Graham Nash and David Crosby onstage in 2014

“I waited for the call from David but it never came. Two days later he was dead”: Graham Nash and David Crosby were on the verge of reconciling earlier this year

By Classic Rock published

Graham Nash reveals he came close to patching up his friendship with former Crosby, Stills & Nash bandmate David Crosby days before before Crosby’s death

Glenn Hughes onstage

"We did have a couple of séances, but I didn't see any ghosts, though I know the place was haunted": Glenn Hughes on the recording of Deep Purple's Burn

By Dave Ling published

Bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes on joining Deep Purple, almost joining Rainbow, leaving the Dead Daisies, the future of Black Country Communion, and 50 years of Burn

The Defiants press shot

"At this point we certainly don't do it for fame or money, because there is none to be had": The Defiants' new album is a throwback to better days

By Dave Ling published

Former Danger Danger men The Defiants' new album might not give them a Pyromania moment, but their classy AOR will put smiles on a lot of faces