Articles by Max Bell

Max Bell worked for the NME during the golden 70s era before running up and down London’s Fleet Street for The Times and all the other hot-metal dailies. A long stint at the Standard and mags like The Face and GQ kept him honest. Later, Record Collector and Classic Rock called.

Articles by: Max Bell

Paul Weller's On Sunset: a musical magpie, refusing to stagnate

By Max Bell published 3 July 20

Songs from the Twilight Zone provide intrigue on Paul Weller's 15th solo album On Sunset

The strange tale of Rod de'Ath: the drummer who came back from the dead

By Max Bell last updated 5 May 20

When Rory Gallagher passed away it was widely reported that his former drummer, Rod de'Ath, had died years earlier. Only thing was, he hadn't

Ginger Baker interview: an afternoon with the world’s most irascible drummer

By Max Bell published 7 October 19

Mick Jagger is “a musical moron”. Hawkwind’s music “was fucking appalling”. And rock stars? “Fucking idiots, most of them.” How to win friends with the late, great Ginger Baker

Ginger Baker's half-dozen: six of the best from a legend

By Max Bell, Fraser Lewry published 6 October 19

Six songs that broke the mould from the extraordinary career of Ginger Baker

Jim Morrison: 15 peculiar facts you might not know

By Max Bell published 3 July 19

Jim Morrison was an enigmatic man – but these facts reveal an alternative portrait of The Doors’ frontman

Jimi Hendrix: the life and times of a genius

By Max Bell, Johnny Black, Rob Hughes, Hugh Fielder, Ken Sharp, Mick Wall, Henry Yates published 6 May 19

Classic Rock talks to Jimi Hendrix's friends, admirers and other musicians about his life and importance

Creedence Clearwater Revival: The Complete Studio Albums review

By Max Bell published 14 December 18

From a time when Creedence Clearwater Revival and Californian plaid ruled the world

Bruce Springsteen: Springsteen On Broadway Official Soundtrack review

By Max Bell published 14 December 18

Baby, Bruce Springsteen was born to run, and run, and run…

The story of Humble Pie, the anti-supergroup

By Max Bell published 19 October 18

In 1971 Steve Marriott’s mad mod-rock brew blew up big style, taking the rest of Humble Pie with him – for better and for worse.

Canned Heat: the badass blues band that death couldn’t kill

By Max Bell published 19 October 18

Booze, barbiturates, suicide and overdoses – the twisted story of America's first great boogie-rock band

The Doors - Waiting For The Sun (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) album review

By Max Bell published 13 September 18

The Doors’ dog day afternoon

The Band – Music From Big Pink album review

By Max Bell published 30 August 18

Expanded edition of the holy text of American roots music

Massive Wagons: Full Nelson album review

By Max Bell published 10 August 18

Hot as English mustard fourth album from NWOCR favourites Massive Wagons

Stevie Ray Vaughan: The triumph and tragedy of In Step and Family Style

By Max Bell published 16 July 18

Overdoses, divorce and too much drink, but with a health scare that nearly killed him and the In Step album to make, Stevie Ray Vaughan looked like he was finally getting back on track

Broken bones, acid-fried sessions and terrified actors: the making of Can's Tago Mago

By Max Bell last updated 13 April 23

In the heady days of 1971, German experimentalists Can pushed the musical envelope to the furthest fringes with their landmark album Tago Mago

Led Zeppelin – How The West Was Won review

By Max Bell published 29 March 18

The mountains and the canyons start to tremble and shake as Zep's live album gets the remaster treatment…

The line-up for the Stiff Live Stiffs tour of ’77

The story of Stiff, the most anarchic record label of all time

By Max Bell published 28 March 18

Drugs. Fisticuffs. A signing policy that included Motörhead, The Damned and Elvis Costello. Stiff Records wasn’t just the first indie label, it was also the most anarchic...