Articles by Paul Henderson

Classic Rock’s production editor for the past 22 years, ‘resting’ bass player Paul has been writing for magazines and newspapers, mainly about music, since the mid-80s, contributing to titles including Q, The Times, Music Week, Prog, Billboard, Metal Hammer, Kerrang! and International Musician. He has also written questions for several BBC TV quiz shows. Of the many people he’s interviewed, his favourite interviewee is former Led Zep manager Peter Grant. If you ever want to talk the night away about Ginger Baker, in particular the sound of his drums (“That fourteen-inch Leedy snare, man!”, etc, etc), he’s your man.

Articles by: Paul Henderson

Clint Eastwood lying down on his back holding a copy of the Island Records sampler You Can All Join In

"Friends would gather together to listen intently to each other's latest album purchases": The 60s and 70s record label samplers that changed our world

By Paul Henderson published 26 June 24

These label shop windows were a new music lifeline for fans and helped launch the careers of many future stars

A black and white photo of rock singer James Dewar

“He was the real Voice Of Rock. Warm, rich, sonorous, resonant, deeply soulful”: James Dewar was the greatest rock vocalist you’ve probably never heard of

By Paul Henderson published 16 May 24

When James Dewar died in May 2002 aged 59, rock lost one of its greatest and most overlooked singers

Steve Vai relaxed in a red chair wearing sunglasses, his guitar pointed at the ceiling

Every Steve Vai album ranked from worst to best

By Philip Wilding published 28 March 24

Heart-shaped guitars, Berklee music school and Frank Zappa – Steve Vai's had no ordinary career. Here are each of his albums, ranked from worst to best

"It's been a rough road. I never got to the point ever where I thought I'd actually achieved anything": An epic Jeff Beck interview

By Paul Henderson published 26 March 24

Jeff Beck was the guitar hero everyone admired, yet throughout his career he shunned the limelight more than basked in it

Led Zeppelin onstage at the 1970 Bath Festival

"Led Zeppelin played to a crowd of 150,000, but no-one on the bill was looking for a big break or even a record deal": How 60s' music festivals turned a generation of blues aficionados into the first rock stars

By Paul Henderson published 22 January 24

Some of the events still exist today, but back in the 60s they played hosts to bands for whom future possibilities were entirely unknown

Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen and Rick Nielsen

32 of the greatest onstage moments in the entire history of the rock guitar

By Amit Sharma, Polly Glass, Henry Yates, Ian Fortnam, Paul Henderson, Richard Bienstock, Joe Bosso, Andy Aledort, Damian Fanelli published 18 December 23

Celebrating the pioneering, the spectacular, the unexpected and the unrepeatable

The cover of King Crimson's In The Court Of The Crimson King with Ian McDonald and Pete Sinfield in the eye sockets

"I knew I had to say something, and that I didn't have many words to say it in": a track-by-track guide to King Crimson's In The Court Of The Crimson King

By Paul Henderson published 10 October 23

Original King Crimson members Ian McDonald and Peter Sinfield on the creation of key tracks from the first true progressive rock album

“A lot of early Genesis and Roxy Music comes from Family… I think we set a certain kind of style for the next generation”: Roger Chapman recalls Music In A Doll’s House

By Paul Henderson published 27 September 23

With its twisted arrangements and otherworldly vocals, Family’s mind-boggling 1968 debut set a benchmark in underground music

Barclay James Harvest - Once Again cover art

Barclay James Harvest's expanded Once Again hits the big fan target

By Paul Henderson published 16 February 23

Barclay James Harvest's orchestral prog classic Once Again: now repackaged with a series of not-for-newcomers mixes

The Canterbury scene albums you should definitely own

By Paul Henderson published 16 February 23

From the sublime to the ridiculous, from jaunty tunes to head-spinning jazz rock, the Canterbury scene is a prog-head’s Utopia

Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill cover art

Steely Dan: still hip-cool and sophisticated after all these years

By Paul Henderson published 5 November 22

Steely Dan's debut album Can't Buy A Thrill, freshly polished to appear on SACD and audiophile vinyl

King's X continue the search for truth on Three Sides Of One

By Paul Henderson published 2 September 22

Classy, intelligent, sonically powerful stuff on King's X's 13th album Three Sides Of One

Cream of the Crop: 10 Classic Jack Bruce Tracks

By Paul Henderson last updated 14 May 22

A tribute to one of rock's all-time great bassists

Roger Chapman: Moths To A Flame Recordings 1979-1981 cover art

Roger Chapman - Moth To A Flame – The Recordings 1979-1981: "a worthy package"

By Paul Henderson published 29 April 22

Not yet rated

A worthy package from the Family man’s solo catalogue.

Ralph McTell onstage at the Isle Of Wight Festival

Fields Of Dreams: how the original festivals shaped the future of rock music

By Paul Henderson published 17 February 22

In the late 60s and early 70s, rock music was synonymous with Festivals. Some of the events still exist today, but back in the day they could turn innocent hopefuls into household names

The Tea Party: thirty years of Moroccan-roll

By Paul Henderson published 8 February 22

Mixing rock and exotic musical styles, The Tea Party's Blood Moon Rising is arguably their best album since the mid-90s

Steve Vai's Inviolate proves he's still in a class of his own

By Paul Henderson published 28 January 22

Guitar wizard Steve Vai returns with more magic spells, on the eye-popping Inviolate

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts cover art

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band explode at No Nukes show

By Paul Henderson published 23 November 21

Mostly previously unseen footage as Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts proves a stunning vintage

A montage of the cover art of Yes's Tales From Topographic Oceans and ELP's Love Beach

20 mostly brilliant but also ridiculous progressive rock albums

By Geoff Barton, Malcolm Dome, Jerry Ewing, Paul Henderson published 30 September 21

Made-up languages? The apocalypse? The guilt of lighthouse keepers? Newcastle-upon-Tyne? They're all present in our round-up of progressive rock's most ludicrous album concepts

The Last Domino? finds Genesis turning the favourites on again. Again

By Paul Henderson published 18 September 21

Genesis's The Last Domino? is another excuse for completists to scoop up everything they already own

Mick Fleetwood & Friends: Celebrate The Music Of Peter Green And The Early Years Of Fleetwood Mac

Mick Fleetwood & Friends triumphantly fail to descend into chaos and catastrophe

By Paul Henderson published 30 April 21

The big guns come out to play on Mick Fleetwood & Friends: Celebrate The Music Of Peter Green And The Early Years Of Fleetwood Mac

Robin Trower: the guitarist who should be king

By Paul Henderson published 31 March 21

Robin Trower played guitar for Procol Harum, supported The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, then sold stadiums out as a solo artist in the 70s. So why did he never became a household name?