Classic Rock Features
Latest Features on Classic Rock

Best Christmas gifts for Iron Maiden fans: Rock the festive season with our pick of perfect presents
By Paul Dimery published
From clothes to colouring books, these Maiden-related pressies are sure to go down a treat over the festive season

The story behind Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley's final recording
By Paul Brannigan published
"I didn’t recognize him. He looked like an 80-year-old man"

Excess, eyebrows, and an extremely erratic encounter with Ozzy Osbourne
By Paul Elliott published
An audience with the Prince of Darkness on the Ultimate Sin tour

Neil Fallon on Clutch, corporations and Christmas
By Dave Ling published
"There’s a lot of joy that we don’t see at home": Clutch begin another run of UK Christmas shows next week

Rick Wakeman on his sequel to The Red Planet, and taking David Bowie along for the ride
By Johnny Sharp published
Keyboard maestro has gone back to work with the English Rock Ensemble for the follow-up to his 2020 album, and he says the process feels like early 70s Yes

The shambolic story of The Rolling Stones' star-studded Rock And Roll Circus
By Johnny Black published
With Brian Jones falling apart on set, the Rock And Roll Circus went so badly that the planned film wasn’t released until 28 years later

The Dutch quartet inspired by just five minutes of Soft Machine music to make an iconic debut album
By Malcolm Dome published
Their 1970 debut album, deliberately featuring no guitars at all, was inspired by the Canterbury band’s approach and Frank Zappa’s public persona – and it attained iconic status

“It was my first studio job. I wiped a Robert Fripp guitar section”: World-class producer’s shaky start
By Malcolm Dome published
After the baptism of fire that was King Crimson’s Lizard, he worked on Tangerine Dream’s Rubycon, Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage and dozens of Van Morrison records

"These guys are simply timeless:" Triumph's Rik Emmett picks five essential guitar albums
By Malcolm Dome published
Canadian guitar legend and founding member of Triumph Rik Emmett picks five guitar classics that inspired his own path

The story of the Ronnie James Dio classic assembled from other bands' spare parts
By Mick Wall published
Rainbow In The Dark a highlight of Holy Diver, an album Ronnie James Dio said was “one of the proudest things I’ve ever done”

Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram may channel the ghosts of the past, but he's striving for something new
By Bill DeMain published
Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram grew up with the blues, but on fourth album Hard Road he's branching out

How Metallica broke the thrash metal mould with biblical barnstormer Creeping Death
By Dave Everley published
Pinching a riff from Kirk Hammett’s former band and inspired by a Charlton Heston film, Metallica reached a new level with their 1984 single

In 1962 a band decided to play as badly as possible until someone noticed. It worked.
By Rob Hughes published
They blended prog, art-rock, visual theatre, Dadaism and music hall – and never pretended to do any of it well

Die Spitz: They hate interviews. They love rock
By Ken McIntyre published
“Sometimes Simon Cowell writes the music for us. Sometimes it’s AI”

The surprisingly sexual story of the Bryan Adams song fans thought was about youthful innocence
By Henry Yates published
It turns out Bryan Adams’ hit single Summer Of '69 wasn’t all about childhood, longing and loss

Classic Rock's Tracks Of The Week: December 8, 2025
By Polly Glass published
Eight songs you need to hear right now, from Alter Bridge, The Darkness, Tax The Heat and more

How an act of kindness in dark times led to Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante and Jane's Addiction's guitarist Dave Navarro becoming friends
By Paul Brannigan published
How drugs, guitars, and a life-changing act of charity brought two of alternative rock's greatest musicians together
Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox!


