Willie Dixon: the life and legacy of the blues' greatest songwriter
Chess Records songwriter Willie Dixon was the man behind some of the most beloved and influential songs in history, inspiring a whole generation of musicians
Classic Rock Features
Latest Updates
The 10 best Captain Beefheart Songs
Between 1967 and 1982, Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band wrote some of the most startling, sly and plain out-there songs this side of Frank Zappa
10 obscure but absolutely essential grunge albums
Grunge didn't live and die with Nirvana, as these 10 underrated should-be classics prove
Tracks of the Week: new music from Vega, Blitzen Trapper and more
Eight juicy new slices of rock'n'roll that you need in your life. Like, right now
15 best Father’s Day gifts for music lovers
Hankies? Pah! These are best Father’s Day gifts for the hardest rocking daddios in town, from vinyl record gifts to limited edition music books and, er, the world’s hottest chilli
The spectacular life of Rodney Bingenheimer, the Mayor of Sunset Strip
For 50 years Rodney Bingenheimer has been a DJ and one of LA’s scenesters. He knew Elvis and helped countless musical careers, but is first and foremost a fan
Feel The Noize: the tragic and triumphant rise of glam revivalists Giuda
Putting a reinvigorating modern spin on a style of music that was all about simply having fun, Giuda are, as glam-rock connoisseur Joe Elliott puts it, “making this totally unfashionable music fashionable again”
The Story Behind The Song: The Kinks' Lola
A tale of sexual ambiguity in 60s Soho, Lola provided The Kinks with a worldwide hit at the exact moment they needed it most
Rory Gallagher: a guide to his best albums
Ireland’s greatest, man-of-the-people guitar hero Rory Gallagher left a tremendous legacy of albums studded with real gems
Old school jazz and lacerated hands: the secrets of Led Zeppelin's Moby Dick
John Bonham’s marathon solo Moby Dick was one of the high spots of every Led Zeppelin show in the 1970s and inspired countless aspiring drummers
How Deep Purple reinvented themselves: the making of Burn
In 1973, Deep Purple replaced Ian Gillan with an unknown singer. They then went on to make one of rock’s most underrated albums, Burn
How BB King made his forgotten masterpiece Indianola Mississippi Seeds
Obscured by the shadow of BB King’s groundbreaking colossus Completely Well, his follow-up album featured Carole King, Leon Russell, Joe Walsh and more
Best headphones for vinyl 2020: our pick of 8 headphones to bring the best out of your vinyl
Whatever your budget, these are the best headphones for immersing yourself in your vinyl record collection
Punk, purity, and positive mental attitude: The turbulent tale of Bad Brains
So why didn’t Bad Brains become the biggest rock outfit on the planet? Band members Dr. Know, Darryl Jenifer and Earl Hudson tell the story of the baddest band of them all
The 10 worst albums by 10 brilliant classic rock bands
Even the best can get it wrong sometimes: here's the worst albums by 10 of rock's greatest bands
The 13 best Red Hot Chili Peppers songs about California
California's Red Hot Chili Peppers' best songs about being Californian in California
Fantastic Negrito: car crashes, comas, and the recuperative power of the blues
How Grammy-winning maverick Fantastic Negrito cheated death and became one of the blues’ biggest innovators
Dear System Of A Down: we’re bored of the bickering. Either make an album or split up
It’s 15 years since System Of A Down put out a new album. For one Metal Hammer writer, it’s time for them to shit or get off the pot
Tracks of the Week: new music from Lovehoney, Blinders and more
Eight sizzling new rock tracks for your listening pleasure. Enjoy, ingest, then vote for your favourite