Iron Maiden are on the cover of the new Metal Hammer!

As they gear up for Eddfest, their 50th anniversary festival at the legendary Knebworth, we talk to singer Bruce Dickinson and bassist/founder Steve Harris about what we can expect from it – and what the future holds. Plus, we take a tour of some of their classic props and memorabilia!

The issue also comes with an exclusive Iron Maiden water bottle! Order your copy now!

When asked why Maiden are still touring so intensively, Bruce explains that he simply loves performing.

“When I walk out onstage, it’s one of the few moments during my life when the rest of the world can go to hell,” he says. “On a really good night, you completely lose yourself in some weird higher power that takes you over. You inhabit the song, your voice just seems to anticipate everything, and that’s why I do it. Simple as that.”

Elsewhere, we bring you the untold story of System Of A Down’s early years. From Serj Tankian’s first song, to Daron Malakian’s soap opera binges, to Shavo Odadjian’s initial role as the band’s hype man – it’s all here.

We also celebrate 20 years of Bring Me The Horizon’s debut album, Count Your Blessings. It might have been a scrappy set of songs from a MySpace band hated by traditional metalheads, but it marked the beginning of their incredible rise to the top.

Meanwhile, we go inside lost Slipknot album, Look Outside Your Window, recorded alongside 2008’s All Hope Is Gone sessions, and head to Florida for Blood4Blood – the first-ever showcase of metal and bare-knuckle fighting, staged by Slaughter To Prevail’s Alex Terrible.

Taylor Momsen explains how she rose from being a child actor to an AC/DC-approved rock’n’roll singer, A reveal the story behind breakout nu metal hit Nothing, and Blaze Bayley takes your questions on sci-fi epics and whether he’d ever sing with Iron Maiden again.

Plus! Former Arch Enemy singer Alissa White-Gluz introduces us to new band Blue Medusa, and we find out how Dimmu Borgir became black metal’s biggest band – and its most divisive.

All this, along with As Everything Unfolds, Hawxx, Sonic Temple festival, Deserfest, Warning, Devildriver, Quicksand, Karnivool, Frozen Soul, Hashtronaut and much, much more.

Only in the new issue of Metal Hammer, on sale now. Order it online and have it delivered straight to your door!

My Chemical Romance are coming back to the UK and Europe next month as part of their acclaimedThe Black Parade 2026 world tour, and to get the MCRmy in the mood for what promises to be a spectacular return, Future Publishing is releasing a new edition of the Ultimate My Chemical Romance Fan Pack.

Experience the rise and rebirth of My Chemical Romance from punk rock basement shows to sold-out stadiums. in an essential-for-fans bookazine that relives the glory days of Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, The Black Parade and Danger Days before looking ahead towards the future for Gerard Way and co.

ULTIMATE FAN COLLECTION: Dive into the complete My Chemical Romance biography, following their rise from underground heroes to stadium-filling legends. Relive every iconic moment across 20 years of game-changing music!

ICONIC WALL ART: Showcase two stunning A2 posters and a frameable art piece that capture the raw energy of MCR's most memorable eras, from Three Cheers... to Danger Days.

TREASURED MERCHANDISE: This My Chemical Romance book arrives packed with exclusive photos, behind-the-scenes stories, and rare insights that'll make any MCR fan's heart race.

STYLE YOUR GEAR: Personalise your shirt, hoodie, notebook, laptop, or guitar case with 16 bold stickers featuring the band's most iconic symbols.

COLLECTIBLE GIFTS: Share the love with four striking My Chemical Romance postcards showcasing classic MCR moments. These gifts are brilliant for trading with fellow fans.

Pick up your copy here!

And check out MCR in the UK and Europe at the following shows.

Jun 30: Liverpool Anfield Stadium, UK
Jul 04: Glasgow Bellahouston Park, UK
Jul 08: London Wembley Stadium, UK
Jul 10: London Wembley Stadium, UK
Jul 11: London Wembley Stadium, UK
Jul 15: Florence Visarno Arena, Italy
Jul 18: Madrid Iberdrola Music, Spain

Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson is on the cover of the new, gift-packed issue of Prog, which is on sale now!

Issue 171 of Prog comes with a really cool Prog laptop sticker, a Jethro Tull artprint, a newly updated 148-page Tull eBook and a 15-track sampler from Prog For Peart festival featuring all the bands appearing this July.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull graces the cover and is the first-ever interviewee of Prog's brand-new All-New All-Star Interview. We got a host of Ian's famous friends, fans and peers to ask him that burning, Tull-related question that they’ve always wanted to ask. The likes of Rick Wakeman, Derek Shulman, Carl Palmer, Roy Harper, Gavin Esler, Mikael Åkerfeldt and loads more to give Ian a good grilling. The result is one of the funniest interviews you'll read with Ian. Plus, on the back of new reissues, we explore the band's journey with new technology that led them to Ian's solo album Walk Into Light and Tull's own Under Wraps.

At the same time Marillion frontman Steve Hogarth tells us about trying to avoid being punched while running around South Yorkshire in a bathrobe, yellow clogs and lots of beads as he looks back over his career in The Prog Interview; Yes tell us all about making their 24th studio album, Aurora; and we celebrate 25 years of everyone’s favourite online prog store Burning Shed.

Elsewhere, Exploring Birdsong, A.A. Williams, MONO, Tarja, Liminal Sky, The Paradox Twin, Franck Carducci, Jonas Lindberg and more tell us all about their latest releases.

Prog 171. Get it today!

Also in Prog 171...

Yes - Steve Howe and Jon Davison talk us through Yes’s 24th studio album, Aurora.

A.A. Williams - atmospheric post-rocker on balancing crippling shyness with playing arenas, and her new album, Solstice.

Burning Shed - celebrating 25 years of everyone’s favourite online prog store.

Exploring Birdsong - it’s been seven years in the making and the band’s debut album, Every House We Built, has finally arrived. We find out more.

Liminal Sky - missing Anathema and Messenger? Check out the beautiful but gloom-laden Liminal Sky.

Tarja - the Finnish prog metal soprano gets heavier and proggier on Frisson Noir.

MONO - the Japanese post-rockers ruminate on loss and grief on new album Snowdrop.

The Paradox Twin - UK proggers return with the deeply personal A Romance Of Many Dimensions.

Franck Carducci - the French rocker tackles some weighty themes on his fourth LP, Sheeple.

Shane Embury - Napalm Death’s Shane Embury tells us all about his very proggy new solo album.

Steve Hogarth - from running around Doncaster in a robe and yellow clogs to tales of the new Marillion album and a solo reissue.

Jonas Lindberg - the Swedish prog rocker on a world full of Bo Hansen, David Gilmour, Spock’s Beard and The Corrs.

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Exploring Birdsong, Pink Floyd, Chris Squire, Supertramp, Hawkwind, Kristoffer GildenlÖw, MONO, Prince Of Failure, Liminal Sky, Anekdoten, Tom Penaguin, Lifesigns, Nektar and loads more!

And reviews of gigs by Jon Anderson, Jethro Tull, The Gathering, Karnivool, Magenta, Angine de Poitrine, Claire Hamill, Stick Men and more.

Buying Prog Magazine made easy...

* You can use our store finder to find your nearest stockist. Go to Prog on the alphabetical pull-down menu and enter your postcode.

* The easiest option for everyone would be to go digital. You can get single digital issues from the Apple Store, from Zinio and all manner of digital magazine retailers.

* Subscribe to Prog. We are now accepting subscriptions from the rest of the world. Subscriptions available here.

* In North America, Prog is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

They’ve sold more than 120 million albums and had a revolving door of official members. But in 2026, almost 60 years after their original incarnation, Deep Purple (Mark IX, if anyone really is counting) are back and firing on all cylinders. They’re about to unleash a brand new album – Splat! – on the world and have tour dates that’ll keep them busy for the rest of the year. It seems that rumours of their demise were very much exaggerated.

After all, it was back in 2016 that they announced their Long Goodbye tour, and since then, they’ve been nothing less than a hotbed of activity. And for that, we’re grateful!

This issue, we sit down with the Purps to discuss their current – pun unintended – purple patch of creativity, and to see what the future holds for them.

We've also created two Deep Purple X Classic Rock bundle editions, which pair the magazine with a collection of three postcards and a numbered (/250) art print. One edition also includes a copy of Splat! on yellow vinyl with limited edition cover art. They're both available from the Louder Store.

This issue, we also catch up with George Thorogood to look back at his storied career; travel back 40 years to explore the making of the album that turned Peter Gabriel from prog god to mainstream superstar; collar Phil from Def Leppard and Nuno from Extreme to discuss the two bands’ upcoming tour together; and so much more.

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Features

Deep Purple
Raising the stakes: how they went all-in on their latest, 24th studio gamble and came out with a winning hand.

Sevendust
They had gold albums and were shit-hot live, but almost went bankrupt and almost quit. But they refused to be knocked down.

George Thorogood
Mister Bad To The Bone explains how he “clawed my way to the middle”, and why he’s at peace with where he landed.

Ashley McBryde
She's been through the wringer, and her new album is steeped in the people, places and things that shaped her.

A
Britrock’s cheekiest chaps return older, wiser and with their first new album in more than 20 years.

Peter Frampton
Music is the best medicine. Always sit up straight. A good curry makes life worth living. Artists should take a stand politically… These and more bits of wisdom he’s picked up in life.

Peter Gabriel
How a Grammy-nominated album and a groundbreaking, multi-award-winning video briefly turned a cult solo artist into a global superstar.

Cronos
From black metal to birdwatching and teaching aerobics. The former Venom frontman opens up about his double life.

Regulars

The Dirt
Pink Floyd celebrated on Royal Mint coin; Ritchie Blackmore confirms he was once subbed in Purple; new Soundgarden album will feature Chris Cornell; Welcome back Armored Saint and The Sideshows; Say hello to Maebe and Des Rocs; Say goodbye to Jack Douglas, Dennis Locorriere and Beverley Martyn.

The Stories Behind The Songs: Fairport Convention
The first song that Richard Thompson wrote on his own and used to think was “immature, juvenile”, Meet On The Ledge became a stirring, emotive anthem.

Q&A: Rachel Bolan
The Skid Row bassist and solo artist on the need for speed, his solo debut, Skid’s new singer, digging punk and Oasis.

The Hot List

We look at some of the essential new tracks you need to hear and the artists to have on your radar. This month they include De’Wayne feat Lenny Kravitz, King Kraken, Kip Moore,
The Hu, Jared James Nichols, The Heavy Eyes and more…

Reviews
New albums from Deep Purple, The Rolling Stones, Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts, The Karma Effect, Joe Bonamassa, Placebo, Savatage, Dead Pioneers, Samantha Fish, Midge Ure and more. Reissues from Metallica, Cream, Pink Floyd, Judas Priest, Def Leppard, Slayer, Yes, Down, Hawkwind, Marillion, Nazareth and more. DVDs, films and books on The Clash, Ozzy Osbourne, Love, MC5, Pete Townshend and more. Live reviews of The Prodigy, Joe Bonamassa, Bonfest, David Bowie, Sugar, Paul Simon, Forged In Sound and more.

Buyer’s Guide: Van Morrison
He forged a singular blend of Celtic mysticism, soul and R&B that produced some of the most revered albums of the rock era.

Lives

We preview tours by Def Leppard & Extreme and Garbage. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Eric Johnson
Texan virtuoso guitarist Eric Johnson picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in the UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave… How many times have you heard (or said) that phrase? I’d wager a fair few over the years. And that’s just testament to how firmly embedded the Eagles’ 1976 song Hotel California is in general popular culture. This year, said song – and the album that shares its name – reaches its 50th birthday.

To celebrate, we tell the story of its genesis and its making in the company of Don Henley and producer Bill Szymczyk. It’s a full-on tale of chainsaws, Mexican reggae, strict drinking hours and much more besides.

Another album that reaches its half-century in 2026 is the fast and furious debut from Ramones. Kris Needs (a man who was in at the beginning) charts its arrival on the scene, and how a record just shy of half an hour in length changed the whole musical landscape – both here and in the US.

In addition, this issue we talk to Shinedown, Blue October, Steve Vai, Bruce Hornsby and many more. We also remember Dave Mason, the Traffic man, who we sadly lost during the making of this issue.

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Features

Eagles
The story of Hotel California, the album that took the already soaring Eagles into the commercial stratosphere and brought them everything that came with that – good and bad.

All Them Witches
After almost packing it in a couple of years ago, they've survived, and are back with House Of Mirrors.

Shinedown
The loss, addiction and rebirth that led to new album EI8HT.

Ramones
How, in one year in the mid-70s, the NYC punks didn't just have a momentous effect on a UK music scene, but also created one.

Blue October
Frontman Justin Furstenfeld reflects on a period of runaway creativity – and personal train wrecks.

Bruce Hornsby
Instead of resting on his laurels, the songwriter, singer and keyboard player forged ahead. That's just the way it is.

Regulars

The Dirt
Limited-edition replica Lemmy statue on sale; new Rolling Stones album announced; possible release for early Sabbath demos. Welcome back Failure and Geoff Tate. Say hello to Jayler and The Scratch. Say goodbye to Dave Mason, Andy Kershaw, Greg Elmore.

The Stories Behind The Songs: Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine
How After The Watershed (Early Learning The Hard Way)brought them fame for the wrong reason

Q&A: Crown Lands
The rock duo talk 19-minute songs, hanging out with Gollum, and why they’d rather be killed by robots than by zombies.

Ever Meet Lemmy? Russ Ballard
Go-to songwriter, solo artist and former Argent guitarist/singer Russ Ballard hung out with The Beatles, is mates with Roger Daltrey and heard Elvis stories from Robert Plant. Rainbow, Kiss and others had hits with his songs. Ritchie Blackmore, Ozzy and more asked him to write some for them.

The Hot List
We look at some of the essential new tracks you need to hear and the artists to have on your radar. This month they include Stainless, Return To Dust, The Zac Schulze Gang, Bruce Soord, Bleeker, High Fade, Alyssa Bonagura and more…

Reviews
New albums from Peter Frampton, All Them Witches, St Agnes, Paul McCartney, Crown Lands, The Scratch, Cactus, Devin Townsend, Robin Beck and more. Reissues from Pink Floyd, Smashing Pumpkins, The Who, Therapy?, Jethro Tull, INXS, Eagles, Blue Öyster Cult and more DVDs, films and books on Jimi Hendrix, The Velvet Underground, Iggy And The Stooges and more. Live reviews of The Damned, Yungblud, The Wildhearts, Massive Wagons, FM, The Prodigy and more.

Buyer’s Guide: Little Feat
Sorting the wheat from the chaff from the self-proclaimed “epitome of American rock’n’roll”.

Lives
We preview tours by Foreigner, BEAT and Warner E Hodges. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Tarja
Former Nightwish singer and solo artist Tarja picks her records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in the UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

Tarja will release her brand-new album Frisson Noir through earMusic on June 12.

And Prog has teamed up with the singer and her label to offer readers an exclusive album bundle that you won't be able to purchase anywhere else! You'll get a copy of Tarja's great new album, Frisson Noir, as well as a ‘Frisson Noir Philosophy’ sheet, signed by Tarja herself, an exclusive Tarja art print and an issue of Prog 171, which is on sale on June 19, with a bespoke Tarja front cover.

Get yours here before they sell out: https://store.loudersound.com/products/issue-171-tarja-magazine-art-card-signed-frisson-noir-sheet-frisson-noir-lp

Frisson Noir is Tarja's first new album of studio material in seven years, since 2019's In The Raw. The album mixes her trademark operatic vocal with some of the proggiest material she's created - look no further than the ten-minute epic At Sea - along with some the heaviest symphonic prog metal of her career. The album also features guest appearances from her former Nightwish pal Marko Hietala, Apocalyptica, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and Dani Filth.

“When I’m writing the songs, I’m not really looking at the timer, I’m really letting myself go nowadays, which is a very beautiful feeling," Tarja tells Prog in the next issue, which is on sale on June 19.

Pre-order your exclusive Tarja bundle here.

Genesis are on the cover of the new issue of Prog, which is on sale now!

The band's seventh studio album, A Trick Of The Tail, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and we chart the making of the album, we look at the stories behind the songs and we talk to album cover designer Colin Elgie about that striking. sleeve as we unearth the story of how Genesis survived the departure of Peter Gabriel and came back even stronger!

Elsewhere, we tell the story of the record that started it all for Hawkwind, their 1970 self-titled debut; Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien reveals how making his rather wonderful new album, Blue Morpho, was an exercise in music therapy; Devin Townsend unveils his magnum prog opus, The Moth; and we remember the Clannad singer and harpist Moya Brennan, who sadly passed away in April.

Bruce Soord, Crown Lands, Midge Ure, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, Crippled Black Phoenix, Dennis Atlas and Tusmørke tell us all about their new releases, and we review the new Yes studio album, Aurora, too!

Plus, we have a fantastic free sampler from Karisma Records in Norway and a Genesis art print too.

Also in Prog 170...

Moya Brennan - remembering the Clannad singer and harpist, who died in April, aged 73.

Bruce Soord - the Pineapple Thief frontman ruminates on familial loss on Ghosts In The Park.

Hawkwind - how the space cadets took off with their 1970 self-titled debut.

Elder - Berlin-based US proggers hit gold with new album Through Zero.

Crown Lands - Canadian duo develop their own identity on Apocalypse.

Ed O'Brien - the Radiohead guitarist finds comfort in sound with his second solo album Blue Morpho.

Devin Townsend - Canadian prog polymath unleashes his magnum opus, The Moth!

The Claypool Lennon Delirium - Les Claypool and Sean Ono Lennon tackle AI on their kaleidoscopic concept LP.

Crippled Black Phoenix - genre-busting dark proggers look within on their latest, Sceaduhelm.

Dennis Atlas - current Toto keyboardist and co-vocalist Dennis Atlas reveals a love of prog on solo album Principle.

Midge Ure - looks back over his career with Slik, The Rich Kids, Thin Lizzy, Visage, Ultravox and a little thing called Live Aid, and discusses his latest LP.

Tusmørke - the band's Benediktator on a prog world full of Popol Vuh, Magma, Gentle Giant and birdwatching.

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Yes, Bruce Soord, Pink Floyd, Pallas, Crown Lands, Elder, Jethro Tull, Marillion, Angine de Poitrine, A.A. Williams,
Devin Townsend, Ed O’Brien, Kraftwerk, Adrian Belew and loads more!

And reviews of Winter’s End Festival and gigs by Gazpacho, Oliver Wakeman, Nordic Giants, Soft Machine, Fairport Convention and more.

Buying Prog Magazine made easy...

* You can use our store finder to find your nearest stockist. Go to Prog on the alphabetical pull-down menu and enter your postcode.

* The easiest option for everyone would be to go digital. You can get single digital issues from the Apple Store, from Zinio and all manner of digital magazine retailers.

* Subscribe to Prog. We are now accepting subscriptions from the rest of the world. Subscriptions available here.

* In North America, Prog is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

Heard the record(s), read the book(s), got the T-shirt(s), been to the gig(s)… And now you can see the film! Well, from May 7 you can, as that’s the day that the mighty Iron Maiden expand their considerable universe further with a worldwide cinema release of Burning Ambition, a monster documentary chronicling the first five decades of the unrivalled heavy metal juggernaut.

In celebration, we collared Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson, Adrian Smith and director Malcolm Venville to get the full inside story of the film, look back a little over Maiden’s storied history and look forward to their forthcoming shenanigans at Knebworth with EddFest.

This issue is a premium edition and comes with two gifts: an exclusive official Iron Maiden Movie Poster and an EddFest Sticker. Get yours before they're gone!

In this edition of Classic Rock we also look back at the making of A Trick Of The Tail, the first album Genesis made without Peter Gabriel; we find out what makes the Tedeschi Trucks Band tick; try to get a handle on cosmic pioneers The B-52s; shoot the breeze with Robben Ford; and so much more. On a very sad note, shortly before we went to press, we heard the news of the passing of Motörhead’s Phil Campbell, to whom we pay tribute.

• Get the new issue of Classic Rock
• Limited-time offer: Get this issue for FREE by subscribing to Classic Rock

Features

Iron Maiden
It’s been quite a 50-year ride. Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith join CR to look back, in the run-up to a huge Knebworth show and the cinema-release documentary.

Jim Jones
For the Jim Jones All Stars frontman, rock’n’roll is way more than just music, it’s something other-worldly, something sacred.

B-52s
How, with an eclectic musical palette and one goal, the unlikely
new-wave eccentrics became massive.

Tedeschi Trucks Band
For this band, life, music and keeping it very real are as intertwined as the husband-and-wife pair who front it.

Genesis
After Peter Gabriel left and Phil Collins stepped up to the mic, they made one of their greatest albums: A Trick Of The Tail.

Phil Campbell
We look back at the life and music of the late Motörhead legend.

Regulars

The Dirt
Ginger Wildheart given “two to three years” to live; Judas Priest announce London show, and new album begun; David Gilmour's Black Strat sells for £11m; Bon Jovi biopic in the works; Welcome back Erik Grönwall and Laura Cox; Say hello to Brass Camel and Earth Tongue; Say goodbye to Ross The Boss, Country Joe McDonald and Keith Altham.

The Stories Behind The Songs: Toto - Africa
Having set out to write a hit in order to get the band’s label off their back, David Paich achieved not only that, but also an AOR classic

Q&A: Tori Amos
The singer-songwriter on her new concept album, the need for social commentary, women in music and covering Slayer.

Six things you need to know about The Karma Effect
They’re rooted in 70s rock, the pandemic helped them, they want gigs to feel like ‘shows’, their frontman played Robert Plant.

Ever Meet Lemmy? Robben Ford
He got high with George Harrison, hit on by Barry Manilow, yelled at by Miles Davis, blanked by Bob Dylan and headhunted by Gene Simmons. He is fusion god and session guitarist extraordinaire Robben Ford, and these are some of his stories.

The Hot List
We look at some of the essential new tracks you need to hear and the artists to have on your radar. This month they include Hiss Golden Messenger, Devin Townsend, The Lemon Twigs, Ashley McBryde, The Moon City Masters and more.

Reviews
New albums from Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, Linda Perry, Sepultura, The Lemon Twigs, Crippled Black Phoenix, Richard Barbieri and more. Reissues from Motörhead, Alice Cooper, Gary Moore, UFO, Robin Trower, Peter Gabriel, Michael Schenker Group, Adrian Belew and more. DVDs, films and books on Iron Maiden, Rolling Stones, Skids, Poison Girls and more. Live reviews of Wolf Alice, Manic Street Preachers, Samantha Fish and more.

Buyers Guide: Sepultura
They came from a country where heavy metal barely registered, but eventually they made a huge worldwide impact on the genre.

Lives
We preview tours by John 5, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown and Colin Blunstone. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Patrick Carney
The Black Keys drummer picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Limited-time offer: Get this issue for FREE by subscribing to Classic Rock

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in the UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

Welsh proggers Magenta release their brand new studio album, Tarot, today. Fans have been waiting for the follow-up to 2020's Masters Of Illusion album for six years, and Prog is happy to report it's been worth the wait.

And Prog has teamed up with the band to offer fans this world-exclusive limited edition bundle, featuring really cool Magenta stuff you can't get anywhere else.

You can get a limited edition Magenta Tarot t-shirt, a signed lyric sheet for the album's title track, signed by Robert Reed, Christina Booth and Chris Fry alongside a special variant version of the latest version of Prog Magazine boasting a unique Magenta front cover.

It's unavailable in shops or on merch stands, numbers are limited and the only place you can get the bundle is here, from the Prog online store! Buy yours here!

"I happened to be playing a Renaissance album in the house, and I thought, this," Reed tells us in the new issue of Prog. "Because I remembered how, when we did the first Magenta album 25 years ago, they were a big inspiration for us, mixing the classical overtones with a female singer and a rock band.

“Over the years, the Magenta sound has deviated, with electronics over there, heavier over there, shorter songs at other times. But with this album, we’re definitely harking back to the original Magenta sound. And I think the record is so much better for it.”

Rush grace the front cover of the new issue of Prog, and as well as Magenta, the new issue also features new interviews with Anthony Phillips, Steve Hillage, Spock's Beard, Richard Barbieri, Einar Solberg, Major Parkinson, Green Carnation and more...

Read about the new issue of Prog here.

Buy your exclusive Magenta bundle here!

Rush are on the cover of the new issue of Prog, which is on sale now!

They’re very much the band of the moment, and when Geddy and Alex hit London on a surprise press trip recently, and Prog was one of the few print magazines to be offered an interview, we knew it was too good an opportunity to pass.

At the heart of our cover feature is the story of a lasting friendship. It’s not just Geddy and Alex, there’s Neil, too and even though he’s no longer around, his presence is felt all too keenly. It’s as moving reading their thoughts and memories as it is exhilarating to hear their excitement for the upcoming live dates with Anika Nilles. And with the new deluxe box set out now, we got the story of Grace Under Pressure out of them, too.

Of course, this issue is about more than Rush. Anthony Phillips talks pianos instead of guitars; Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy explain that although System 7’s music is still driven by psych and prog, it occasionally dances to a slightly different beat; Richard Barbieri looks back on his days in Japan and discusses the possibility of new Porcupine Tree music; and Magenta reveal why it was back to basics for new album Tarot.

Einar Solberg, Spock’s Beard, Green Carnation, Long Distance Calling, VLMV and Major Parkinson all bring us up to speed on their new albums. We also speak to Cyrille Verdeaux of French proggers Clearlight about the new box set, being on Virgin Records in the 70s and find out what he’s up to at the moment, and this issue’s free sampler is provided by the excellent Fruits der Mer label.

Also in Prog 169...

Anthony Phillips - the former Genesis six-stringer swaps guitar for piano on his latest album.

Einar Solberg - continuing his mission to become prog’s most cinematic artist with Vox Occulta.

Green Carnation - the Norwegian prog rockers open up chapter two of their epic A Dark Poem triptych.

Magenta - the Norwegian prog rockers open up chapter two of their epic A Dark Poem triptych.

Long Distance Calling - the German post-rock quartet celebrate 25 years of making music.

System 7 - Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy are still making psychedelic music. You can dance to it as well, if you want to!

VLMV - Pete Lambrou creates more beautiful ambient prog with the inspired There Will Come Soft Rains.

Major Parkinson - the Norwegians triumph over potential disaster with Valesa – Chapter II:Viva The Apocalypse!.

Spock's Beard - we catch up with the elusive US proggers to chat about their latest studio release.

Cyrille Verdeaux - former mainstay of French proggers Clearlight looks back on their time on Virgin Records and tells us what he’s been up to recently

Richard Barbieri - Porcupine Tree and former Japan sound sculptist Richard Barbieri reflects on his career and admits to watching Millwall with blue hair (but no lip gloss!).

Leon Alvarado - US progger on a prog world full of Yes, King Crimson, Pink Floyd and Earth, Wind & Fire!

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Einar Solberg, Alan Parsons Project, Opeth, Von Hertzen Brothers, Peter Gabriel, Magenta, Nordic Giants, Peter Hammill, Claypool Lennon Delirium, Richard Barbieri, Anthony Phillips, Strawbs, Von Hertzen Brothers, System 7, Ayreon, Darryl Way and loads more…

And reviews of Fusion Festival and gigs by Big Big Train, Cardiacs, Between The Buried And Me, Lazuli, Plantoid, Solstice and Atomic Rooster, among others.

Buying Prog Magazine made easy...

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* Subscribe to Prog. We are now accepting subscriptions from the rest of the world. Subscriptions available here.

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* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

Well, here’s another one that wasn’t on my bingo card for 2026. Granted, I kinda hoped it might be, given the announcement of North American dates late last year. But as we all know, there are no guarantees in life.

What am I boshing on about? The news that Rush will be returning to the UK next year to play here for the first time since their Clockwork Angels tour of 2013. And for the first time with Anika Nilles occupying the drum stool in place of the late, great Neil Peart, of course.

In our exclusive interview, we sit down with Geddy, Alex and Anika to discuss how Rush (and what is turning into a monster tour) was brought back to life. It's also a premium issue, and comes with an official Rush poster and sticker (Subscriptions, mail order and UK newsstand sales only).

This issue, we also do a spot of globetrotting: we hang out with The Clash on their very first tour of the US; take a trip back to 70s Berlin with David Bowie; go to Scotland and beyond to dissect the live genius of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band; venture to Wales to go record shopping with Skindred; and so much more.

Until next month…

• Get the new issue of Classic Rock

Features

Rush
In our exclusive interview, Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee and Anika Nilles talk about how the wholly unexpected but now hugely anticipated reunion tour came about.

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
With their blend of multi-genre music and theatrical presentation, it was as a live band that they really excited and excelled.

Jeff Scott Soto
“‘Journeyman’ is not an insult”, says the man who's sung on scores of other people's albums, “it’s a badge of honour for me.”

Skindred
Which records did they talk about, and which did they buy, when we took them to a record shop and gave them £50 to spend?

The Clash
A Classic Rock writer recalls being on tour in the US with the band in 1979 when they played play their first shows there.

David Bowie
Holed up in Germany, he released three albums in the late 70s that redefined him. This is the story of Bowie's Berlin Trilogy.

A Thousand Horses
How the US country rockers made “the full-throttle rock album that’s been sleeping in our souls all along”.

Regulars

The Dirt
Iron Maiden for Hall Of Fame? Plus film on the way and 'Eddfest'; Steve Perry nixes Journey reunion. Ozzfest to return in 2027. Welcome back Corrosion Of Conformity and Exodus. Say hello to Soho Dukes and Ty Freeman. Say goodbye to Mike Vernon, Neil Sedaka, Fred Smith and Billy Steinberg.

Ever Meet Lemmy?: Zakk Wylde
He spent years playing guitar for Ozzy, and fronts Black Label Society. Zakk tells us about some of his celebrity encounters.

The Stories Behind The Songs: Jeff Wayne
A decade in the making, Forever Autumn was a standout track on his epic prog sci-fi album The War Of The Worlds.

Q&A: Chris Difford
Squeeze’s guitarist/singer on the band’s great ‘lost’ album, the dicey nightclub that inspired it, his lyrics and more.

Reviews
New albums from Tedeschi Trucks Band, Lou Gramm, Flea, Suzi Quatro, Corrosion Of Conformity, Jim Jones All Stars, Tyketto, Exodus, Lamb Of God and more. Reissues from Queen, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Rush, Peter Gabriel, Small Faces, Opeth, Michael Schenker, Robert Calvert and more. DVDs, films and books on Stuart Adamson, Rush, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Marianne Faithful and more. Live reviews of Foo Fighters, The Molotovs, Anthrax, Royal Republic, Paradise Lost and more.

Buyer’s Guide: Patti Smith
She might be best remembered for helping to kick-start the American punk revolution, but there’s far more to Patti Smith than that.

Lives
We preview tours by Jethro Tull, Spike and Ana Popovic. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Bob Mould
The Hüsker Dü, Sugar and solo artist on the records, artists and gigs that are of lasting significance to him.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in the UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready has announced a 'long-lost' rock opera based on the music scene in Seattle between the mid-eighties and the mid-nineties, the era that saw the rise of grunge. Farewell To Seasons will also be published as a graphic novel.

The music for Farewell To Seasons will be released on an album featuring Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan, Stefan Lessard (Dave Matthews Band) and Mike Musburger (Fastbacks, Posies), as well as Chris Friel from Shadow, the band McCready led before being asked to join Temple Of The Dog in 1990.

"I started working on it during covid," McCready tells Spin. "I called [film producer] Cameron Crowe out of the blue and asked him some questions like, hey, I want to work on a rock opera and I’ve got this idea – not thinking that it would turn into a graphic novel or anything like that.

"Originally, it was a musical stage show. Cameron gave me some really good tips and ideas, including the ‘11th hour song’ that is meant to be a big show-stopper near the end of a musical. So, I started writing a script with three characters, almost like historical fiction based around the Seattle music scene from the mid-1980s until about 1995."

"One of the main characters is David Williams, which is based on myself," McCready continues. "There’s a female character named Angela Sunrise and another named Jonathan Alexander, who’s our tragic figure. How this came up was, I was thinking about all the singers that came from the Seattle scene and how many of them had since died. Was it worth it for them?

"That’s a question I’m trying to ask, but I don’t know the answer. Why did people become so interested in this music being made in Seattle?"

The Farewell To Seasons graphic novel is published by Z2, who've previously produced graphic novels based on Dio's Holy Diver, Judas Priest's Screaming For Vengeance, and Iron Maiden's Piece Of Mind, as well as comics based on the work of Pantera, Primus, Type O Negative, Joan Jett, The Grateful Dead, Mötley Crüe, The Doors, Anthrax, Public Enemy and many more.

"Having been in the heart of the NW music scene as a journalist in the 1990s, I’ve wanted for years to work on a project that would reflect what it was actually like for the musicians and the fans when ‘the world came to Seattle'," says Z2 Editor-in-Chief Rantz A. Hoseley. "I can say, without any hyperbole or exaggeration, that I feel like my entire creative life has led to me being involved with this book, and I feel so blessed to be a part of bringing Mike’s beautiful and poignant story to the world.”

In 2017, McCready composed the score for The Glamour & The Squalor, a film about Seattle radio DJ Marco Collins, who helped break the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Weezer, Garbage and others.

Farewell To Seasons will be released on October 6, and is available to pre-order from Z2 now.

We celebrate Keith Emerson on the cover of the new issue of Prog, which is on sale now!

On March 11 it will be ten years since we lost keyboard maestro Keith Emerson and the progressive music world lost a true figurehead. Keith epitomised the prodigious talent, the far-reaching musical curiosity and the flash and wizardry that makes prog such a thrilling genre. That’s why Prog readers voted him the greatest keyboard player in the genre back in 2018.

But there was much more to Keith Emerson than the musician we all saw onstage, and in our tribute to him this issue, we speak to people from all walks of Keith’s life. To colleagues, family, friends, unlikely neighbours and more to hear all about the man that Keith really was. .

Also in the issue, the mercurial Francis Dunnery talks us through his new solo album, as does jazz-rock guitar luminary Pat Metheny, and Canterbury scenesters Soft Machine and Gong, while Pendragon and Arena keyboard polymath Clive Nolan discusses a distinguished career.

Bill Nelson’s Orchestra Futura, Hawkwind’s Magnus Martin, L.O.E., Godsticks, Ulver and Also Eden tell us about their latest releases, and rising prog rockers The Emerald Dawn have supplied us with this issue’s free sampler.

Also in Prog 168...

Gong - Canterbury legends battle breakdowns and writer’s block to triumph with their latest, Bright Spirit.

L.O.E. - Halifax’s proggy post-rock quartet battle adversity and come out on top on the bold Chiaroscuro.

Francis Dunnery - prog’s Mr Unpredictable looks back on his childhood with a new solo album.

Ulver - the Norwegians reinvent themselves yet again as ambient soundscape artists.

Soft Machine - Thirteen proves lucky for these Canterbury pioneers.

Pat Metheny - the jazz-rock guitar legend on setting up his own label and his great new album.

Also Eden - Anglo-Welsh proggers explain the story behind their new EP series.

Bill Nelson's Orchestra Futura - Be-Bop Deluxe’s Bill Nelson teams up with Gong and Soft Machine alumni for a live improv collection.

Godsticks - Welsh heavy proggers get real angry on new album VOiD!

Magnus Martin - Hawkwind’s Magnus Martin talks us through his new solo album, Everything Is Singing To Me.

Clive Nolan - Pendragon and Arena keyboardist and prog polymath Clive Nolan unpicks his career for us.

Galasphere 347 - MianmanStephen James Bennett on a prog world full of Genesis, Hatfield & The North, Peter Hammill and BBC radio drama.

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Rush, Jon Anderson, Peter Gabriel, Gong, IQ, Frank Zappa, Nick Beggs, Asia, Mostly Autumn, Tangerine Dream, Godsticks, Motorpsycho, Francis Dunnery and loads more!

And reviews of gigs by Asia, Opeth, Pure Reason Revolution, Spock’s Beard, AVKRVST, Spriggan Mist, Jinjer and more…

Buying Prog Magazine made easy...

* You can use our store finder to find your nearest stockist. Go to Prog on the alphabetical pull-down menu and enter your postcode.

* The easiest option for everyone would be to go digital. You can get single digital issues from the Apple Store, from Zinio and all manner of digital magazine retailers.

* Subscribe to Prog. We are now accepting subscriptions from the rest of the world. Subscriptions available here.

* In North America, Prog is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

The new issue of Metal Hammer features Lamb Of God on the cover, ahead of the release of their new album, Into Oblivion. Inside, we got Randy Blythe’s friends and peers to ask him any question they wanted.

Artists including Halestorm, Mastodon, Health, Clutch, Killswitch Engage, Ice-T, Max Cavalera, Lacuna Coil, Devildriver, Anthrax, GWAR, Eyehategod and Alien Weaponry grilled Randy on everything from UFOs to cutting his hair off. In answer to a question from Johnny Health about which member of Lamb Of God he’s most afraid to fight, Randy says says no one – because he hopes the band will last forever.

“None of ’em, I’ll fight ’em all at once! But we get along better than we did in the early days,” he explains. “We’ve learned how to function and accept each others’ differences. I don’t want Lamb Of God ever to break up. I want to die in Lamb Of God. Not onstage with those dudes, though. Preferably sitting on my boat or the front porch of my house, at a very advanced age.”

Elsewhere in the mag, we get the inside story of brand new Puscifer album Normal Isn’t, as Maynard James Keenan explains why he’s going to make fart jokes even if the world is burning.

Lzzy Hale remembers shaking off Christianity to write sex-positive anthem I Get Off, Max Cavalera tells us how he took Brazilian metal to the world stage, and Attilla Csihar explains what it was like to front Mayhem before and after they became the most notorious band in black metal.

Meanwhile, we track down the forgotten members of the bands who made it big, shedding light on the early days of Deftones, Papa Roach, Trivium, Opeth and Faith No More.

Malevolence reveal why they’re still pissing off the National Trust, Type O Negative and Crowbar member members unveil new project Sun Don’t Shine, and Testament frontman Chuck Billy gives us his life lessons on Native American healing and… robots?

We also investigate get how Converge changed the hardcore game, go behind the scenes of the new Chris Cornell tribute supergroup, King Ultramega, and meet N0trixx: the ‘bedlamcore’ artist rapping about mental health in three languages.

All this, along with Amaranthe, Igorrr, Gaerea, Black Label Society, Epica, Slaughter To Prevail, Paleface Swiss, Motionless In White and much, much more.

Only in the new issue of Metal Hammer, on sale now. Order it online and have it delivered straight to your door.

Confession time. I was very much a latecomer to the world of Metallica. I was aware of them, of course I was, but back in 1986 my listening habits weren’t of quite such a metallic persuasion. For me (along with many others, I’m sure), it was the Black album that made me really pay attention to the quartet from San Fransisco.

As is often the way when you first get into a band, you venture backwards into their catalogue to discover what other delights you’ve missed out on. And that is how I discovered the masterpiece that is Master Of Puppets, half a decade after its original release.

This month marks the album’s 40th anniversary, so we take a trip back to the 80s to visit its making and look at the impact it had, both on the band and the music world.

We also catch up with The Black Crowes; manage to have a rare sit-down with Brian ‘Robbo’ Robertson for the Classic Rock Interview; run an exclusive extract from our former Ed-In-Chief Scott’s new Big Country book; talk to Blondie about their modern classic Maria; and so much more.

This month, we also have a limited edition Classic Rock x The Black Crowes bundle, which includes a copy of the band’s upcoming album, A Pound Of Feathers, a signed art card and a copy of the new issue of Classic Rock with the band on the cover.

• Get the new issue of Classic Rock
• Get the Classic Rock x Black Crowes Bundle

Features

Metallica
The inside story of the making of the Master Of Puppets album and the two-year whirlwind that took four self-described “alcoholica” outcasts from the El Cerrito garage to the big time.

Big Country
In an exclusive extract from a new book, we look at the inside story of their debut album The Crossing.

The Classic Rock Interview: Brian Robertson
He was part of the classic line-up of Thin Lizzy, lived it loud in Motörhead, rode his own band Wild Horses, has impressive credits as a session musician and producer… and there's more.

The Black Crowes
After decades of feuding and fall-outs, Chris and Rich Robinson have found a groove of brotherly love and rock bravado.

Pulcifier
Driving forces Maynard James Keenan and Carina Round talk about music, rearing chickens and ducks, making gin and more.

Danny Bryant
The British bluesman and bandleader tells us that his new album Nothing Left Behind is just the exorcism he needed.

Also available: The Classic Rock X The Black Crowes Bundle

Regulars

Ever Meet Lemmy?: Suzi Quatro
She shot Alice Cooper, shared a stage with a pre-fame Iggy Pop, sang with Donovan and wrote songs with KT Tunstall, toured and became friends with Noddy Holder and Phil Lynott… She is glam icon Suzi Quatro, and these are just a few of her stories.

The Hot List
We look at some of the essential new tracks you need to hear and the artists to have on your radar. This month they include The Karma Effect, Avalanche, Radio Everything, The Gems, The Cold Stares, Spell and more.

Reviews
New albums from The Black Crowes, Megadeth, Mother Vulture, Rob Zombie, Black Stone Cherry, Starbenders, Paul Gilbert, The Sheepdogs and more. Reissues from Rainbow, Jimi Hendrix, Mountain, Creed, Hawkwind, Rose Tattoo, Prince, Sham 69, Warren Haynes and more. DVDs, films and books on Keith Moon, Ramones, Leonard Cohen, Karl Bartos, Stereolab and more. Live reviews of Biffy Clyro, Justin Hawkins, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett and more.

Buyer’s Guide: Buckcherry
California’s sleaziest exports were always gloriously out of step with the times. Here are the cherries on their catalogue cake.

Lives
We preview tours by 10cc, Powerwolf and Dan Byrne. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Big Big Train
Big Big Train co-founder Gregory Spawton picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in the UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

Steve Hackett graces the cover of the new issue of Prog, which is on sale now!

What better way to kick off 2026 than to celebrate those wonderful first three solo albums from the latter half of the 1970s he made, as he carved a niche out for himself away from Genesis? A time of mercurial music created against an ever-shifting backdrop of the times, and music he’ll be celebrating this year on his upcoming Best Of Genesis & Solo Gems Tour.

We also feature the results of the 2025 Reader's Poll, so find out how your favourite proggers fared, while elsewhere in this issue, Darryl Way, Ian Mosley and John Etheridge recall their time in the former’s Wolf, who burned brightly, albeit briefly, in the mid 70s; US proggers Happy The Man discuss their wonderful first two albums, newly remastered, bringing with them the hope of some new music; the ubiquitous Neal Morse casts an eye over his impressive career to date in The Prog Interview; and Big Big Train tell us the story of their new concept album, Woodcut.

Karnivool, Wolverine, Peter Jones of Tiger Moth Tales, Esoterica, Soen, Textures, Brian Willoughby and more tell us all about their latest releases, there's an excellent White Star Records sampler featuring the likes of John Mitchell, Kyros, Voices From The Fuselage, Kepler Ten, The Paradox Twin and more, plus four great Steve Hackett & friends post cards.

Also in Prog 167...

Mick Abraham - Ian Anderson and Martin Barre pay tribute to Jethro Tull’s original guitarist, who died last December.

Reader's Poll - they progged. You voted. Here are the results of the 2025 Readers’ Poll.

Big Big Train - the melodic proggers get conceptual on their new album, Woodcut.

Wolverine - the mournful Swedes return with their first studio LP for a decade.

Darryl Way's Wolf - Darryl Way, John Etheridge and Ian Mosley recall their time together in 70s prog outfit Darryl Way’s Wolf.

Esoterica - young UK prog rockers aim high with their latest album, Ether Metal.

Karnivool - the Aussie proggers literally return from the wilderness with the long-awaited In Verses.

Soen - the Swedish prog metallers give us the inside scoop on Reliance.

Happy The Man - the story of the US band’s first two records and their recent resurrection.

Textures - the Dutch prog metal sextet tell us about their return with the vibrant Genotype.

Neal Morse - Neal gets emotional as he looks back over a career featuring Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic, Flying Colors and so much more.

Brian Willoughby - former Strawb and David Cousins collaborator Brian Willoughby tells his story.

Tiger Moth Tales - Peter Jones of Tiger Moth Tales and Camel on a prog world full of Genesis, Andy Latimer, Dim Gray, Family Guy and Dikajee.

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Neal Morse Band, Yes, Bill Nelson, Steve Hogarth, Hawkwind, Rush, Karnivool, Big Big Train, Tony Banks, Tangerine Dream, Ulver, Archive, Peter Baumann, Nektar and loads more!

And reviews of gigs by IQ, John Mitchell & Friends, Katatonia, Prog The Forest and more...

Buying Prog Magazine made easy...

* You can use our store finder to find your nearest stockist. Go to Prog on the alphabetical pull-down menu and enter your postcode.

* The easiest option for everyone would be to go digital. You can get single digital issues from the Apple Store, from Zinio and all manner of digital magazine retailers.

* Subscribe to Prog. We are now accepting subscriptions from the rest of the world. Subscriptions available here.

* In North America, Prog is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

Long-time readers of Classic Rock may be shocked to learn that this is the first time in nearly five years that we’ve featured Led Zeppelin on our cover.

It seemed fitting, though, to feature one of the biggest rock bands in our world on the 350th edition of our magazine. It also seems fitting that we’re telling the story of the period in 1972 and 1973 when Zeppelin really became all-conquering. Or, as Jimmy Page put it, “the biggest unknown band in the world”.

This issue we also grabbed a chat with Michael Monroe to discuss his life and times, and we've produced a Classic Rock x Michael Monroe bundle edition of the new issue that includes a copy of his forthcoming album, Outerstellar, as well as an exclusive signed lyric card, hand-signed by Michael himself.

We also enjoyed an audience with Ten Years After’s Leo Lyons, the man who calls himself “rock’n’roll’s Forrest Gump”; asked Joan Armatrading to tell us all about the making of her excellent debut album; celebrated the genius of BB King with Joe Bonamassa and so, so much more.

Here’s to the next 350!

• Get the new issue of Classic Rock
• Get the Classic Rock x Michael Monroe Bundle

Features

Led Zeppelin
Band members and associates chronicle the time in the 70s when they became the biggest rock band on the planet.

Joan Armatrading
The singer-songwriter tells the story of her battles to record her uncompromising debut album, 1972's Whatever’s For Us.

The Classic Rock Interview: Michael Monroe
Thrills, spills, triumph, tragedy… You could say he’s really lived the rock’n’roll life, but that would be an understatement.

BB King
The blues legend's classic tracks, hotel bombings, car crashes, conspiracy theories, towering infernos and more…

Danny Francis
Working with some of the rock world’s biggest names, he was more than just a bodyguard.

Smashing Pumpkins
Big. Bold. Bombastic. Billy Corgan looks back at the making of the era-defining Melon Collie And The Infinite Sadness.

Tyketto
How staying true to their style paid off eventually.

Ten Years After
Bassist Leo Lyons explains why he’s “the rock’n’roll Forrest Gump".

Also available: The Michael Monroe Bundle

Regulars

The Dirt
New Black Crowes and Peter Gabriel albums; Nazareth replace their singer; Sharon reveals Ozzy's last words… Welcome back Gluecifer and Marmozets. Say hello to Kashus Culpepper and James Brune. Say goodbye to Bob Weir, Tetsu Yamauchi, Mick Abrahams, Chris Rea, Rob Reiner.

The Stories Behind The Songs: The Boomtown Rats
A controversial song inspired by a tragic school shooting in the US in 1979 (and not, as many thought, about getting back to work after the weekend), it was a UK No.1 the same year.

Q&A: Jay Buchanan
Rival Sons’ frontman on his solo album, songwriting, the call of the wild, storytellers, falling in love, destroying his past and more.

The Hot List
We look at some of the essential new tracks you need to hear and the artists to have on your radar. This month they include Mother Vulture, The Sheepdogs, Massive Wagons, Chez Kane, Koyo Bloom, Gazpacho, Dan Byrne and more.

Reviews
New albums from Michael Monroe, Francis Rossi, Jay Buchanan, The Damned, Robin Trower, Big Big Train, Black Swan, Buzzcocks and more. Reissues from The Pineapple Thief, Sid Vicious, McCauley Schenker Group, Alan Vega, The Ruts, Babyshambles, Gary Numan and more. DVDs, films and books on Martin Barre, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Nelson, AOR and more. Live reviews of Orange Goblin, Phil Lynott tribute, Clutch, Robert Plant Presents Saving Grace, The Wildhearts and more.

Buyer’s Guide: The Mission
Goth’s bleak misanthropy was upcycled and infused with hippiefied glam by the band, who celebrate their 40th this year.

Lives
We preview tours by Smith/Kotzen, Atomic Rooster and Samantha Fish. Plus gig listings.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Peter Capaldi
Singer/guitarist/Time Lord Peter Capaldi picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* NB: Due to some unexpected logistical delays, this issue will be on the UK newsstand from Tuesday

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

Happy New Year! Welcome to the very first issue of 2026! To start what we’re hoping will be a seriously good year, we’re celebrating a legend. Forty years ago (almost to the day if you’re reading this on our on-sale day), we lost Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott to the great gig in the sky.

In this issue, we talked to some of his friends, bandmates and associates to remember him and paint a picture of the man and rock star he was. We also collared a cast of thousands (I may be exaggerating!) to choose their favourite Thin Lizzy song. For what it’s worth, if I’d been asked, my favourite is Don’t Believe A Word…

This issue we also sit down with Francis Rossi to discuss life after Quo, chat with Alter Bridge about their new album, find out what makes Sammy Hagar tick, bid a fond farewell to Steve Cropper, and so much more

PS. Given it’s the time for New Year’s resolutions, how about resolving to never miss an issue of Classic Rock in 2026? The easiest way to do that is to get a subscription. You’ll save a chunk of money and have your mag delivered to your door

• Get the new issue of Classic Rock

Features

Phil Lynott
Forty years after his passing, Scott Gorham, Eric Bell, Mark Stanway, Laurence Archer and more talk about the bandmate and friend – the real Phil – that they knew. And the stars choose their favourite Thin Lizzy song and tell us why.

Karnivool
After a 12-year gap between albums, the prog-metallers tell us they’re back to reclaim their crown.

Francis Rossi
Enjoying his An Audience With… tours, a new album was far from his mind. But one thing led to another, and…

Elles Bailey
The roots star talks fame, vanity, mental health, and the childhood trauma behind her smoke ’n’ honey battle cry.

Alter Bridge
With solo projects, a Creed reunion and more going on, there were whispers that they might have to call it quits. Instead they regrouped and recorded a brilliant new album.

Sammy Hagar
Don’t have a plan. Don’t be cocky. Doing drugs is dumb. Know when to quit. These things and more shape his worldview.

Heavy Pettin
They were ready to be big shots. Then their entry for 1987’s Eurovision misfired and killed their career. Now they're back.

Regulars

The Dirt
David Coverdale announces his retirement;. no 'Ozzy Airport' name change for Brum; AC/DC gig in Aus causes earth tremors. Welcome back Brinsley Schwarz and Femme Fatale. Say hello to Solomon Hicks and Ever Age. Say goodbye to Steve Cropper, Jimmy Cliff, Mani, Donna Jean Godchaux, Gilson Lavis.

Steve Cropper
Goodbye to the Soul Man whose guitar playing and songwriting lit up the soundtrack of a generation.

The Stories Behind The Songs: The Lemonheads
How a 90s cover of a 60s classic became an era-defining hit.

Q&A: Black Stone Cherry
Frontman Chris Robertson on their new EP, battling Darth Vader, and what Billy Gibbons is looking at on the internet.

The Hot List
We look at some of the essential new tracks you need to hear and the artists to have on your radar. This month it's Lovehoney, Kashus Culpepper, Hällas, The Molotovs and more.

Reviews
New albums from Alter Bridge, Def Leppard, Gluecifer, Electric Boys, Kreator, Laura Cox, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Elles Bailey, MC50, Lovehoney and more. Reissues from Pink Floyd, Freddie Mercury, T.Rex, Johnny Thunders, Yes, Lenny Kravitz, Brian Wilson, Levellers, Type O Negative and more. DVDs, films and books on The Yardbirds, Robbie Robertson, Cream and more. Live reviews of Radiohead, Carlos Alomar, Halestorm, Those Damn Crows, Todd Rundgren, The Saints, Peter Perrett and more.

Buyer’s Guide: Jim Steinman
The best music from this maverick with a musical vision.

Lives: We preview tours by Ten Years After, Fury and Airbourne. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Marcus King
Singer/guitarist Marcus King picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* NB: Due to some unexpected logistical delays, this issue will be on the UK newsstand from Tuesday

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

The brand new issue of Prog is on sale now!

It's our first-ever Review-Of-The-Year issue! We felt the achievements of the prog world in 2025 needed celebrating properly, so that’s what we’ve done.

Aside from grabbing chats with Steven Wilson, Yes, Marillion’s Steve Rothery, Genesis, EBB, Steeleye Span and more, we also shine a light on the work of the Progrock.com’s Essentials label and the Solent Area Prog gigs held at the 1865 in Southampton; pay our respects to those who left us in 2025; and Prog’s own newshound Julian dons his best Mystic Meg outfit and looks ahead to what’s coming your way in 2026. Oh, and even though it hasn’t happened yet, it’s been all over the media for the latter part of this year, so we look at the Rush reunion: how it happened and what we think the tour will entail.

There’s also a change in our annual Critics’ Choice: we’ve bumped the list up to a massive 50 Best Prog Albums of the Year and the 20 Best Reissues, too. There’s plenty to dive in, get your teeth into and, no doubt, debate on social media, if past years are anything to go by!

Despite all that going on, we’ve still managed to squeeze in a chat with former Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre in The Prog Interview, and bring you all the latest prog news, as well as album and live reviews.

Plus there's a fantastic 22-track sampler from our friends at Progrock.com's Essentials featuring the likes of Discipline, Phideaux, Unitopia, Solstice, Ghost Of The Machine, Spriggan Mist and more, as well as four Prog postcards.

Your Prog 166 contents...

The Top 50 Albums Of 2025 - the Prog writers’ deliver their albums of the year.

Steven Wilson - from The Overview to his plans for 2026.

Progrock.com's Essentials - we dive into the prog label of the year.

Steve Rothery - the guitarist on Bioscope, Hackett and a new Marillion album!

David Gilmour - still at the top of the prog game at 79.

Top 20 Reissues Of 2025 - the year’s very best reissues.

Genesis - fifty years of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway dissected with a bit of help from Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett.

Steeleye Span - folk proggers still going strong with new album, Conflict

Yes - Steve Howe on the band's year and also reveals a new album is on the way!

Solent Area Prog - making a prog noise on the south coast.

EBB - 2204's Best New Band poll winners are back with their second album, The Mirror.

In Memoriam - remembering those we lost in 2025.

Rush - They’re touring next year, you know!

2026 Preview - what’s progging your world next year

Martin Barre - the former Jethro Tull guitarist discusses his career on the back of his new autobiography.

Jordan Rudess - the Dream Theater keyboardist on a prog world full of ELP, Steven Wilson, VdGG and Neil Young

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Big Big Train, Camel, IQ, Dream Theater, Airbag, EBB, Frank Zappa, The Pineapple Thief, Martin Barre, Jerome Froese, Jonas Lindberg & The Other Side, Hällas, Procol Harum, Ultravox, Keith Jarrett, Caligula’s Horse and loads more...

This month, we’ve been to see shows by Moon Safari; Justin Hayward; Gong; Public Service Broadcasting; Black Country, New Road and more.

Buying Prog Magazine made easy...

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* Subscribe to Prog. We are now accepting subscriptions from the rest of the world. Subscriptions available here.

* In North America, Prog is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

Dunno about anyone else, but I have zero clue where this year has gone. I’m pretty sure I say words to that effect in this space every year, but I genuinely think that 2025 has whizzed by at the speed of light! But pass it has, and here we are with our End Of Year bonanza.

As you’ve no doubt realised by now, the new issue of Classic Rock is our annual look back at what happened in the world of rock over the past 12 months – the amazing new albums and songs that got us endangering (what’s left of) our hearing, the reissues that reminded us and upgraded old favourites, Black Sabbath’s epic Back To The Beginning show (and subsequent devastating loss of Ozzy), and much more besides.

To make the issue even more festive, it's a premium edition and comes with four exclusive gifts: An Ozzy Osbourne 2026 calendar, official Where's Ozzy? beer mats, some giant rockin' wrapping paper and 16 high-voltage gift tags (subscribers, UK newsstand and online orders from Magazines Direct only).

So please put your feet up, grab your beverage of choice and join us in looking back at the Year In Rock 2025. And from all of us here at Classic Rock, we hope you have an excellent Christmas break and a very happy and healthy 2026. We’ll see you next year.

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Features

Albums Of The Year
Whether from established artists or talented newcomers, we've had plenty of cracking albums released in the past 12 months. CR's writers have chosen the best 50, including….

Danko Jones
With this year’s Leo Rising being met with more positive responses than they’re used to, things are looking good.

Cardiacs
The story of the eclectic band and their long-awaited, brilliantly received, final studio album.

His Lordship
Aiming for an album of good old rock’n roll, Bored Animal shows their aim was true.

Jethro Tull
Ian Anderson talks about latest album Curious Ruminant.

Cheap Trick
Fifty years in, they’re still knocking out classy records.

Plus...

Back To The Beginning
Lzzy Hale , who appeared at Ozzy's farewell, recalls the build-up and the day of the rock event of the past 12 months.

2025 Playlist
Tracks from all genres , all deserving a listen, to get stuck into.

Orange Goblin
Frontman Ben Ward explains why its the end of their road, and reflects on three decades of creating metal thunder.

Reissues Of The Year
From nothing new ,to extras-bolstered to multi-disc, bells-and-whistles box sets, we've picked the cream of the crop.

Bruce Springsteen
With an album release, a biopic in cinemas and the completion of a tour, 2025 saw a lot of The Boss.

Guns N’ Roses
The latest from Slash, who tells us: “I constantly have to stop and be thankful that we’re able to do something that I love so much.”

Goodbye to…
As with every year, in 2025 we said goodbye to far too many people who brought something good to the world of music.

Regulars

The Dirt
The return of Bon Jovi to the stage; Journey announce final tour; Spinal Tap say goodbye with a show at Stonehenge. Welcome back Coroner, Say hello to Luna Marble. Say goodbye to Marcie Free, David Ball, Scott Sorry.

Q&A: Justin Hawkins
The Darkness frontman on being back in arenas, supporting Iron Maiden, brother Dan being a rock star, Yungblud and more.

Reviews
New albums from Casket Rats, Slash, Jan Akkerman, AVTT/PTTN, Graham Bonnet, Sunn O))), Jim Peterik & World Stage, The Saints. Reissues from Rush, Iron Maiden, Rolling Stones, Thin Lizzy, Patti Smith, Dream Theater, Faces, Motörhead, Uriah Heep, Ministry. DVDs, films and books on Bon Jovi, Roddy Bottum, Layne Staley, The Police, Bruce Springsteen, Nicky Hopkins… Live reviews of Glenn Hughes, Lord Rochester, Fields Of The Nephilim, Creeper, Young Gods and more.

Lives
We preview tours by Clutch, John Mitchell & Friends and The Commoners. Plus the latest gig listings: Who's playing where, and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Kenny Leckremo
The H.E.A.T frontman picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* NB: Due to some unexpected logistical delays, this issue will be on the UK newsstand from Tuesday

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

The brand new, gift-packed issue of Prog is on sale now, with Porcupine Tree on the front cover.

We tell the story of Porcupine Tree’s Deadwing, as the album celebrates its 20th anniversary. And what an intriguing story it is, of a UK band signed to a major US label with the idea of breaking progressive music on a commercial scale. Add in the ghostly script to an unmade movie, stellar musicians and a groundbreaking tour with their mates Opeth… and as for the strippers – well, you’ll have to read about that for yourselves.

Elsewhere in this issue, we say a sad farewell to the Moody Blues bassist and singer John Lodge, who died last month; Peter Hammill unpicks his solo years on Charisma and Virgin Record for us; guitarist Steve Morse brings tales of Dixie Dregs, Kansas, Deep Purple, Flying Colors and more to the table; and Gazpacho, Crown Lands, Atomic Rooster, Cardiacs, The Utopia Strong, Cate Le Bon, Barry Palmer and Amorphis all discuss their latest releases.

This issue arrives with our Icons Of Prog calendar, this time cherry-picking the prog delights from former Melody Maker photographer Barrie Wentzell’s fabulous new book, Should’ve Been There, from Rufus Publications, a great Porcupine Tree Deadwing art print, a 148-page eBook on THE band of the moment, Rush, and our good pal Jacob Holm-Lupo has curated a fantastic White Willow sampler.

Your Prog 165 contents...

John Lodge: the prog world pays tribute to The Moody Blues singer/bassist who died in October.

Peter Hammill: the VdGG frontman considers his solo work on the back of the 20-disc Charisma & Virgin Recordings 1971-86 box set.

Atomic Rooster: former guitarist Mick Bolton heads up the reformed band and their new album, Reach For The Sun.

Gazpacho: we uncover the story of false starts to the fascinating concept album, Magic 8-Ball.

The Utopia Strong: the cosmic prog trio truly find their feet with their third album, Doperider.

Cardiacs: the story of how the late Tim Smith’s unfinished final Cardiacs album was lovingly brought to life.

Crown Lands: the Canadian duo find a new record label and artistic freedom with their two Ritual releases.

Cate Le Bon: the Welsh art-rocker finds catharsis in ruminating on personal heartache

Amorphis: the Finnish prog metallers discuss new album Borderland and where their love of prog comes from.

Barry Palmer: the former Triumvirat and Mike Oldfield singer on shock 70s pop hits and his new musical venture with Robert Reed.

Steve Morse: he's played with Dixie Dregs, Kansas, Deep Purple and Flying Colors as well as his own band. And does he have some stories to tell! Read them here.

Andy Glass: the Solstice guitarist on a prog world full of Yes, Floyd, Tull, Steven Wilson and Loyle Carner.

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Pink Floyd, Yes, Kate Bush, Tangerine Dream, Dream Theater, Mike Oldfield, Brian Eno & Beatie Wolfe, Spock’s Beard, Leprous, Solstice, Nektar, Tears For Fears, Snarky Puppy, Jethro Tull, IQ, Ozric Tentacles and loads more!

This month, we went to Summer’s End and Be Prog! My Friend festivals and saw Yes, Steven Wilson, Dream Theater, Roy Harper, Kansas and more.

Buying Prog Magazine made easy...

* You can use our store finder to find your nearest stockist. Go to Prog on the alphabetical pull-down menu and enter your postcode.

* The easiest option for everyone would be to go digital. You can get single digital issues from the Apple Store, from Zinio and all manner of digital magazine retailers.

* Subscribe to Prog. We are now accepting subscriptions from the rest of the world. Subscriptions available here.

* In North America, Prog is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

Funny how things pop into your mind at the most random of moments. Earlier this week, I was in M&S, picking up something for lunch. When the self-service till showed me my total to pay, it made me chuckle, as the amount was £6.66. And yes, the very first thing that popped into my head were the lyrics to Iron Maiden’s The Number Of The Beast.

I’m taking it as a sign, as this issue we have an exclusive extract from Iron Maiden’s Infinite Dreams book about the beginning of their imperial era when Bruce joined the band and they became the world-dominating group that we know and love. We also spoke to both Steve Harris and Bruce Dickinson about the early days of the band and how their partnership began.

Also in this issue: we venture back to 1990 to hang out with Judas Priest in Marbella to talk about the making of Painkiller; we talk to Solstice about being the best-kept secret of English prog; we go back to school with Massive Wagons; and much more.

Shortly before we went to press with this issue we learned the sad news that Ace Frehley had passed away, so we also pay tribute to the Space Ace.

Until next month…

• Get the new issue of Classic Rock

Features

Iron Maiden
Fifty years in, Steve Harris looks back at band building, Bruce Dickinson recalls how he came to join, and a book extract takes us back to the birth of The Number Of The Beast.

Ace Frehley
Farewell to the Space Ace.

Stephen Dale Petit
His new album, Be The Love, burns with the urgency and creativity of a cancer-stricken man living on borrowed time.

Mammoth
On his third Mammoth album, Wolfgang Van Halen raises his playing, singing and songwriting game.

Judas Priest
This interview from 1990 finds them on edge just before the lawsuit that delayed the release of their classic Painkiller.

Whiskey Myers
Distancing themselves from the trappings and demands of the music business, they're a band for themselves and their fans.

Massive Wagons
The British rockers play a hometown show for kids as well as advocating for anti-bullying and mental health campaigns.

Solstice
The best-kept secret in English prog celebrate their 45th anniversary with a new album.

Regulars

The Dirt
Rush return with new drummer; Foo Fighters release surprise EP; Jonathan Cain quits Journey? Welcome back The Trews and Holly Golightly. Say hello to Die Spitz and Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram. Say goodbye to John Lodge, Chris Dreja, Danny Thompson and Viv Prince.

The Stories Behind The Songs: Levellers
During an era of post-grunge, the Levellers were derided as obsolete crusties, but one of their biggest hits was influenced by classic 70s rock.

Q&A: Ian Gillan
The Deep Purple frontman on collaborating with Urock, being 80, vision problems, a new Purple album, not having a TV and more.

The Hot List
We look at some of the essential new tracks you need to hear and the artists to have on your radar. This month they include Royal Republic, The Southern River Band, Demob Happy, Gyasi, Bones Owens and more.

Reviews
New albums from Bon Jovi, Cheap Trick, Creeper, Spock's Beard, Sammy Hagar, Radiohead, Duff McKagan and more. Reissues from The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Bruce Springsteen, Status Quo, Blackberry Smoke, Humble Pie, Kate Bush, Clutch and more. DVDs, films and books on Wings, Def Leppard, Frankie Miller, Jean-Michel Jarre and more. Live reviews of Roy Harper, Feeder, Edwyn Collins, Francis Rossi, Luke Morley/Willie Dowling and more.

Buyer’s Guide: The Cramps
Celebrating the finest in American trash and kitsch culture, The Cramps played rock’n’roll at its delinquent, B-movie best.

Lives
We preview tours by John Payne’s Asia & Foghat, Dave Hill's Slade and Parker Barrow. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Steve Morse
Deep Purple’s longest-serving guitarist Steve Morse on his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* NB: Due to some unexpected logistical delays, this issue will be on the UK newsstand from Tuesday

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

The brand new issue of Prog Magazine is on sale now, as we reflect on the life and times of Supertramp and their co-founder, Rick Davies, who sadly died last month.

We look at the life of the man behind School, Goodbye Stranger and Bloody Well Right, cast an eye over some of the greatest songs he wrote, and delve into the making of the band’s breakthrough album, 1974’s Crime Of The Century.

Elsewhere, Derek Shulman tells us in The Prog Interview how he went from rock star to record company exec; John Lees gives us the lowdown on the first new JLBJH album in 12 years; Rick Wakeman discusses his new piano album Melancholia, and gives us a sneak preview of the full-on prog rock album that’s coming next year; and we celebrate 10 years of Progzilla Radio!

There’s also the latest on new releases from Lunatic Soul, Arjen Lucassen, Luke Machin’s Soulshine project, Jo Quail, The Emerald Dawn, Spriggan Mist and Between The Buried And Me, plus Adam Wakeman brings us up to date on Headspace.

Our friends at Progzilla Radio have compiled this issue’s sampler for us, highlighting some great up-and-coming prog bands you might not have heard. I urge you to give it a listen (it’s free, after all!) and see how healthy the emerging scene really is. It’s why we partnered with them to highlight our Limelight acts.

Also in Prog 164...

John Lees' Barclay James Harvest - the prog veterans return with Relativity, their first new studio album for 12 years!

Jo Quail - the acclaimed cellist discusses her bold new work, Notan.

Rick Wakeman - the dad jokes are on hold – for now – as Uncle Rick plays moving piano moments.

The Emerald Dawn - the Cornish proggers deliver a strong climate treatise with the first volume of The Land, The Sea, The Air.

Lunatic Soul - Mariusz Duda’s Circle of Life and Death cycle comes to a close with LS’s The World Under Unsun.

Soulshine - Maschine and Tangent guitarist Luke Machin goes full-on soul with his debut solo release.

Arjen Lucassen - musings on the end of the world with the Dutch prog polymath.

Progzilla Radio - the story of the first 10 years of the UK’s leading prog radio and podcast setup.

Between The Buried And Me - the US prog metal quartet are at their most experimental with the conceptual The Blue Nowhere.

Spriggan Mist - Bracknell’s pagan proggers make a wild sound on new album The Glare.

Adam Wakeman - prog’s busiest man, Adam Wakeman, looks forward to Headspace live shows, gigs with his dad, and reflects on Ozzy’s Back To The Beginning show.

Derek Shluman - Gentle Giant’s Derek Shulman discusses his dual careers as rock star and record company executive to the sta

VLMV - Pete Lambrou on a prog world full of Pink Floyd, Radiohead and The Mars Volta, among others.

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Gazpacho, David Gilmour, Alan Parsons Project, Frank Zappa, The Emerald Dawn, King Crimson, Barclay James Harvest, Lunatic Soul, Cardiacs, Solstice, XTC, Spriggan Mist and loads more!

And this month we went to ArcTanGent, Pelagic Fest and A Sunday In September and saw gigs by Auri, Symphony X, Ihlo and more...

Buying Prog Magazine made easy...

* You can use our store finder to find your nearest stockist. Go to Prog on the alphabetical pull-down menu and enter your postcode.

* The easiest option for everyone would be to go digital. You can get single digital issues from the Apple Store, from Zinio and all manner of digital magazine retailers.

* Subscribe to Prog. We are now accepting subscriptions from the rest of the world. Subscriptions available here.

* In North America, Prog is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

Figaro-oh-oh-oh! Oh boy, do we have a royally jam-packed issue this month! Yep, hard as it may be to believe, but October (Halloween, to be specific) marks the 50th anniversary of the original release of Queen’s epic single Bohemian Rhapsody. Undoubtedly one of rock’s Dead Sea Scrolls, it’s not hyperbole to say that Bo Rhap changed the course of the band’s career and popular music as we know it.

This issue we celebrate it and the making of the groundbreaking album from whence it came – Queen’s A Night At The Opera – in the company of Sir Brian May and Roger Taylor. Both single and album are about to be re-released on vinyl, so I do wonder if we might have another Bo Rhap No.1 on our hands this year?

What's more, the new issue is one of our premium editions, and includes an official A Night At The Opera sticker, poster and art card (subscribers, UK newsstand and online orders only).

Also in the issue: we chat to Scorpions about their 60 years in rock; get the story behind UFO’s sojourn to Montserrat to record No Place To Run with George Martin; go behind the scenes of Tom Petty’s deeply personal Wildflowers album; Ann and Nancy Wilson tell us about the making of Heart’s debut record and much more besides.

Until next month…

• Get the new issue of Classic Rock

Features

Queen
Fifty years on, Brian May and Roger Taylor reveal the vision, precision and daring behind Queen’s A Night At The Opera, the album that rewrote rock’s rules.

Scorpions
Rudolph Schenker and Klause Meine look back over 60 years, from being trashed in the UK press to being lauded rock icons.

Heart
How Ann and Nancy Wilson gatecrashed a male-dominated, payola-fuelled rock scene 50 years ago with Dreamboat Annie.

Creeper
Before the vampires and rock’n’roll theatre, it was shoestring punk gigs, DIY video shoots, hard work and, ouch, sales work.

Tom Petty
Despite all the chaos and confusion that fed into it, the deeply personal Wildflowers is the album he regarded as his best.

David Bowie
Band members, friends and associates tell the story of The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars.

UFO
When ace-card guitarist Michael Schenker quit, no sulks, they took off to the Caribbean and recorded a belter without him.

Regulars

The Dirt
Foo Fighters back in the studio? Twister Sister to play 2026 world tour. Radiohead confirm UK shows. Welcome back Paradise Lost and Lemonheads. Say hello to Hollow Souls and Margarita Witch Cult. Say goodbye to Rick Davies, Brent Hinds, Tony Beard, Mark Volman.

The Stories Behind The Songs: Counting Crows
How a song written immediately after and about a wild night out became radio staple, a huge hit and their signature song.

Q&A: Eric Gales
The blues guitarist on his record for his late brother, cutting heads with Bonamassa, surviving time behind bars.

Reviews
New albums from Michael Schenker, Ash, Chrissie Hynde, Mammoth, Lemonheads, Cardiacs, Sparks, Vernon Reid, Dizzy Reed, Goo Goo Dolls, Biohazard and more. Reissues from John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band, Ronnie Wood, Steve Howe, Foghat, Humble Pie, Frank Zappa, Elton John, Supergrass, King Crimson and more. DVDs, films and books on Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Charlie Harper, Ringo Starr, U2, Marianne Faithfull and more.

Buyer’s Guide: Zakk Wylde
The pick of his records with Ozzy, Black Label Society and more.

Lives
We preview tours by Todd Rundgren, Y&T and Coheed And Cambria. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Devon Allman
The singer and guitarist picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* NB: Due to some unexpected logistical delays, this issue will be on the UK newsstand from Tuesday

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

Motörhead. I’d wager there’s not a single person who’s likely to read a magazine called Classic Rock who doesn’t rate the mighty Motörhead. The band led by Lemmy that easily managed to unite all the disparate factions and tribes of rock by being, frankly, full-on and brilliant.

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Lemmy forming that band – originally called Bastard, until cooler heads prevailed – after having been unceremoniously ousted from Hawkwind. And, shockingly, this year also marks 10 years of his passing. Where on earth does the time go?

This month we take a look at back at Lemmy and 50 years of his band in the company of his friends and associates. We also hear from the great man himself in a forthright and hilarious interview from the vaults. This Special Collector's Edition includes an official Motörhead Snaggletooth sticker (subscriptions, online orders and UK newsstand sales only).

Also in the issue: we sit down with Robert Plant to discuss his new Saving Grace project; take a deep dive into the finest moments of solo George Harrison; and hail the unexpected return of Spinal Tap.

We also check in with Mirador, the new project from Greta Van Fleet’s Jake Kiszka and alt-folkie Chris Turpin, and have worked with them to produce a unique bundle edition of Classic Rock that contains a hand-signed lyric sheet of their first single, Feels Like Gold.

Until next month…

• Get the new issue of Classic Rock
• Get the Mirador bundle edition

Features

Lemmy/Motörhead At 50
Close associates – friends, managers, writers, photographers, PRs, crew, former band members and more – offer personal stories, in their own words, about the band and in particular the man who was Motörhead. Also, in a candid interview from 2002, Lemmy explains what he learned, about women and men, drugs, violence, religion, rock’n’roll, and cooking the perfect dinner for one.

Robert Plant
The singer talks about his latest group Saving Grace, the joy of operating low-key and without an agenda, and feeling like musically he can just do whatever he likes, when he likes.

Mirador
When the worlds of Greta Van Fleet’s Jake Kiszka and alt.folkie Chris Turpin collided, it was musical love at first sight. After a whirlwind romance, their new project Mirador was born.

Spinal Tap
The band's improbable return is the comeback no one expected – and even fewer requested. David St Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel and Derek Smalls tell all.

George Harrison
An album-by-album guide to his greatest songs, solos, milestones and innovations away from The Beatles.

The Classic Rock x Mirador bundle edition

We've worked with Mirador, the new project from Greta Van Fleet’s Jake Kiszka and alt-folkie Chris Turpin, to produce a unique limited edition Classic Rock bundle that includes a hand-signed lyric sheet of their first single, Feels Like Gold.

They're gone when they're gone: Get yours now!

Regulars

The Dirt
Big names appear on all-star Bad Company tribute album;
Phil Lynott tribute concert to take place next year; Megadeth to split next year; Biff Byford undergoes surgery for bowel cancer; Welcome back The Hives and 38 Special; Say hello to Zig Zags and Castle Rat; Say goodbye to John ‘Poli’ Palmer, Bobby Whitlock and George Kooymans.

The Stories Behind The Songs: Grand Funk Railroad
In the early 70s they were doing okay, but they needed a breakthrough. That was We're An American Band.

Q&A: Luke Morley
The Thunder guitarist on the band’s future, his solo career and new album, playing with The Quireboys, songwriting and more.

Reviews
New albums from Robert Plant, Glenn Hughes, Suede,Biffy Clyro, Walter Trout, FM, The Vintage Caravan, 38 Special, Mirador, John Fogerty, Paradise Lost and more. Reissues from Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Clutch, Deep Purple, Van Halen, Ramones, David Bowie, XTC, Fleetwood Mac, Mötley Crüe, Johnny Winter, Be-Bop Deluxe and more. DVDs, films and books on Iron Maiden, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Spinal Tap and more. Live reviews of AC/DC, Judas Priest, Manic Street Preachers, Alice Cooper, Queens Of The Stone Age, The Doobie Brothers and more.

Buyer’s Guide: W.A.S.P
The Blackie Lawless and co. albums you should listen to if you want to check out the best from the band.

Lives
We preview tours by Stewart Copeland, Graham Bonnet and Blaze Bayley. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Vernon Reid
The Living Colour guitarist on the records, artists and gigs that are of lasting significance to him.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* NB: Due to some unexpected logistical delays, this issue will be on the UK newsstand from Tuesday

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

The brand new issue of Prog Magazine is on sale now, with Genesis on the front cover.

With the release of the 50th-anniversary box set of Genesis’s fabled 1974 album, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, finally upon us, Prog looks at the ensuing tour for the album, during which, of course, Peter Gabriel decided to quit the band. Such a pivotal moment in the history of progressive rock, we're sure you’ll agree. We speak to those who were there at the time: band, management, crew and fans, to discover the truth behind what unveils itself to be a quite harrowing time in Genesis and prog’s evolution.

Equally fascinating are Roy Harper’s musings on his career in The Prog Interview; Jeff Wayne’s thoughts on his own and whether it’s been overshadowed by Martians; and an exploration of Hawkwind’s 1974 album Hall Of The Mountain Grill.

Elsewhere, this issue boasts a truly international line-up with young Scottish prog rockers Ihlo, Welsh pop-proggers Chimpan A, Norwegian prog rockers Green Carnation, US proggers Discipline, Swedish art-rockers Gaupa, and, from the UK, Jakko Jakszyk, Kindred Spirit Band and Moon Halo.

And do check out our great free downloadable sampler from UK prog rockers Stuckfish too.

Also in Prog 163...

Jeff Wayne - Martians, Spartacus, Peter Gabriel and David Essex collide in the crazy world of the producer and composer.

Ihlo - the young prog hotshots celebrate album number two, Legacy

Hawkwind - the story of 1974’s legendary Hall Of The Mountain Grill.

Chimpan A - Robert Reed and Steve Balsamo get arty with a new set of progressive pop.

Green Carnation - the Norwegian prog rockers unveil Part 1 of their A Dark Poem trilogy, The Shores Of Melancholia.

Jakko Jakszyk - King Crimson frontman explores his past on new solo record, Son Of Glen.

Kindred Spirit Band - UK folk proggers mix fantasy with themes of mental health on seventh album, The Journey Within.

Discipline - US prog rockers are back with their first new album for eight years.

Gaupa - now slimmed to a quartet, there’s no let up in the art-rock attack from this Swedish group.

Moon Halo - Mostly Autumn, Riversea and Lee Abraham musicians make a sweet melodic prog noise.

Mark Pritchard - The Thom Yorke collaborator and electronic musician talks about his work with the Radiohead artist.

Roy Harper - “When does folk become prog? And when does Roy become folk?” asks Roy Harper as he looks back over his lengthy career.

Crayola Lecturn - on a prog world full of Tangerine Dream, Rick Wakeman, Army Of Moths and ELO.

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Genesis,, Supertramp, Vangelis, Alan White, John Wetton, Green Carnation, Jo Quail, Arjen Lucassen, Faust, Crown Lands, Between The Buried And Me, Pink Floyd, Darryl Way’s Wolf, Huw Lloyd-Langton and loads more…

This issue we went to Prog For Peart, EppyFest and Bloodstock and saw The Von Hertzen Brothers, The Emerald Dawn, Dave Bainbridge and Sally Minnear and more!

Buying Prog Magazine made easy...

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* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

This is an editorial that I never wanted to write. One that I hoped I’d never have to write. How can Ozzy possibly be gone? The mighty Double O has always been here, and I thought he always would be. I thought he’d outlive us all, even against all the odds. And in a way he will. His music, his legend and his legacy are bigger than all of us.

It’s not hyperbole to say that without Ozzy, Classic Rock and half the bands we write about wouldn’t exist, and that the landscape of hard rock would look very different. No Ozzy, no Black Sabbath. No Black Sabbath, no heavy metal.

This issue, which was originally destined to feature a celebration of Black Sabbath’s final hurrah, has morphed into a celebration of Ozzy, his life, his work and ultimately of the man he was.

If there’s been one overriding sentiment since we lost him – whether he’s thought of as the Prince Of Darkness, the Godfather Of Heavy Metal, the patriarch of The Osbournes reality TV show or Birmingham’s hometown hero – it’s what a fundamentally lovely guy he was. And how much he and Sharon were devoted to one another.

Rest in peace, Ozzy. We shall not see your like again.

• Get the new issue of Classic Rock
• Get the Glenn Hughes bundle edition
• Get the Walter Trout bundle edition

Features

Ozzy Osbourne
We look back and celebrate the life and times of the Godfather Of Heavy Metal, including specific events through the eyes of Classic Rock contributors and others who met him, many of whom knew him well. Hilarity, outrage, disbelief, madness, sadness. You really couldn't make it up. Plus, stars bid farewell.

Mick Ralphs
Goodbye to the guitarist and songwriter with Mott The Hoople and Bad Company. In the words of Ian Hunter and Paul Rodgers.

The Classic Rock Interview: Glenn Hughes
The bassist/vocalist has spent more than 50 years in rock. Addiction nearly derailed his career, but he pulled himself back from the brink and is still going strong. A life? Not half.

Harem Scarem
They never achieved the degree of success their music should have brought them, but they’re still knocking on the door.

Walter Trout
The bluesman returns with his new album Sign Of The Times, on which he looks at a world gone wrong.

The Classic Rock x Glenn Hughes bundle edition

Glenn Hughes’ latest solo album, Chosen, is set for release on September 5, and to celebrate we have a special edition of Classic Rock that features a limited-edition Glenn cover, a hand-signed lyric sheet and an exclusive coke bottle clear vinyl. Get yours now.

The Classic Rock x Walter Trout bundle edition

This Walter Trout x Classic Rock bundle comes with an exclusive, limited-edition Guitarwrist bracelet, made from guitar strings played by Walter Trout himself. It's available to order now.

Regulars

The Dirt
Joe Perry hints at final Aerosmith show; ELO forced to cancel final shows; a 100-minute version of Ozzy Osbourne’s Villa Park event to be released in cinemas next year. Welcome back Dinosaur Pile-Up and Rodney Crowell. Say hello to De’Wayne. Say goodbye to Dave Cousins, Kevin Riddles.

Q&A: Warren Haynes
Gov’t Mule’s leader on his new release, musical and marital partnerships, and how the blues can rescue you from misery.

The Hot List
We look at some of the essential new tracks you need to hear and the artists to have on your radar. This month they include Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts, Ashley McBryde, The Overjoyed, Starbenders, The Violent Hour and more.

Reviews
New albums from Bryan Adams, The Hives, Roger Waters, Helloween, The Black Keys, Enuff Z’Nuff, Wolfsbane, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Osees, Ron Sexsmith and more. Reissues from Deep Purple, Chicago, The Seeds, Hawkwind, Bruce Dickinson, Jeff Wayne, Butterfield Blues Band, Strapps and more. DVDs, films and books on Talking Heads, Alan Niven, John Sykes, George Harrison, Pamela Des Barres and more. Live reviews of Back To The Beginning (Black Sabbath, Metallica, GN’R and more), Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts, Muse, Nine Inch Nails, Iggy Pop, Rival Sons and more.

Lives
We preview tours by Helloween, Warrior Soul and Connor Selby. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse
Singer Greta Valenti picks her records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

The brand new issue of Prog Magazine is on sale now, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Kate Bush's fifth album, Hounds Of Love, on the cover...

An almost perfect blend of progressive pop and progressive rock, the hugely successful singles on one side are counterpointed by the wonderful The Ninth Wave suite on the other. We tell the story of the album that made Kate a global phenomenon and look at the impact it had on musicians of today, while photographer Guido Harari draws back the curtain on the promotional photos he took of Kate at the time.

We pay tribute to Strawbs founder Dave Cousins, who sadly passed away last month, and we also look at how Mike Oldfield followed up the massive success of Tubular Bells with Hergest Ridge, which has a new anniversary reissue out. We also speak to Peter Giles about his time in King Crimson and more, discuss Steve Rothery and Thorsten Quaeschning’s new project Bioscope, and explore the new Canterbury sound being made by younger bands inspired by their 60s and 70s heroes.

As well as that, Nad Sylvan, Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate, Gösta Berlings Saga, Auri, Nosound and Magic Pie bring us up to speed with their new releases, and there’s a wonderful Kate Bush art print and a great free sampler from UK prog rockers Jump, celebrating 35 years of making music.

Also in Prog 162...

Dave Cousins - we pay tribute to the Strawbs bandleader, who died in July.

Mike Oldfield - how on earth do you follow up the massive-selling, No.1 debut album Tubular Bells? Find out here.

Nad Sylvan - the Steve Hackett vocalist takes inspiration from his past to move his sound onwards on Monumentata.

Bioscope - Marillion’s Steve Rothery and Tangerine Dream’s Thorsten Quaeschning make compelling music in this new project.

Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate - the prog boffins are back and this time they’ve got uncertainty in their sights.

Gösta Berlings Saga - the Swedish instrumental proggers celebrate 25 years in style with new album Forever Now.

Canterbury 2.0 - the Kent city has cast an auspicious shadow over progressive music for more than 50 years. Facelift Magazine's Phil Howitt introduces us to modern musicians inspired by its sound.

Auri - the folky prog Nightwish offshoot make their third album and look forward to touring for the first time!

Magic Pie - the Norwegian prog rockers break their writers’ block with Maestro, their first new music for six years.

Nosound - Giancarlo Erra talks us through the first Nosound music for six years.

Peter Giles - Peter has gone from playing bass for Giles, Giles & Fripp and King Crimson to becoming a Gold Medal-winning athlete at 80. He tells us his story.

Heather Findlay - Heather tells us about her prog world full of Floyd, Genesis, Kate Bush and Worzel Gummidge!

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Bioscope;, Jethro Tull; Gilgamesh; National Health; Giles, Giles & Fripp; Popol Vuh; Hawkwind; Auri; Chimpan A; Styx; Van der Graaf Generator; Ihlo; John McLaughlin; Discipline; Cardiacs; Be-Bop Deluxe and loads more.

And this month we’ve seen gigs by Galahad, The Flower Kings, Neal Morse, Adrian Belew and Jerry Harrison, Kraftwerk, Gryphon and more...

Buying Prog Magazine made easy...

* You can use our store finder to find your nearest stockist. Go to Prog on the alphabetical pull-down menu and enter your postcode.

* The easiest option for everyone would be to go digital. You can get single digital issues from the Apple Store, from Zinio and all manner of digital magazine retailers.

* Subscribe to Prog. We are now accepting subscriptions from the rest of the world. Subscriptions available here.

* In North America, Prog is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

Bad Moon Rising, Proud Mary, Born On The Bayou, Fortunate Son, Up Around The Bend (my favourite, if push came to shove)… All songs that are intrinsically part of the fabric of classic rock, or let’s be honest, popular music as a whole. And that’s just a mere handful!

They all came from Creedence Clearwater Revival and the mind and the pen of that band’s guiding light, John Fogerty. This month we sat down with him to discuss the trials and tribulations of Creedence, his songwriting and his decision to reclaim his Creedence legacy (and songs) by ‘doing a Taylor Swift’ and re-visiting some of his classics. “I probably didn’t deserve to have my songs stolen,” he tells us.

This month, we've also produced a Halestorm bundle to celebrate their upcoming album, Everest. This includes the magazine with a bespoke cover starring the band, and comes with an exclusive, hand-signed lyric sheet, as well as a hot pink variant of the album. It's available to pre-order now.

Sadly, this month has also been a bit of a sobering one in terms of people who we have lost to the great gig in the sky. We pay tribute to Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson and funk rock legend Sly Stone and, as promised, publish the last in-depth interview with Rick Derringer. Next issue we will pay full tribute to Mick Ralphs, who passed away just as we were going to print.

Until next month…

• Get the new issue of Classic Rock
• Get the Halestorm bundle edition

Features

John Fogerty
At the age of 80, John Fogerty is still going strong. This month he sits down for the Classic Rock interview to discuss the life and times of Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Bush
Whipping boys of the UK music press in the 90s, Bush know what an uphill battle feels like. Today they’re still fighting.

Rick Derringer
In a rare and exclusive interview before his death in May, the 60s pop star recalls inspiring Eddie Van Halen, being in a band with Johnny Winter, and much more.

Joe Bonamassa & Joanne Shaw Taylor
The two blues giants talk about AI, internet trolls, crap journalists, and music execs who need a punch in the face.

Wytch Hazel
While they don’t describe themselves as a Christian rock band, they admit their religious beliefs feed into and help their music.

The Black Keys
While 2024 is a year they’d like to forget, with a new outlook and new album they’re hoping 2025 will be one to remember.

The Classic Rock x Halestorm bundle edition

This Halestorm x Classic Rock bundle comes with an exclusive lyric sheet, hand-signed by the band, as well as a hot pink variant of the band’s forthcoming album, Everest. It's available to pre-order now.

Regulars

The Dirt
Bon Jovi return to the stage; Townshend responds to Starkey sacking; Birmingham hosts world’s first Ozzy exhibition; Vivian Campbell finally cancer-free.Welcome back Brent Cobb and Willie Nile. Say hello to California Irish and Young Gun Silver Fox. Say goodbye to Sly Stone, Brian Wilson, Colin Jerwood and more.

The Stories Behind The Songs: Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel
Written as a dig at the band members who quit, Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) became a timeless hit.

Q&A: Volbeat
Singer/guitarist Michael Poulsen on life, loss, evil, spirituality, choosing music over boxing, the new album, goats…

Ever Meet Lemmy?: Lzzy Hale
Ronnie Dio pinched her cheeks, Wolfgang Van Halen took her to 5150, she bought Rob Halford high heels for Christmas.

Reviews
New albums from Alice Cooper, Halestorm, Styx, Bush, Joe Bonamassa, The Cold Stares, Luke Morley, Orianthi, Diamond Head, Paul Weller and more. Reissues from Jeff Beck, Jethro Tull, Cats In Space,J Mascis, Ginderman, Sweet and more. DVDs, films and books on Deep Purple, Blondie, Bob Dylan, The Cure and more. Live reviews of Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Download, Sparks, Chantel McGregor, Forever Now festival, Royal Republic and more.

Lives
We preview tours by Cardinal Black, Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy and Lita Ford. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Orianthi
Guitarist/singer/ songwriter Orianthi picks her records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

There’s a part of me that refuses to believe that Dire Straits’ Brothers In Arms can be celebrating its 40th birthday this year. It seems only a few years ago that I listened to it on a cassette that a friend’s elder brother taped for me (yeah, we were killing music, remember?). I remember it being a staple on my stereo for a very long time. Then, as these things have a habit of happening, I didn’t listen to it for an absolute age.

I was reminded of its excellence in 2001 when the title track was used to brilliant effect scoring a scene in US political drama The West Wing. It was enough to rekindle a love affair with Dire Straits’ finest hour.

This issue we talked to Mark Knopfler and his erstwhile bandmates to discuss the making of that stone-cold classic and epoch-defining record (or should I say CD?).

We also caught up with the Alice Cooper band to discover how they finally reunited to make their first album in 50 years (and we've also created a special Alice-themed bundle edition of the new issue – see details below). And we revisit some of Iron Maiden’s standout live moments, take a trip back to the US Live Aid, look back at the life of Mike Peters and much more. Until next month…

• Get the new issue of Classic Rock
• Get the Alice Cooper bundle edition

Features

Dire Straits
After four Top 5 albums, they were doing well but were hardly a household name. Then they released Brothers In Arms. Mark Knopfler, John Illsley and Guy Fletcher take us back.

Iron Maiden
As the Run For Your Lives tour begins, Maiden manager Rod Smallwood shares what he regards as “the most important and interesting” shows the band have ever played.

Alice Cooper
When Billion Dollar Babies hit No.1 in 1973, instead of solidifying the band they unravelled. Now they’re back. Cooper, Dunaway, Smith and Bruce tell all.

Live Aid USA
Despite the flood of goodwill and camaraderie, the lead-up to the event wasn’t without some clashes of the titans.

Eureka Machines
The importance of “pissing about” according to Chris Catalyst and his crew.

The Classic Rock x Alice Cooper bundle edition

This Alice Cooper x Classic Rock bundle comes with a limited-edition, smart format poster that gives you instant digital access to two exclusive bonus tracks upon receipt of the poster and a high-quality download of the full album on release day. It's available now.

Regulars

The Dirt
The Who dismiss drummer Zak Starkey – again; Springsteen and Trump trade blows; Judas Priest documentary in the pipeline. Welcome back A Thousand Horses and Fishbone, say hello to Ravagers and Star Circus, say goodbye to Mike Peters, Rick Derringer, Simon House and more.

The Stories Behind The Songs: Buckcherry
How frontman Josh Todd’s mea culpa gave the Californian rockers their biggest radio hit, Sorry.

Q&A: H.E.A.T
H.A.A.T frontman Kenny Leckremo on the state of rock, his predecessor, why Swedes write great songs, being cheesy, big hair and more.

Six Things You Need To Know About: Battlesnake
They often perform in just underwear, they like to live dangerously on stage, they dig chaos, bombast and more.

The Hot List
We look at some of the essential new tracks you need to hear and the artists to have on your radar. This month they include Ace Monroe, Robert Randolph, Orianthi, Whiskey Myers, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Zig Zag, His Lordship and more.

Reviews
New albums from Buckcherry, Neil Young, Sparks, His Lordship, Saxon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Queens Of The Stone Age, Fishbone, Volbeat, Tangerine Dream and more. Reissues from Queen, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Harley, Mike Oldfield, Motörhead, Robin Trower, Metallica, Greg Lake, Grateful Dead and more. DVDs, films and books on Frank Zappa, The Who, Bono, Queens Of The Stone Age, Arthur Baker and more. Live reviews of Steven Wilson, Dead & Company, Sammy Hagar, Bearded Theory Festival and more.

Buyer’s Guide: Steve Lillywhite
The producer has his fingerprints all over a number of top rock, post-punk, new wave and art-rock albums of the 80s in particular.

Lives
We preview tours by Lynyrd Skynyrd , Sparks and King Diamond. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Adam Duritz
Counting Crows’ mainman picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

The brand new, gift-packed issue of Prog Magazine is on sale now, with Marillion on the front cover...

We celebrate 30 years of Afraid Of Sunlight, the band’s final album for EMI, looking at the making of the album as the band recall how they created triumph out of potential impending disaster with one of their most-loved and enduring of albums.

Also this month we catch up with Canterbury legend Richard Sinclair for a trawl through his illustrious musical history; Derek Shulman, Kerry Minnear, Gary Green and John Weathers discuss the revamp of Gentle Giant’s Playing The Fool live album; former Tangerine Dream man Peter Baumann is back making music after a six-year hiatus and we pay tribute to former Hawkwind and David Bowie musician Simon House, who sadly died last month.

Elsewhere, Katatonia, John Hackett Band, Pride Of Passion, Lars Fredrik Frøislie, Robert Reed, Hedvig Mollestad Trio and AVKRVST tell us all about their latest releases, and we review the 50th-anniversary celebration of Mike Oldfield’s Hergest Ridge as well as live shows by Steven Wilson, Jon Anderson, Hawkwind and the Winter’s End festival.

And as for all the gifts, you get four Marillion Afraid Of Sunlight coasters plus an art print and four AoS coasters, a newly updated Jethro Tull e-book plus a great Comedy Of Errors digital sampler too. Enjoy.

Inside Prog 161...

Simon House - remembering the former High Tide, Hawkwind and David Bowie musician who died in May.

Gentle Giant - Derek Shulman, Kerry Minnear, Gary Green and John Weathers discuss their carefully remastered 70s live album.

Katatonia - frontman Jonas Renkse guides Prog through the band’s recent upheavals.

John Hackett Band - Hackett and co discuss their current album, Red Institution.

Pride Of Passion - the 80s proggers, featuring a former member of Marillion, return.

Peter Baumann - the one-time Tangerine Dream man releases first solo music for a decade.

Lars Fredrik Frøislie - Wobbler’s keyboardist discusses
old-school instruments, singing in Norwegian and his latest solo venture.

Robert Reed - Wales’s answer to Mike Oldfield discusses his fourth Sanctuary album.

Hedvig Mollestad Trio - Hedvig’s back with her trio and they’re rocking out on Bees In The Bonnet.

AVKRVST - young Norwegian proggers tell us about their return with richly atmospheric second LP Waving At The Sky.

Anyone - Riz Story discusses his Anyone project and the latest concept album, Echoes Of Man.

Richard Sinclair - the Canterbury legend details his musical journey that takes in Caravan, Hatfield & The North, Camel, National Health, In Cahoots and so much more.

Joe Cairney - the Comedy Of Errors singer on a prog world full of Genesis, Camel, IQ and cheesy pop!

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Mike Oldfield, Rick Wakeman, Greg Lake, Horslips, Steve Hackett, Happy The Man,
Frank Zappa, Atomic Rooster, Nosound, Chicago, Nad Sylvan, Tangerine Dream, Jakko M Jakszyk, Brian Eno & Beatie Wolfe and loads more…

And this month we’ve seen gigs by Steven Wilson, Jon Anderson, Hawkwind, Winter's End Festival, Elder, Exit North and more...

Buying Prog Magazine made easy...

* You can use our store finder to find your nearest stockist. Go to Prog on the alphabetical pull-down menu and enter your postcode.

* The easiest option for everyone would be to go digital. You can get single digital issues from the Apple Store, from Zinio and all manner of digital magazine retailers.

* Subscribe to Prog. We are now accepting subscriptions from the rest of the world. Subscriptions available here.

* In North America, Prog is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

As Babymetal hit London’s O2 Arena and prepare to release new album Metal Forth, we speak to the trio about why they’ve gone collab crazy!

Metal Forth features a whopping seven guest stars from the modern metal scene: Poppy, Spiritbox, Electric Callboy, Slaughter To Prevail, Bloodywood, Polyphia and Tom Morello.

Babymetal singer Su-metal says they formed friendships with the artists through touring, resulting in an album that’s “incredibly rich and diverse”. The trio’s ambition now is to inspire others.

“During the making of the new album Metal Forth, and throughout these past few years of touring, we’ve really felt that Babymetal is being recognised within the metal world, and that there are people we’ve influenced who are now becoming the next generation of metal artists,” says Su-metal. “Our next goal is to help lead that next generation.”

We also speak to the guest collaborators themselves, about what it’s like to work with Japan’s biggest and brightest metal band.

“After so many years of writing music mostly on our own, it was refreshing to have totally different influences come into play,” explains Electric Callboy’s Kevin Ratajcazk of hit song Ratatata. “It made us more aware of how easy it is to get stuck in your ways, and it helped us to think more outside the box.”

Also in the issue, Metallica guitar legend Kirk Hammett reveals why he doesn’t believe in retirement, why he’s working on a new solo album – and why he cooked breakfast for Hollywood hotshot Jason Momoa.

Volbeat’s Michael Poulsen gets The Hammer Interview treatment, opening up about his friendship with King Diamond, his deep-dive into Satanism, and his weird obsession with… goats?! Plus, ahead of Linkin Park’s show at Wembley Stadium, we investigate their triumph, tragedy and unlikely resurrection.

Elsewhere, Opeth uncover the story behind their anthem Ghost Of Perdition, and System Of A Down bassist/Seven Hours After Violet man Shavo Odadjian talks deathcore, Cuban cigars and nonsense lyrics.

We also remember the chaos of Nine Inch Nails’ infamous Self Destruct touring cycle, find out why The Conjuring star Vera Farmiga has formed metal band The Yagas, and watch symphonic metal band Plague Of Angels take on a bunch of irate Christians by playing York Minster.

All this, along with Sleep Token, Ghost, Bury Tomorrow, Confess, Kuunatic, Malevolence, Vexed, Kalandra, Incineration festival, Inferno festival and much, much more.

Only in the new issue of Metal Hammer, on sale now. Order it online and have it delivered straight to your door.

Granted, we’re a fair few months away from our Best Of The Year issue, but if I was a betting girl I’d lay money now on knowing what the event of the year is going to be. Yes, you already know what I’m talking about… the reunion of the original line-up of Black Sabbath for their mighty last hurrah (with the esteemed company of rock and metal’s best in support to celebrate) in their home city of Birmingham.

To mark this momentous occasion, Classic Rock spoke with the four men who, let’s face it, invented heavy metal – Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward – ahead of what most definitely will be their final time on stage together. I have a suspicion July 5 is going to be a very emotional day for all involved.

This issue is a premium edition, which means that each copy comes with an official Black Sabbath Back to The Beginning gig poster and laptop sticker (subscribers, mail order and UK newsstand only).

Also available this month: A Skunk Anansie x Classic Rock bundle edition with an exclusive crystal and white splatter variant of their new album The Painful Truth (out today!), an art card signed by each member, and a limited-edition variant cover featuring Skin & Co on the cover.

• Get the new issue of Classic Rock
• Get the Skunk Anansie bundle edition

Features

Black Sabbath
We talk to all four original members about their final show.

Ghost
Tobias Forge, aka Papa V Perpetua, talks dark matters and working towards “newer, better, bigger”.

The Doobie Brothers
With vocalist Michael McDonald on board again and a new album, they’ve still got what it takes – just listen to the music.

Skunk Anansie
Their future in the balance, with the new album they “stood on top of the cliff, held hands and jumped into the clouds”.

Motörhead
Orgasmatron signalled a new start for Motörhead. We turn back the clock to 1986 with a classic interview.

Chris Goss
You can’t rush art. Mindfulness and spirituality matter… These are among the things that shape the Masters Of Reality mainman's worldview.

Regulars

The Dirt
Bad Company make it into the Hall Of Fame; new albums from Alice Cooper and Faces; Ritchie Blackmore grounded by doctors. Welcome back The Dead Daisies and Stan Lynch, say hello to Shuyler Jansen and Ally Venable, say goodbye to Clem Burke, Roy Thomas Baker, Les Binks and more.

The Stories Behind The Songs: The Stranglers
Driven by a gritty, hooky bass riff, Peaches was a UK Top 10 and is still a must-play by today’s Stranglers almost 50 years on.

John Lydon
The PiL frontman and former Sex Pistol on losing loved ones, living near the California fires, spoken-word gigs, underpants and more

Six Things You Need To Know About: When Rivers Meet
Lockdown helped them build a fan base, Aaron aspires to the silver screen, communication is key and more.

The Hot List
We look at some of the essential new tracks you need to hear and the artists to have on your radar. This month they include De’Wayne , Hollow Souls, Kadavar, Star Circus and more.

Reviews
New albums from Skunk Anansie, Doobie Brothers, Garbage, The Dead Daisies, Gary Moore, CJ Wildheart, Bernie Marsden and more. Reissues from Status Quo, Dire Straits, INXS, Black Stone Cherry, Don Henley, Sweet, Skid Row, Bruce Soord, Suede, Donnas and more. DVDs, films and books on Fleetwood Mac, Porcupine Tree, Jethro Tull, Genesis, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Yoko Ono and more. Live reviews of The Who, Ghost, Manic Street Preachers, Masters Of Reality, Eureka Machines and more.

Buyer’s Guide: Goo Goo Dolls
Although the strength of their songwriting has been frustratingly inconsistent, the band have shown moments of real class.

Lives
We preview tours by Bonnie Raitt, Zeal & Ardor and Chantel McGregor. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Robin Trower
Blues lifer Robin Trower picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* In North America, Classic Rock is available in branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

The brand new issue of Prog Magazine is on sale now, celebrating the lgeacy of the late Yes bassist Chris Squire on the cover...

Squire, who died ten years ago in June, wasn’t just a fantastic musician, he really was a larger-than-life character. His sense of musical adventure went a long way to help make progressive rock such an enduring artform, but so did his wholehearted embracing of life itself. Many of his former band mates recall Squire with fondness and good humour while his prog peers have chosen his 30 greatest musical moments for you to enioy. And what a playlist that makes!

Elsewhere Robert Fripp and Andy Summers look back on the music they created together in the 1980s, now curated in one set with additional tracks, former Curved Air and Police drummer Stewart Copeland looks back over his fascinating career and Cosmic Cathedral, the new band featuring former Zappa and Genesis drummer Chester Thompson and Neal Morse reveal the secrets of their new Deep Water album.

Plus Cosmograf, Black Country, New Road, Glass Hammer, O.R.k., Held By Trees, Circu5 and Sally Potter bring us up to speed with their latest releases, we review Savatage's comeback show with Opeth in Brazil as well as Solstice, Amplifer and Ghost Of The Machine and review the new Katatonia album.

There's a great free sampler from Tigermoth Records and four lovely Chris Squire postcards too!

Inside Prog 160...

Cosmic Cathedral - Neal Morse hooks up with Chester Thompson and pals for a proper prog-fusion shindig.

Andy Summers & Robert Fripp - two prog guitar gods discuss their collected works of the 80s.

Cosmograf - Robin Armstrong’s reliable prog vehicle returns with more musical adventures.

Prog Metal - a look at the current evolution the sub-genre is undergoing and the bands spearheading it right now, including Jinjer and Blood Incantation

Black Country, New Road - rocked by internal strife, the UK art-rock collective are back stronger than ever with new album, Forever Howlong.

Glass Hammer - prolific US proggers keep the concept albums coming with Rogue.

Held By Trees - the former Talk Talk acolytes spread their own musical wings with Hinterland.

O.R.k. - the multinational prog quartet pack a weighty punch with their latest, Firehose Of Falsehoods.

Sally Potter - filmmaker and sister of late VdGG bassist Nic, on her latest musical journey.

Stewart Copeland - former Curved Air, Police and Gizmodrome drummer Stewart Copeland and his amazing musical career!

Circu5 - mainman Steve Tilling on a prog world full of Hawkwind, Trevor Rabin, Jellyfish and Bucks Fizz!

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Katatonia, Gentle Giant, Kevin Ayers, Greenslade, AVKRVST, Peter Baumann, Lars Fredrik Frøislie, Cosmograf, Catherine Anne Davies, Steve Jansen, Hedvig Mollestad Trio, John Hackett Band, Heather Findlay, Red Bazar and loads more.

And this month we’ve seen gigs by Ghost Of The Machine, Savatage, John Lodge, Amplifier, Solstice, Nektar, Martin Barre, Geordie Greep, Penelope Trappes, Heilung and more...

Buying Prog Magazine made easy...

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* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

Metal Hammer magazine has hit 400 issues with its latest, Sleep Token headlined, edition. To celebrate the fact, Hammer hosted a special birthday party at the iconic Black Heart in London with special guest DJ slots from UK metalcore heroes Employed To Serve and rising doom stars Green Lung.

Hammer has also received a video of well wishes from some of the many metal stars featured in its pages over the years, from Zakk Wylde to Ice-T, Jesse Leach, Sharon Den Adel and more.

Guitar legend Zakk Wylde kicks the video off in a typically playful way, introducing himself as "Zakk Wylde here: Black Label [Society], Ozzy, Pantera Celebration, Zakk Sabbath, Experience Hendrix... Dishes, laundry. I just wanna wish everyone out there at Metal Hammer UK happy 400th issue and here's to a whole tonne more."

Watch the full video below.

Metal Hammer issue 400 is on-sale now featuring British metal sensation Sleep Token on the cover to commemorate the release of their latest - and possibly chart-topping - new album Even In Arcadia.

Elsewhere in the mag, we look over some of the cover stars from Hammer's history, uncovering what they were like then and how they've changed over the years.

There's also a hometown tour of Oakland from Machine Head's Robb Flynn, a deep-dive into the history of symphonic metal giants Within Temptation, the story behind Coheed And Cambria's The Suffering and Knocked Loose discussing their mission to make pigsqueals mainstream.

Only in the new issue of Metal Hammer, on sale now. Order it online and have it delivered straight to your door!

Last week, Metal Hammer launched its 400th issue, with masked metal mavericks Sleep Token returning to the cover courtesy of two exclusive variants you can now order online.

To celebrate, we decided to throw a little launch party at the iconic Black Heart in Camden, London. The night saw DJ sets from British metalcore heroes Employed To Serve and mighty stoner doom warriors Green Lung, as well as the official launch of our first ever Metal Hammer beer, Pale Satan - now available in bars and pubs around the UK thanks to our friends in Radio City Beerworks.

As part of the celebrations, we also got Louis Noguera, the man behind London Battle Jackets, to craft us a special, one-off Metal Hammer battle jacket. Look at it! It's lovely!

To see more highlights of the Metal Hammer 400 launch party and an exclusive photo gallery from Hammer photographer Tina K, scroll down and get stuck in. The 400th issue of Metal Hammer is out now. Order your copy here.

This month marks a historic milestone in Metal Hammer history as we unveil our 400th issue! The cover stars? Masked metal phenomena Sleep Token, with two separate covers to collect – one representing House Veridian, and one House Feathered Host. Which will you choose?

As Sleep Token prepare to drop their brand new album, Even In Arcadia, we uncover their secret origin story, via those who were there. From their first producer, to publicists and promoters, we discover what Vessel was really like, and how his vision developed.

“The starting point was removing this idea of the music you listen to being related to the person making it,” says George Lever, Sleep Token’s producer from 2016 to 2021. “By being anonymous, the listener is forced to relate to what they’re actually hearing.”

At first, people didn’t know what to make of this mysterious masked band, who defied categorisation.

“In its simplest terms, we described it as ‘Sam Smith meets Meshuggah’,” says Nathan Barley Philips, co-founder of Basick Records, which released Sleep Token’s first songs. “Those were the layman’s terms we used to describe it to people who might not get it. Believe me, there were people in those early days who didn’t!”

To celebrate Metal Hammer’s 400th issue, we also revisit the first appearances of 10 of our biggest and best bands in the mag, uncovering what they were like then, and how they’ve changed.

Elsewhere in the magazine, Machine Head mastermind Robb Flynn takes us on an insider tour of his hometown, Oakland; symphonic pioneers Within Temptation talk us through their dramatic history; Coheed And Cambria reveal how they wrote The Suffering; and Knocked Loose announce their mission to make pig squeals mainstream.

The Used’s Bert McCracken dishes out his life lessons on Shakespeare and spiders, Deftones-core frontrunners Thornhill explain why they’re bringing back 90s cool, and Beast In Black unveil their dream team-up with the Diablo videogame franchise and manga Berserk.

We also sit down with Sharon Osbourne to find out how she helped kickstart Ozzy’s career after his dismissal from Black Sabbath, and reshaped modern metal via Ozzfest and more.

All this, along with Svalbard, Marko Hietala, Neckbreakker, Death SS, Bury Tomorrow, Tetrarch, Wardruna, Limp Bizkit and much, much more.

Only in the new issue of Metal Hammer, on sale now. Order it online and have it delivered straight to your door!

You can blame Classic Rock for Mike Campbell’s memoir,” our writer Jaan Uhelszki told me when I asked her to interview Tom Petty’s righthand man and legendary Heartbreaker for this issue.

“The first time I interviewed him, back in April 2014, it was for this mag,” she continued. “In the middle of his reminiscences about recording Refugee, with its punishing 71 takes, he told me about the time Jefferson Airplane’s Grace Slick burst into the Heartbreakers dressing room, bellowing: ‘I’m looking for a dude with a ’lude.’ I knew then that the guitarist had to write a book.” And with Jaan’s coercion, he did exactly that. She talks to him about life, love, Tom Petty and more in the new issue.

In a curious case of six degrees of separation, our cover story concerns Fleetwood Mac and the time when Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined the band 50 years ago, changed the band’s sound and in turn the course of rock’n’roll history.

But who played guitar in Lindsey Buckingham’s absence on the Mac’s final tour? None other than Mike Campbell. It’s a small ol’ world.

Also available this month: A Luke Spiller x Classic Rock bundle edition with an exclusive autographed lyric sheet (hand-signed by Luke), an exclusive t-shirt and a limited-edition Classic Rock magazine with Luke Spiller on the cover.

• Get the new issue of Classic Rock
• Get the Luke Spiller bundle edition

Features

Fleetwood Mac
With Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham on board, their 1975 self-titled White Album was the first record by what became the band’s most beloved and successful line-up.

Those Damn Crows
Religion, psychedelics and a near-death experience were all inspirations for the Welsh band’s new album.

The Classic Rock Interview: Pete Townshend
With The Who he wrote some of the great songs from the first wave of pop, then went on to conquer the rock world

Lollapalooza ’92
In an exclusive book extract, we look at how down-the-bill sudden stars Pearl Jam’s performances on the 1992 tour sparked crowd frenzies verging on riots.

Luke Spiller
On his first solo album, The Struts frontman mixes classic flavours, velvet-lined pop and old European flair.

Mike Campbell
The guitarist talks about his years as Tom Petty’s right-hand man in the Heartbreakers, early-days self-doubt, playing with Dylan and Fleetwood Mac, and two love stories.

Regulars

The Dirt
Iron Maiden official film and book coming in autumn; Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley to reunite; Lemmy statue unveiled; early Beatles tape discovered… Welcome back Love/Hate and Erja Lyytinen. Say hello to Split Dogs and The Blue Stones. Say goodbye to Brian James, Andy Peebles, Marty Callner.

The Stories Behind The Songs: Joe Walsh
A career crossroads, snow-capped mountains and a runaway lawnmower all played a part in making Rocky Mountain Way.

Q&A: Don Airey
The Deep Purple keyboard player, go-to session guy and solo artist on his new album, touring, Purple, Blackmore.

Ever Meet Lemmy? Yngwie Malmsteen
Yes he has. And Blackmore, Angus, Metallica, May, Mogg…
The Swedish shredder recalls some of his close encounters

Reviews
New albums from Ghost, Stereophonics, Hawkwind, Billy Idol, H.E.A.T, Luke Spiller, Robin Trower, Melvins, Neil Young, Samantha Fish, Machine Head and more. Reissues from Pink Floyd, Wings, Small Faces, Helloween, David Bowie, Angel, Camel, Godfathers, Dwarves, Raven and more. DVDs, films and books on Queen, Kirk Hammett, Genesis, The Jam, Slade, The Clash and more. Live reviews of The Temperance Movement, Avantasia, The Wildhearts, Guitar Wolf, Wytch Pycknyck and more.

Lives
We preview tours by Daryl Hall, Rosalie Cunningham and Toby Lee. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Samantha Fish
The guitarist and singer picks her records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* In North America, Classic Rock is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

The brand new issue of Prog Magazine is on sale now, celebrating 50 years of Hawkwind's Warrior On The Edge Of Time on the cover...

Warrior On The Edge Of Time, Hawkwind’s seminal fantasy epic from 1975 has been called “a genuine Hawkwind classic,” band longstanding band leader Dave Brock, who adds, “there’s some really great stuff on it.” The album celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, so Hawkwind biographer and Prog writer Joe Banks spoke to members of the band about how they made the album, under trying circumstances, it appears. Of course, Hawkwind being Hawkwind, they also have a brand-new studio album out. There Is No Space For Us continues the band’s rich vein of form and we talk to the current line-up about that, too.

Elsewhere Van der Graaf Generator founding member Judge Smith reveals a fascinating career, Prog Readers’ Poll winners Solstice tell us all about their new album Clann, Big Big Train look back on the making of Bard, and IQ are back with a terrific new album, Dominion.

Plus The Flower Kings, Mostly Autumn, Gary Kemp, Dim Gray, Everon, Antimatter, Bjørn Riis, Sometime In February and Dominic Sanderson tell us about their latest releases.

There’s a fantastic free sampler from the great Stickman Records label curated by Elder’s Nick DiSalvo and four Hawkwind postcards too.

Inside Prog 159...

Solstice - Prog Readers’ Poll winners continue to ride the wave with new album, Clann.

The Flower Kings - the world may be in disarray but the Swedish proggers are preaching compassion with Love.

Big Big Train - the multinational proggers finally give Bard the reissue treatment.

Dim Gray - Oslo’s art-rockers continue their evolution with their latest, Shards.

IQ - the UK prog veterans strike gold yet again with Dominion.

Everon - we find out about Shells, the comeback release from the melodic German band.

Mostly Autumn - Yorkshire’s prog institution unveil album number 15, Seawater.

Antimatter - Mick Moss mulls over the ups and downs of Antimatter’s first 25 years.

Gary Kemp - the Saucerful Of Secrets guitarist and singer hits the solo trail again with This Destination.

Sometime In February - young instrumental US prog trio make a big splash with a bit of help from buddies BTBAM.

Bjørn Riis - Airbag guitarist Bjørn Riis explains how he makes his solo records sound different from the day job.

Judge Smith - Van der Graaf Generator founding member Judge Smith on early prog, jazz rock, songstories, requiems and more.

Dominic Sanderson - young UK progger Dominic Sanderson on a prog world full of Dream Theater, Peter Hammill, The Moody Blues and Suede.

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by IQ, Pink Floyd, The Alan Parsons Project, Hawkwind, The Flower Kings, AVAWAVES, Tangerine Dream, Andy Summers & Robert Fripp, Cosmic Cathedral, Bjørn Riis, Mostly Autumn and loads more…

And this issue we went to Fusion Festival and saw gigs by Fish, Wardruna, Animals As Leaders, Kyros, Lazuli, Mogwai, Lee Abraham and more.

Buying Prog Magazine made easy...

* You can use our store finder to find your nearest stockist. Go to Prog on the alphabetical pull-down menu and enter your postcode.

* The easiest option for everyone would be to go digital. You can get single digital issues from the Apple Store, from Zinio and all manner of digital magazine retailers.

* Subscribe to Prog. We are now accepting subscriptions from the rest of the world. Subscriptions available here.

* In North America, Prog is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

Metal Hammer is celebrating the forthcoming release of Ghost’s new album, Skeletá, with a bundle you can’t buy in the shops.

Only through the Louder webstore, you can get your hands on a package that includes an exclusive vinyl variant of Skeletá. It also comes with the new issue of Metal Hammer, featuring an overhauled cover, plus a numbered art print and a sticker set. Pre-order your bundle now while stocks last!

Ghost are the cover stars of the new Hammer and, inside, mastermind Tobias Forge talks all about Skeletá, as well as the band’s enigmatic new frontman Papa V Perpetua.

“I’ve always felt that it was a scary thing,” Forge says of introducing a new iteration of Ghost’s papal frontman. “On one hand, I’m trying to make the ‘product’ that is Ghost an entertaining thing for our fans. On the other, I try to do that as pleasantly as is possible for myself as well.

“When I decided to introduce Cardinal Copia into the mix [for 2018 album Prequelle], it felt very uncomfortable because he was going to be thrown out there as someone who hadn’t become [a Papa Emeritus] yet: ‘Wow, this is going to be a little different.’ But what I did know was that I didn’t have to go through the process of introducing a new character for the next album. Now, I do!”

In addition, we talk to Lamb Of God vocalist Randy Blythe about his new memoir, Just Beyond The Light. We also share an exclusive excerpt of the book, where Randy reflects on his life before kicking alcohol.

“It’s been over a decade since my last drink,” the singer writes, “and looking back on that period of my life through sober eyes is like watching a horror movie starring my mentally ill doppelgänger as the main character. He stumbles drunkenly through a nonsensical plot, doing all sorts of bizarre and distasteful things as he wreaks havoc on everything and everyone around him. Obviously, I know that person was me, but at times I struggle to understand my old self.”

Elsewhere, Cradle Of Filth’s gremlin-in-chief Dani Filth discusses new album The Screaming Of The Valkyries and the British black metallers’ sordid story so far. We review blockbuster new albums from Ghost, Machine Head, Employed To Serve, Bleed From Within, Deafheaven and more, and report back from gigs by Spiritbox, Opeth and Motionless In White, among others.

With Acid Bath, Rivers Of Nihil, Skunk Anansie and many, many more also inside, order the new Hammer in this stunning Skeletá ensemble now!

As Ghost’s new era begins, they return to the front cover of Metal Hammer magazine, out now! We speak to mastermind Tobias Forge about new album Skeletá, the incoming Papa V Perpetua, and what the future holds.

The issue also comes with three exclusive Skeletá gifts: a new Grucifix patch, a purple logo patch, and an art print of Papa and his Nameless Ghouls.

Inside the magazine, Tobias tells us that although he created new frontman Papa V Perpetua, he won’t know what his true personality’s like until he hits the stage and performs on this touring cycle.

“I can’t give you a profiling, because the way things worked with Papa, I, II and III, and Cardi when he was new, was that he doesn’t exist until he’s one with the people, you know?” he says. “On one hand, I’m trying to make the ‘product’ that is Ghost an entertaining thing for our fans. On the other, I try to do that as pleasantly as is possible for myself as well.”

Elsewhere in the magazine, Lamb Of God’s Randy Blythe reveals why he’s written a new self-help book, and introduces an exclusive extract.

Meanwhile, we delve into the fangtastic history of Cradle Of Filth, uncovering the murderous tourmates and wanking nuns that gave them a reputation as Britain's most outrageous metal band.

Guitar legend Zakk Wylde answers your questions about Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads and crisps, and Sharon Osbourne explains what to expect from Black Sabbath’s epic reunion show.

Atreyu tell us the inside story of breakthrough anthem Right Side Of The Bed, Skunk Anansie’s Skin gets The Hammer Interview treatment, and Wardruna’s Einar Selvik reflects on Viking culture and Satanic panics.

Plus, 13-year-old metalcore sensation Harper reveals what it was like to be the youngest person to ever play Download, and why she’s ditching detention for riffs.

All this, along with Employed To Serve, Acid Bath, Lowen, Gore., Machine Head, Spiritbox, Green Lung, Opeth, Paleface Swiss, Motionless In White, Rivers Of Nihil and much, much more.

Only in the new issue of Metal Hammer, on sale now. Order it online and have it delivered straight to your door!

Let’s be honest, rock concert films can be a bit hit or miss. But one that definitely hit is Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii. And now it’s back, with a new revamped, remixed version coming to cinemas next month.

To celebrate the release of Pink Floyd At Pompeii MCMLXXII (note no ‘Live’ and the added numerals), we talked with Floyd drummer Nick Mason and the man behind the new mix, Steven Wilson, about the new version, how it fits into Pink Floyd’s decadeslong legacy, and also how the original film came to be made.

The new issue also includes two Pink Floyd gifts: an official laptop sticker and a giant film poster (available to all subscribers, all online purchasers and at UK newsstands).

Elsewhere, we have a chat with The Darkness as they release their new Dreams On Toast LP, and look back at the making of two very different albums of the 80s – namely Gary Moore’s Run For Cover and Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet. And there’s much more…

Sadly, we lost a fair few rock icons to the great gig in the sky this month. We learned of the passing of The Damned’s Brian James just before we went to press, and will pay tribute to him next issue.

Get the new issue of Classic Rock

Features

Pink Floyd
With a new updated version about to hit cinemas, we look back at the making of Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii, with recollections from drummer Nick Mason, director Adrian Maben and more.

Steven Wilson
Mr Busy on his new solo album, the wonder of space, being a control freak, being prog (or not), Porcupine Tree and more.

Bon Jovi
With the way paved by monster hit Livin’ On A Prayer, Slippery When Wet propelled the band to superstardom.

Smith/Kotzen
Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith and one-time shredder Richie Kotzen’s joint musical venture is no vanity project.

Gary Moore
After leaving Thin Lizzy he made some creditable solo albums in the 80s, then he struck rock gold with Run For Cover.

The Darkness
Defiance makes them the eccentrics that they are, as demonstrated on new album Dreams On Toast.

Envy Of None
Second time’s a charm for Rush’s Alex Lifeson as he returns with a new album alongside his collaborators in Envy Of None.

Goo Goo Dolls
As A Boy Named Goo turns 30, the band tell the story of the album that took them from alt.rock to the mainstream.

Regulars

The Dirt
Ozzy Osbourne will do “little bits and pieces” at Black Sabbath’s Villa Park show; Bad Company and The Black Crowes among Hall Of Fame 2025 nominees; Iron Maiden and Motörhead miss out again; Welcome back Lacuna Coil and Bumblefoot; Say hello to Himalayas and Sons Of Silver; Say goodbye to David Johansen, Rick Buckler, Joey Molland and more.

The Stories Behind The Songs: Bush
A song that its writer at first thought he’d ripped off from someone else’s, Glycerine became their biggest US hit and helped its parent album Sixteen Stone sell more than five million copies.

The Hot List
We look at some of the essential new tracks you need to hear and the artists to have on your radar. This month they include Samantha Fish, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, When Rivers Meet, The Rattlebacks, The Blue Stones and more.

Reviews
New albums from Masters Of Reality, Smith/Kotzen, Those Damn Crows, Envy Of None, Amplifier, Don Airey, Gotthard, L.A. Guns, Simon McBride; Reissues from Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes, Rush, Dio, Yes, Fleetwood Mac, Motörhead, Big Big Train, Pete Townshend; DVDs, films and books on Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, The Yardbirds; Live reviews of Uriah Heep, Beth Hart, Opeth, Frank Black, The Godfathers and more.

Buyer’s Guide: Pretenders
Pulling together strands of various music styles, Chrissie Hynde steered the regularly changing band to deserved major success.

Lives
We preview tours by Asia, Kula Shaker and Tygers Of Pan Tang. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Simon McBride
Deep Purple guitarist and solo artist Simon McBride picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* In North America, Classic Rock is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

We're all very excited about the new Jethro Tull album here at Prog, which is why Ian Anderson graces the front cover of the new issue, not least because new album Curious Ruminant brings with it a sound that harks back to those heady days of the mid-1970s when the band were at the very top of their game. It’s also an album of reflection, something it shares with 1975’s Minstrel In The Gallery. That album celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, so we took Ian on a trip down memory lane, and tell the story of that great album too!

We also pay tribute to former Soft Machine keyboardist Mike Ratledge; discuss 10cc, Godley & Creme and beyond with Kevin Godley; look at the work of the ever-wonderful and ever-unique Cardiacs; discuss the legacy of krautrock pioneers Can with Irmin Schmidt; and chart the continuing rise of UK prog rockers Ghost Of The Machine.

Plus Amplifier, Envy Of None, Karmakanic, Gleb Kolyadin, Wardruna and Tiles’ Chris Herin tell us all about their latest albums and we review the new Steven Wilson record, The Overview.

And we have a great free sampler from UK prog rockers Jadis and four Tull postcards too!

Also in Prog 158...

Mike Ratledge - remembering the Soft Machine founding member and keyboard player who passed away in February.

Cardiacs - bandmembers assess the importance of the group as a new book sheds light on their artful career

Ghost Of The Machine - the rising UK proggers continue their conceptual thread with second album Empires Must Fall.

Envy Of None - the dark prog-pop quartet share the secrets behind album number two.

Karmakanic - bassist Jonas Reingold on the A-list team behind new album Transmutation.

Can - sole surviving member Irmin Schmidt looks at the impressive legacy of the krautrock legends.

Amplifier - now slimmed down to a duo, the UK space rockers discuss their Gargantuan LP.

Gleb Kolyadin - the Russian pianist and composer puts his recent tribulations behind him with a new album of beautiful sounds.

Coheed & Cambria - as they near the endgame of the Amory Wars saga, mainman Claudio Sanchez assesses the concept arc.

Wardruna - nature and art continue to collide on the Norwegians’ brand-new album, Birna.

Kevin Godley - one quarter of the classic 10cc line-up, Kevin Godley looks back on 50 years of music, videos and gizmos!

Chris Herin - Tiles guitarist Chris Herin tells us all about his star-studded new solo album.

Pattern-Seeking Animals - keyboardist and writer John Boegehold on a prog world full of Genesis, Jon Anderson, Jethro Tull and K-pop.

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Steven Wilson, Jethro Tull, Yes, Rush, Amplifier, Envy Of None, Big Big Train, Ghost Of The Machine, Jadis, VdGG, Motorpsycho, Karmakanic, Echolyn, Kraftwerk, Talk Talk, Camel and loads more…

And this issue we’ve seen gigs by Leprous, Steve Hackett, Opeth and TesseracT among many others.

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Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

In the new issue of Metal Hammer, we choose five rising artists and put them on the cover. This year, your New Heavy cover stars are: Electric Callboy, Jinjer, Slaughter To Prevail, Bambie Thug and Bloodywood!

Despite forming in 2010, German electronicore crew Electric Callboy went viral in the pandemic with their silly videos – the one for recent single Elevator Operator features a mermaid in a magic lift.

“People finally saw that even if it’s funny music, it’s well made, that we invested time and passion in it,” explains founding member and co-vocalist Kevin Ratajczak.

Jinjer have spawned YouTube reaction videos thanks to Tatiana Shmayluk’s incredible voice. As the Ukrainians release their stunning new album, Duél, she remembers developing her style by listening to Lamb Of God’s Randy Blythe and other male screamers.

“I wanted to be as good as them, so you even cannot tell that it’s a girl singing,” she says today.

Slaughter To Prevail are taking over the deathcore scene, with new album Grizzly on the horizon. And frontman Alex Terrible has even wrestled a Russian brown bear called Tom…

“It sort of became our Eddie from Iron Maiden pretty naturally,” he says.

After appearing on Eurovision, Ireland’s Bambie Thug is on a mission to bring their “ouija-pop” to the world.

“When I first started writing, I was writing these cheesy love songs,” they confess. “I was obsessed with Barbie movies and fairy tales growing up. But I moved on from that. Thank God for the darkness!”

Meanwhile, Bloodywood are bringing Indian metal to the world with their new album, Nu Delhi.

“We want to get as far as possible and get as many people who are like-minded together, have a great time musically, but also create a community that can actually have an impact on the world,” says rapper Raoul Kerr.

Cover stars aside, in honour of Iron Maiden’s 50th birthday, we remember their 50 greatest moments! From the birth of Eddie to sword fights and… nuns? It’s all here.

Elsewhere, we celebrate the life of late Amen frontman Casey Chaos, get some Life Lessons from Sabaton’s Joakim Broden, and meet Venamoris – the dark project from Dave and Paula Lombardo.

All this, along with Saxon, Sicksense, Heriot, Spiritbox, Architects, Bullet For My Valentine, Trivium and much, much more.

Only in the new issue of Metal Hammer, on sale now. Order it online and have it delivered straight to your door!

One of the most exciting and hyped young bands in modern metal return this year, and they're on the cover of our magazine. As Spiritbox prepare to play London’s historic Alexandra Palace and release their much-anticipated new album Tsunami Sea, we speak to the band about their whirlwind success and the road ahead.

Since releasing debut album Eternal Blue in 2021, the Canadians have played stadiums with Korn and Bring Me The Horizon and collaborated with rap superstar Megan Thee Stallion. In June, they’ll support Linkin Park on their stadium tour.

“We’re just getting started!” says frontwoman Courtney LaPlante. “We make it a joke, but deep down, the goal is world domination.”

Even though her dreams were coming true, Courtney found herself experiencing depression during the writing and recording of Tsunami Sea, which led to feelings of guilt.

“This album is a peek into those dark feelings you have, and you almost feel ashamed that you’re being such a freaking baby about stuff, you know?” she says. “I was really going through a really rough time when I was recording it. The screaming parts were letting out a lot of anger, but the singing parts made me really sad.”

“We’ll always try to be what I call ‘hilariously heavy’,” says guitarist Mike Stringer, of how it sounds. “I think we kind of hit a sweet spot with the heavy stuff on this record, where it’s familiar but it’s a step forward.”

Elsewhere in the new issue of Metal Hammer, we investigate the ‘Durstnaissance’, aka the rising popularity of Limp Bizkit, ahead of their big UK arena tour.

Meanwhile, Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach gets the Metal Hammer Interview treatment, and we take Wardruna’s Einar Selvik foraging in a London graveyard – because why not?

Parkway Drive tells us the inside story of posi anthem Vice Grip, Lacuna Coil look back on 30 years of triumph and tragedy – from breaking out at Ozzfest to run-ins with the FBI – and 'post-deathcore' crew Fit For An Autopsy explain why they’re compelled to sing and scream about the issues that matter where so many of their peers won't.

Rising Scottish stars Vukovi talk exorcising demons and sex with Greek Gods, goth metal king Chris Motionless defends his love of Taylor Swift, and we meet Paleface Swiss, the Zurich foursome dubbed the ‘deathcore Slipknot’.

All this along with Avantasia, Divide And Dissolve, Apocalyptica, Chat Pile, Guns N’ Roses, Dream Theater, Slipknot, The Prodigy, Ithaca and much, much more.

Only in the new issue of Metal Hammer, on sale now. Order it online and have it delivered straight to your door. (And yes, we definitely interviewed the right band).

Steven Wilson graces the cover of the new issue of Prog Magazine as he tells us all about his return to the prog fold with new album The Overview. The new album features two lengthy suites of music and is a concept album about space. That'll be all boxes ticked then!

There’s also the results of the 2024 Readers’ Poll, always a time of excitement and debate. Bill Bruford discusses his return to active music duty, as well as the Winterfold/Summerfold era of his career, Dream Theater tell us all about their first new album with Mike Portnoy since 2009, White Willow look back over their career of making music and discuss what we might expect next, Tiger Moth Tales celebrate a decade of the Cocoon album.

And Neal Morse, Matt Berry, Marko Hietala, Mogwai, Dorie Jackson and Alex Carpani all get 2025 rolling with new albums to tell everyone about.

There's also a great Kscope sampler featuring music from Storm Corrosion, The Pineapple Thief, Gong, Oceansize and more, and four Steven Wilson postcards too!

Also in Prog 157...

Jon Camp - we pay tribute to the Renaissance bassist who died in December.

Readers' Poll - shcoks? Surprises?

Dream Theater - Mike Portnoy’s back and there’s a brand-new album, Parasomnia. We get the scoop.

Matt Berry - the What We Do In The Shadows actor brings us up to speed with his latest psych album, Heard Noises

Neal Morse - it’s back to basics for Neal Morse and his latest band The Resonance.

Tiger Moth Tales - Peter Jones revisits his Cocoon album in celebration of its 10th anniversary.

Marko Hietala - the former Nightwish man continues to mix prog and hard rock on his latest solo album.

Mogwai - the Scottish post-rockers talk Pink Floyd, King Crimson and new album The Bad Fire.

White Willow - a look back at the recently reissued work of the popular Scandinavian prog rockers.

Ritual - the Norwegian proggers open up on their first new album for 17 years.

Dorie Jackson - Kaprekar’s Constant singer Dorie Jackson discusses her current solo album.

Bill Bruford - Bill discusses the Winterfold and Summerfold years of his solo career, his return to live music with the Pete Roth Trio and why he decided not to join up with 80s King Crimson outfit BEAT.

Alex Carpani - Italian progger Alex Carpani on a prog world full of Genesis, Keith Emerson and Steven Wilson.

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Dream Theater, Camel, Godley & Creme, Riverside, Marko Hietala, Everon, Gleb Kolyadin, Dim Gray, Maud The Moth, Djabe & Steve Hackett, Antimatter, District 97 and loads more.

And this issue we’ve seen gigs by IQ, Rick Wakeman, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Ozric Tentacles, The Orb and many more!

* You can use our store finder to find your nearest stockist. Go to Prog on the alphabetical pull-down menu and enter your postcode.

* The easiest option for everyone would be to go digital. You can get single digital issues from the Apple Store, from Zinio and all manner of digital magazine retailers.

* Subscribe to Prog. We are now accepting subscriptions from the rest of the world. Subscriptions available here.

* In North America, Prog is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.

How often is it that a heavy metal band have an absolutely iconic mascot? The list isn’t all that long in terms of figures who've withstood the test of time. Of the big hitters, Motörhead had Snaggletooth, Megadeth had Vic Rattlehead, Dio had Murray. All iconic. But I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn when I say that the fella on our cover this issue is probably the biggest and baddest of them all. I’m talking about Iron Maiden’s Eddie, of course.

This issue we’re celebrating 50 monstrous years of Iron Maiden with an exclusive Eddie cover and exclusive interviews with Steve, Bruce, Adrian, Dave, Janick and Nicko. It really has been quite the journey. And, as you’ll find out, it’s far from over yet.

Until next month…

Get the new issue of Classic Rock

Features

Iron Maiden At 50
With the band celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, all the members tell us about the music and career of the longest-running and arguably greatest heavy metal band of them all.

Larkin Poe
Taking care of business in all aspects of their career, Rebecca and Megan Lovell really are sisters doing it for themselves.

Gillan
Outside Deep Purple he led two of his own bands. He looks back at Gillan, and how internal friction tore that group apart.

Manic Street Preachers
Moving to a new studio, and with band members taking on new roles, with their new album they continue to innovate and experiment.

Thin Lizzy
With the release of Thin Lizzy’s new Acoustic Sessions, with Phil Lynott’s 70s-era vocals, guitarist Eric Bell and producer Richard Whittaker tell us about grass-addled sessions, unfinished business and why this project definitely isn’t AI.

The Pogues
While they might have looked like a chaotically ramshackle and dysfunctional unit in the mid-80s, in reality they were a resolutely determined hard-working band.

King Crimson
On its 50th anniversary, King Crimson alumni discuss the continued allure of an album that has reduced some adults to tears: Red.

Regulars

The Dirt
Tony Iommi and Glenn Hughes appear on a new Robbie Williams track; fans slate “bloody awful” Rory Gallagher statue. Welcome back Thundermother and The Lumineers. Say hello to Last Train and The New Roses. Say goodbye to Johnnie Walker, Jon Camp, Richard Perry, Alex Dmochowski.

The Stories Behind The Songs: The Knack
The LA band’s stuttering rocker with the dirty m-m-mind, about someone who – for co-writer Doug Fieger – was “love at fist sight”, was one of the biggest hits of 1979.

Q&A: Ricky Warwick
The Almighty frontman on his new solo album, digging northern soul, his good work ethic and quitting drinking.

Six Things You Need To Know About… Shaman’s Harvest
They’ve come through life-changing adversity. They know how to party. And they're finally making it to the UK.

Reviews: New albums from Thin Lizzy, Larkin Poe, Dream Theater, Hawkwind, Iggy Pop, Black Eyed Sons, Thundermother, G3, Night Flight Orchestra, Hellacopters and more. Reissues from Gillan, Sharks, Bill Nelson, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, The Creation, The Fall and more. DVDs, films and books on Kate Bush, Sparks, Phil Lynott, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones and more. Live reviews of Paul McCartney, The Damned, Massive Waggons, Myles Kennedy/Devin Townsend, Idles, Southern River Band.

Buyer’s Guide: Brian Fallon
With The Gaslight Anthem and solo he’s made some marvellous records, but industry pressures extracted a heavy toll.

Lives
We preview tours by Uriah Heep, Papa Roach and Romeo’s Daughter. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Mikko Von Hertzen
The Von Hertzen Brothers frontman picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* In North America, Classic Rock is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

Twenty years ago, two young bands broke through and changed the face of 21st century metal - and this month, they're together on our cover for the first time. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Poison and Ascendancy, we speak to Bullet For My Valentine’s Matt Tuck and Trivium’s Matt Heafy about breaking through in 2005 and the legacy of two of modern metal's most important bands.

Ahead of their imminent co-headline tour, we take the Matts back to the year they brought heavy back. Nu metal was dying, the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal was breaking, and Bullet and Trivium were combining traditional metal with modern production to attention-grabbing effect – even if some of that attention was negative.

“We were both so ambitious, fearless and unstoppable in our attitudes to making the bands what we wanted them to become,” says Matt Tuck. “We got shit in the press, we got bullied by some of our peers, but we’ve had the same trajectory. I understand exactly who they are, and I think they feel the same.”

The Matts also reveal the stories behind every song on The Poison and Ascendancy.

“The whole song essentially wrote itself, but we had an entirely different chorus,” admits Matt Heafy of Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr, Trivium's breakout anthem. "We were playing it on that Machine Head Road Rage tour, and Machine Head’s guitar tech, who we didn’t ask, came up to us and was like, ‘I really like that song, but I hate that chorus!’”

Also in the issue, we bring you the 50 albums you need to hear in 2025, featuring Arch Enemy, Cradle Of Filth, Halestorm, Jinjer, Killswitch Engage, Mastodon and many more.

Elsewhere, Alice In Chains mastermind Jerry Cantrell answers your questions on the greatest Seattle record of all time and collaborating with James Hetfield, and System Of A Down’s Daron Malakian remembers striking out with Scars On Broadway.

Testament’s Alex Skolnick takes us inside the early chaos of the Bay Area scene, while Nita Strauss spills the tea on what it’s like to play with Alice Cooper and Demi Lovato.

Heavy Trip director Juuso Laatio explains why fictional Finnish band Impaled Rektum are back for a sequel and, as Nosferatu hits cinemas, we investigate metal’s fascination with vampires.

And if you’re still bummed out about Eddie Munson dying in Stranger Things Season 4, then never fear. He’s back! Well, in our exclusive preview of the new Strangers Things and Dungeons & Dragons prequel comicbook series.

All this, along with Dark Tranquillity, Alt Blk Era, Grand Magus, Sleep Token, Wardruna, Ante-Inferno and much, much more.

Only in the new issue of Metal Hammer, on sale now. Order it online and have it delivered straight to your door

Happy New Year! Welcome to the first issue of 2025. (I can’t believe I’m typing that!) And to kick off what we’re hoping will be a very good year – and seriously, there’s a shedload of excellent stuff to look forward to, just check out our preview over the next few pages – we collared Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson to look back over the last 50 years of their band, and find out just what they have planned to celebrate the occasion.

This issue we also revisit Metallica’s S&M as it celebrates its silver jubilee, take a deep dive into the post-Jim Morrison albums of The Doors, sit down with Sweet’s Andy Scott, hang out with Mark Tremonti, Andy Fairweather Low, Joe Satriani, DeWolff and so much more.

Until next month…

Get the new issue of Classic Rock

Features

Rush
Celebrating half a century since their debut, in a Classic Rock exclusive, we sat down with Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson at the end of 2024 to talk about their 50-year journey from there to here – and whether the Canadian prog rock legends will ever return to the studio or stage.

The Doors
The death of Jim Morrison in 1971 looked like it marked the end of the road for the band. But his bandmates had other ideas.

DeWolff
It was sweet home Alabama when the retro-rock flag bearers recorded their new album at two legendary studios there.

Sweet
Guitarist Andy Scott looks back at good times and bad, and hints that it’s not over for the Ballroom Blitzers yet.

Mark Tremonti
Take care of business. Quit your comfort zone. Don’t listen to rock journalists. Never forget you could still be washing cars. These are among the things that shape his world view.

Metallica
How did the world’s leading metal band come to team up with – shock, horror – an orchestra to make an album?

For more exclusive Scott Gorham artwork, make sure you check out his website at scottgorhamworld.com, where prints, premium posters and T-shirts are available.

Regulars

The Dirt
Jeff Beck’s guitars up for auction; Metallica and Judas Priest among Grammy nominees, Sammy Hagar “wants to be friends” with Alex Van Halen; Welcome back Night Flight Orchestra and Benjamin Booker; Say hello to Lions In The Street and Stephen Wilson Jr; Say goodbye to Shel Talmy, Pete Sinfield.

The Stories Behind The Songs: Styx
A song about being picked up and taken away by aliens, Come Sail Away gave the band a career boost and eventually took on a life of its own.

Q&A: Joe Satriani
The virtuoso’s virtuoso on G3 pranking, handling Yngwie Malmsteen, and the Halloween costume he’d rather forget.

The Hot List
We look at some of the essential new tracks you need to hear and the artists to have on your radar. This month they include The Struts, Orianthi, Himalayas, Dirty Blonde and more.

Reviews
New albums from Manic Street Preachers, DeWolff, Tremonti, Pete Townshend & Rachel Fuller, White Denim, Lambrini Girls, Julian Cope, Franz Ferdinand, FaithNYC, Cosmic Room 99. Reissues from Twisted Sister, Bush, King Crimson, Rival Sons, Sparks, Band Of Skulls, John Wetton, T.Rex, Pitchshifter, War. DVDs, films and books on or by Rush, Slade, Paul McCartney, Placebo, Dave Barbarossa and more. Live reviews of Deep Purple, Wildhearts, Big Country, Von Hertzen Brothers, Michael Monroe, Anthrax and more.

Buyers Guide: Tom Morello
He’s best known as the guitarist with Rage Against The Machine, but there’s much more of his playing to marvel at than that.

Lives
We preview tours by Brothers Osborne, Bullet For My Valentine and Cutting Crew. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: The Struts
The Struts frontman Luke Spiller on his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

* Copies of the new issue of Classic Rock can be purchased online from Magazines Direct

* Classic Rock is on sale in the UK in shops such as supermarkets and newsagents.

* In North America, Classic Rock is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* An easy option is to go digital. You can subscribe digitally from just £20.99 for six months. Individual issues and subscriptions are also from the Apple Store, Zinio, Readly, Press Reader and Pocketmags.

* Save money by buying a physical subscription. UK and overseas subscriptions are available.

We celebrate the 50th anniversary of Yes’s 1974 album Relayer on the cover of the new issue of Prog, which is on salw now!

It was their lone record with keyboard player Patrick Moraz, and found the band at their most experimental, veering towards the jazz fusion that so appealed to singer Jon Anderson at the time. Both Anderson and Moraz reveal the secrets of the album that gave us just three tracks, but what amazing pieces of music they remain, while there's input from Alan White from an interview the magazine conducted before his death.

Elsewhere, Marillion tell the story of 1997’s This Strange Engine; Clannad reveal the secrets of their BAFTA-winning 1984 album Legend; David Surkamp of cult US prog rockers Pavlov’s Dog looks back over a fascinating career; we pay tribute to the late Peter Sinfield, best known for his contributions to King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer; and there's the Prog writers' best albums of 2024.

Klone, Swallow The Sun, Dilemma, Mercury Rev, Joe Deninzon and And So I Watch You From Afar bring us up to speed with their latest releases. There's a free digital sampler from the excellent Nice Weather For Airstrikes label and four Yes postcards reflecting the Relayer era.

Also in Prog 156...

Peter Sinfield - remembering the man who gave King Crimson their name and who sadly died last month.

Marillion - the inside story of 1997’s dark This Strange Engine album.

Klone - the atmospheric French proggers unlock the secrets of 10th album The Unseen.

Clannad - Moya and PÓl Brennan look back over 1984’s groundbreaking Legend.

Swallow The Sun - Finland’s dark proggers talk a love of Marillion and Queen choruses and their new album Shining.

Mercury Rev - the US art-rockers discuss their passion for the natural world with Born Horses.

And So I Watch You From Afar - there’s no place like home for the Irish post-rock quartet on Megafauna.

Dilemma - the Dutch proggers are back with their first new album for six years.

Critics' Choice - so what was the Prog writers’ album of the year? And do you agree? Read on!

Ross Valory - former Journey bassist Ross Valory discusses his new solo album and the arena rockers’ prog roots.

Pavlov's Dog - David Surkamp of cult US proggers Pavlov’s Dog looks back over the band’s career. And as for those Geddy Lee comparisons? Yes, he’s heard them!

Joe Deninzon - Kansas violinist Joe Deninzon on a prog life full of Rush, Yes, Frank Zappa and Bruce Springsteen.

Plus reviews of new releases and reissues by Mogwai, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, Soft Machine, Kevin Ayers, Wardruna, Jean-Michel Jarre, Nektar, Hawkwind, Matt Berry, Jonathan Hultén, Oddleaf, Cardiacs, Man and loads more.

And this issue we went to Prog The Forest and saw gigs by The Pineapple Thief, Focus, VOLA, Von Hertzen Brothers, Wheel, Animals As Leaders, Colin Blunstone and more!

* You can use our store finder to find your nearest stockist. Go to Prog on the alphabetical pull-down menu and enter your postcode.

* The easiest option for everyone would be to go digital. You can get single digital issues from the Apple Store, from Zinio and all manner of digital magazine retailers.

* Subscribe to Prog. We are now accepting subscriptions from the rest of the world. Subscriptions available here.

* In North America, Prog is available is branches of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, although new issues do not go on sale until a couple of weeks after they're published in The UK.

* Single print issues of Prog can be purchased online from Magazines Direct and also Burning Shed.

Click on the corresponding cover on the single issue page at Magazines Direct for payment options.