Classic Rock
June 2021Every month Classic Rock is packed with exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes features on rock’s biggest names, from Led Zeppelin to Deep Purple, from Guns N’ Roses to the Rolling Stones, from the Sex Pistols to AC/DC and beyond. Each issue plays host to the heftiest rock reviews section on the planet. In an average issue, you’ll find over 150 albums reviewed, all from the ever-varied, multi-faceted world of rock - whether it’s hard rock or heavy metal, prog or punk, goth rock or southern rock, we’ve got it covered.
in this issue
welcome
On the day that I’m typing this, the UK seems to be making its way – slowly and tentatively – out of lockdown. Who would have thought we would still be working from our sofas when we first hauled the laptops home over a year ago? Not me, that’s for sure. But non-essential shops have opened in England and Wales, so hopefully there is now light at the end of the tunnel, and a return to some sort of normalcy–and, more importantly, live music! – shouldn’t be too far ahead of us. With the absence of live music, though, it’s been the records that have kept me–and I’m sure many others reading this magazine – sane throughout this past 12-months, and this issue we’ve taken a deep dive into the making…
this month’s contributors
SIMON HARPER Making his Classic Rock debut this month is Simon Harper, founder of Clash magazine and lifelong Beatles fan. Since interviewing Paul McCartney for a Clash cover story in 2007, Simon has since worked on a number of projects with the ex-Beatle, and needed no convincing to write this month’s golden-anniversary appreciation of his favourite Macca album, Ram (p26). DAVE LING As usual, we managed to keep CR’s news editor busy this issue. Not only did he embark on a deep dive into Iron Maiden’s debut album, with input from Paul Di’Anno and Derek Stratton (page 52), he also found time to have a chat with Kiss’s Paul Stanley about his brand new solo album (page 22). Oh, and Dave also figured out how he’s going to spend all his cash on…
fantastic plastic!
Now into its thirteenth year, Record Store Day this year takes place on Saturday June 12 and Saturday July 17. As this issue went to press, non-essential shops in England and Wales were enjoying their first day of being allowed to open following this year’s period of lockdown, and queues were forming outside many retail outlets. Record shops around the country could therefore be seeing more people than in previous years coming out to shop on the two Record Store Days. As usual, lots of exciting, exclusive, super-collectable goodies will be made available on a first-come first-served basis, and in keeping with tradition there will be something to suit all tastes. The website Recordstoreday.co.uk carries a list of participating stores and a full list of domestic releases. Among this year’s goodies, AC/DC release…
record store day uk
AC/DC Through The Mists Of Time, 12" picture disc Alkatrazz Born Innocent Jon Anderson Olias Of Sunhillow Anti-Flag 20/20 Division Ash BBC Sessions 1994-1999 Beastie Boys Aglio E Olio Black Sabbath Master Of Reality, purple vinyl Black Spiders Black Spiders Buzzcocks A Different Compilation Captain Beefheart Unconditionally Guaranteed The Clash If Music Could Talk Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Déjà Vu Alternates The Cure Faith The Cure Wild Mood Swings Dave Davies Bug Def Leppard Live In Oxford Deftones Digital Bath Devo Somewhere With Devo Dio God Hates Heavy Metal Dire Straits Encores The Doors Morrison Hotel Sessions Ian Dury Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, 12" green vinyl Bob Dylan Jokerman/I And I Remixes Echo & The Bunnymen Live In Liverpool Electric Wizard Time To Die Emerson Lake & Palmer Tarkus, picture disc Evanescence The Open Door The Flamin’ Groovies Bucket Of Brains Focus Singles, Deep Cuts & BBC Live John Fogerty Blue Ridge Rangers Garbage No Gods No…
rip
Alan Cartwright October 10, 1945 – March 4, 2021 Londoner Alan Cartwright joined Procol Harum in 1971, and was with the band for five years, playing bass on four albums including Live With The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. The 75-year-old died of cancer. “Alan was a very solid, musical and reliable bass player, and a good bloke who gave his best both in the studio and on tour,” said Procol Harum singer/pianist Gary Brooker. James MacGaw Died March 8, 2021 Magma have paid tribute to their former guitarist who has lost a battle with cancer. MacGaw was part of the French progressive group’s live lineup but retired from performing in 2015. “You were ‘a child of Magma’, you found your place with us, naturally,” wrote vocalist Stella Vander, the wife of band leader Christian Vander. “Magma lost…
lou ottens
THE DUTCH ENGINEER credited with the invention of the audio tape cassette has died at the age of 94. No cause has so far been reported. In 1963, Lou Ottens changed the course of music with his easily affordable and portable way to capture and recreate sound. An estimated 100 billion tapes have been sold. Ottens also played a key role in the development of the compact disc during the late 70s. The arrival of the CD format would all but wipe out the usage of cassettes, but during the 80s and 90s many bands owed their careers to the tape-trading network. Within the industry there was also considerable paranoia over cassettes and for a while, at the insistence of the British Phonographic Industry, the sleeves of many vinyl albums released in…
