"It Sounds Great While Floating Lazily on a Yacht or Zooming Down the Interstate in a Lamborghini." The Story of...
In 1977 Player burst onto the scene with their self‑titled debut, anchored by the No.1 single “Baby Come Back.” The band, formed by Peter Beckett and J.C. Crowley in Los Angeles, secured a deal with Robert Stigwood’s RSO Records and toured alongside icons like Eric Clapton and Heart. Follow‑up singles such as “This Time I’m In It For Love” reached the Top 10, but the group soon faded, becoming emblematic of the AOR one‑hit‑wonder era. Their album remains a snapshot of late‑70s West Coast adult‑oriented rock.
"We Had a Lot of Fun Revisiting These Songs and Hope You Enjoy. Listen LOUD." Trent Reznor Reveals Details of...
Trent Reznor and Berlin producer Boys Noize are set to release Nine Inch Noize on Friday, April 17. The 12‑track album reimagines nine classic Nine Inch Nails songs and adds electronic takes on How to Destroy Angels’ “Parasite” and Soft Cell’s “Memorabilia.” The project...
Watch R&B Superstar Thundercat Play Bass for His Former Band, Thrash Metal Hellraisers Suicidal Tendencies, at Coachella Last Weekend
R&B virtuoso Thundercat reunited with his former thrash outfit Suicidal Tendencies for three songs during their eight‑track set at Coachella on April 12. The surprise appearance followed his own busy weekend, which also included a bass cameo for UK pop act PinkPantheress....
"The Vibe Is Definitely Slipknot Except No Screams." Slipknot Fan Compares Look Outside Your Window Album to Pink Floyd After...
Slipknot’s long‑shelved side project *Look Outside Your Window* finally arrives on Record Store Day, April 18. A Reddit fan who received an early copy describes the music as Slipknot‑style but without screams, noting a slower, Pink Floyd‑like atmosphere. The listener also...
"There’s Beauty in the Fact We Didn’t Strangle Each Other at the End." Ville Valo Would Love to Reunite Goth...
Finnish goth‑metal pioneers HIM disbanded in 2017, but frontman Ville Valo says he would love to reunite with his former bandmates. Valo, who has been pursuing a solo career as VV, reflected on the amicable split and the band’s legacy...
"This Was Something Else. I Could Feel It in Every Part of Me." What It Was Like Seeing Metal Legends...
Death Angel frontman Mark Osegueda recalls seeing Metallica live on the Kill ’Em All tour as a 14‑year‑old in Berkeley and being blown away by their raw energy. He describes the transformative impact of the band’s early albums, especially Ride...
The Afghan Whigs Announce UK Shows to Extend Their 40th Anniversary Celebrations
The Afghan Whigs have added six UK dates to their 40th‑anniversary tour, marking their first UK run in more than four years. The leg kicks off in Leeds on September 19 and wraps in Brighton on September 26, with support from Ed Harcourt....
"I Got Called Into the Principal’s Office because Our Songs Didn’t Say ‘Jesus’ Enough." Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale Opens up About...
Halestorm frontwoman Lzzy Hale revealed that a principal’s reprimand for not mentioning Jesus in her early songs sparked her departure from organized religion. Raised in a Presbyterian school, she and her brother formed the band while still attending church, but...
"Touring Was About How Messed-Up I Could Get, and It Wasn't About the Music Any More. Things Got Very, Very...
British blues guitarist Danny Bryant released his new album "Nothing Left Behind" after hitting rock bottom in January 2024. A severe bout of alcoholism, divorce, liver cirrhosis and a near‑fatal hospital stay forced him into sobriety and a lifestyle overhaul....
"He Was in Chainmail, Said He Needed It for Protection." From Communist Hungary to Joining Metal's Most Murderous Band and...
Attila Csihar, the iconic frontman of Norwegian black‑metal pioneers Mayhem, is marking the band’s 40th‑anniversary world tour with a new album, Liturgy Of Death. The tour, which will conclude in Australia, revisits Mayhem’s turbulent history while showcasing the group’s continued musical evolution. Csihar...
"I Had a Bad Flu and Was Delirious, but the Lyric Was so Great that It Lifted Me up in...
In early 1975, Ann Wilson penned the lyrics to Heart’s debut single “Crazy On You” while battling a high‑fever flu, channeling personal love and global unrest into a raw confession. Her sister Nancy, recovering from the same illness, crafted the...
Turnstile Open Coachella Set with Video of Singer Brendan Yates' Father Who Is Recovering From Alleged Attempted Murder Attack by...
Turnstile opened their 2026 Coachella set with a pre‑recorded video of frontman Brendan Yates’ father, Bill Yates, who is recovering from injuries after an alleged attempted murder by former guitarist Brady Ebert. Ebert was arrested, charged with attempted second‑degree murder and...
“We Weren’t After Our Version of Iron Maiden’s Eddie, but It Needed to Be Striking.” The Story Behind Slayer's Grim...
Slayer’s 1986 thrash masterpiece *Reign In Blood* arrived on Def American, a label then known for rap, with Rick Rubin producing a sound that reshaped the band’s image. To match the album’s brutal intensity, the group commissioned illustrator Larry W....
"On Our First Tour One of the Venues Burned Down, and the Cops Would Shut Things Down." Police Raids, Venue...
Converge, the Massachusetts‑born metalcore pioneers, have spent three and a half decades pushing the limits of hardcore with abrasive riffs, visceral vocals and relentless experimentation. Their 2001 landmark album *Jane Doe* redefined the genre, inspiring a wave of bands across...
The Rolling Stones Are Releasing a New Song Tomorrow, but Under a Fake Name
The Rolling Stones will issue their new single “Rough and Twisted” on April 11 as a vinyl‑only white‑label record, credited to the secret moniker The Cockroaches. The track won’t appear on streaming services, forcing collectors to seek the physical release. Posters...
“I’d Love It to Become a Musicians’ Platform – Curated, High-Quality, and Fair”: Why Steven Wilson Launched Headphone Dust
Steven Wilson launched Headphone Dust, a high‑resolution digital platform that sells "virtual Blu‑ray" albums as a single downloadable bundle rather than streaming. The service delivers Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround, hi‑res stereo, binaural mixes, visuals and PDFs in an MKV file,...
“It Was the First Keyboard Solo I’d Heard on the Radio for a Very Long Time”: The Marillion Song that...
Adam Wakeman, son of Yes legend Rick Wakeman, chose Marillion’s Mark Kelly as his favorite progressive‑rock keyboardist, highlighting the 1987 track “Incommunicado” as a prime example of Kelly’s genius. He praised Kelly’s ability to deliver melodic, memorable solos without over‑playing,...
"English People Don't Really Want to Feel that Much." The Curious Tale of Robert Smith's Least Favourite Cure Album, Despite...
The Cure’s twelfth studio effort, simply titled *The Cure*, arrived on 25 June 2004 after the band signed a three‑album deal with ARTISTdirect’s I AM imprint and teamed with producer Ross Robinson. Smith entered the studio with 37 demo tracks, whittling them down...
"Their Record Label Couldn't Figure Out Whether They Were the Next Poison or the First Guns N' Roses." The Story...
Jetboy, a San Francisco‑born glam‑metal band, earned early buzz for its punk‑infused hooks and a mohawk‑sporting frontman. After moving to LA, they signed with Elektra in 1986, but the label couldn’t decide whether to market them as a Poison‑style act or...
The 11 Best Songs From 1973
The article by Mikko Von Hertzen lists the 11 best songs from 1973, highlighting debut releases from Aerosmith, Queen, and Pink Floyd’s *The Dark Side of the Moon*. It pairs each track with personal anecdotes that illustrate the era’s lasting...
"I First Met Phil Lynott Completely by Accident During My First Ever Acid Trip." Original Thin Lizzy Guitarist Eric Bell...
Original Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell recounts how a chance meeting with Phil Lynott during Bell’s first acid trip sparked the band’s formation in 1969. Lynott, then a charismatic vocalist, persuaded drummer Brian Downey and Bell to create a trio, insisting he...
"My Role in Life Was to Be a Proud, Bold Lion, to Tell the Truth, and Stick up for What's...
Dave Mustaine announced that Megadeth’s self‑titled seventeenth album, released in January 2026, will be the band’s final record and tour. The album debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200, marking the group’s highest chart achievement. Mustaine cited persistent hand...
“Whoever Listens Closely to Hallelujah Will Discover that It Is a Song About Sex, About Love, About Life on Earth”:...
Jeff Buckley’s 1994 rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” transformed a modest folk‑rock track into a haunting, guitar‑driven anthem that now eclipses the original. Buckley’s sensual vocal delivery and soaring solo elevated the song’s lyrical themes of love, sex, and spirituality. After...
“Spielberg Requested a Meeting. They’d Written a Movie and Decided Their Hero’s Favourite Band Would Have Been Huey Lewis &...
In 1985 Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis invited Huey Lewis & The News to write a song for their upcoming film Back to the Future. Lewis and guitarist Chris Hayes created “The Power of Love,” which became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot...
5 Insanely Obscure 1980s Rock Albums that Are a Perfect 10/10
Classic Rock spotlights five overlooked 1980s rock albums—Jaguar’s thrash‑heavy “Power Games,” Arc Angel’s pomp‑rock debut, Watchtower’s progressive‑metal “Energetic Disassembly,” David + David’s socially charged “Boomtown,” and Sea Hags’ gritty hair‑metal effort—each deemed a perfect 10/10 despite modest chart performance. The piece emphasizes their genre‑blending innovation,...
"I Put My Hand up and Said I'm Bringing Trouble to Them. Here We Are." Pussy Riot Founder Nadya Tolokonnikova...
Nadya Tolokonnikova, co‑founder of Pussy Riot, was indicted by Russia’s Investigative Committee for breaching the foreign‑agent law and placed on the federal wanted list. The Krasnoyarsk Krai Court found she posted online material without the required foreign‑agent label while abroad. This follows...
"I Want to Do Lots of Different Things. I'm Always on some Sort of Learning Curve." Every Album Robert Plant...
Classic Rock ranks the 17 albums Robert Plant has issued since Led Zeppelin’s 1980 split, placing the 1983 solo effort *The Principle Of Moments* at the top and the experimental 1985 *Shaken ‘N’ Stirred* at the bottom. The list spans solo work,...
“He May Be Alluding to Life, the Universe or a Balance Sheet, for All the Listener Knows”: The 1980 Album...
New Musik’s 1980 debut album “From A To B” delivered three Top‑20 singles and positioned the band at the crossroads of progressive rock and emerging synth‑pop. Frontman Tony Mansfield acted as both songwriter and sound architect, employing early Korg, Roland,...
"When You Live in Mexico There Is Always This Thought in the Back of Your Head that You Are Not...
Mexican trad‑metal band Jet Jaguar, formed in Cancún, is relocating members to Europe to escape safety concerns. Their debut album "Severance," released via Steamhammer, blends 80s‑style power metal with modern socio‑political lyrics about anti‑science sentiment. The group credits early local...
"We're Honouring a Legend." Inside King Ultramega, the Star-Studded Tribute to Chris Cornell Featuring Members of Soundgarden, Alice In Chains,...
King Ultramega, a fan‑initiated supergroup, turned a lockdown jam into a multi‑artist tribute to late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. The project, spearheaded by bassist Mark Menghi, has released covers such as “Rusty Cage,” “Be Yourself,” and “Say Hello 2 Heaven,” featuring members of Mastodon, Alice In Chains, Anthrax,...
"Pete Doherty Said that I Was a High-Kicking Acrobat Crossed with Nico. I Was Very Pleased with That." Approved by...
London trio The Molotovs, formed by siblings Issey and Mat Cartilidge with drummer Ice during the pandemic, have surged from park busking to sharing stages with icons like Blondie, Iggy Pop and the Sex Pistols. Their debut album *Wasted On Youth* drops...
"There's No Denying that Gong Has Changed Me." Kavus Torabi on the New Adventures of Psychedelic Rock, Jazz, Space-Rock and...
British musician Kavus Torabi, frontman of the progressive‑psychedelic collective Gong, announced the release of Bright Spirit, the final album of a three‑record trilogy that began with 2019’s The Universe Also Collapses. The record blends psychedelic rock, jazz, space‑rock and electronica, featuring...
"You Can Borrow the Luggage of the Past, You Can Amalgamate It with Things that You've Conceived Could Be in...
In spring 1971, a 24‑year‑old David Bowie wrote “Changes,” fusing rock, jazz, and beat poetry as a mission statement for his next decade. He shifted from his usual guitar to the grand piano at his Haddon Hall home, shaping the song’s...
"She's Skipping, Spinning, Hollering and Slapping the Hell Out of Her Frame Drum when She’s Not Riling the Crowd Up."...
French duo Eihwar made a splash with their London debut at The Dome, upgrading to a larger space after tickets sold out. Their self‑described “Viking war trance” fuses folk‑metal melodies with pounding EDM beats, delivering a high‑energy, ritual‑like party. Frontwoman...
“Makes Hieronymus Bosch’s Visions of Hell Look Like a Nursery School”: Thrash Veterans Kreator Bring Demons, Wicker Men and the...
German thrash icons Kreator delivered a theatrically charged performance at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on March 27, 2026, complete with a severed demon head, inflatable gargoyles and extensive pyrotechnics. The show was bookended by aggressive opening acts NAILS, EXODUS and...
“We Soaked up All of This Great Music and that Song Has Bits of All of that – that Open-Stringed...
Trivium’s 2005 single “Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr,” written when the members were still teenagers, became the defining anthem of mid‑2000s metal. The track’s blend of metalcore aggression, melodic death‑metal riffs and classic open‑string hooks propelled the...
“I Said, ‘Inform Mr Jagger that the Fee Is a Million Dollars.’ He Just About Choked on That. But He...
During a tumultuous twelve‑month period, Guns N’ Roses survived rampant drug abuse, internal power struggles, and public scandals, culminating in a decisive million‑dollar fee that secured a pivotal record‑label partnership. Frontman Axl Rose emerged as the sole sober anchor, enforcing...
"You See a Lot of Kids and They're Like, 'I Canceled My Shows because I'm Having a Mental-Health Issue.' The...
Chris Robinson, frontman of the Black Crowes, reflects on the grueling 1990s that defined the band’s rise and eventual burnout. Their debut, *Shake Your Money Maker*, sold five million copies in the U.S., while the follow‑up topped the Billboard chart. Robinson...
Pink Floyd to Release 1975 Los Angeles Sports Arena Concert on Vinyl and CD for Very First Time in April
Pink Floyd’s April 26 1975 Los Angeles Sports Arena concert will be issued for the first time on vinyl and CD this spring. Sony Music will debut a four‑LP clear‑vinyl set on Record Store Day, April 18, followed by a two‑CD edition on April 24....
Excellent Proggy Sounds You Must Hear From Bruce Soord, Exploring Birdsong, The Claypool Lennon Delirium and More in Prog's Brand...
Prog magazine launched its new Tracks Of The Week series, spotlighting seven fresh progressive releases. Highlights include Bruce Soord’s solo single “Pillars” ahead of his May 29 album Ghosts In The Park, Exploring Birdsong’s debut album due June 26, and Claypool Lennon Delirium’s AI‑themed concept record arriving May 1. Additional entries feature VLMV’s...
“Nothing Happened in Metallica Unless Cliff Burton Nodded ‘Yes’”: Producer Recalls How Metal’s Biggest Band “Leaned On” Their Beloved Late...
Producer Flemming Rasmussen reveals that Cliff Burton functioned as Metallica’s unofficial musical leader, guiding key decisions and co‑writing seminal tracks like “Master of Puppets.” He recalls the band’s frugal early days, noting he arranged daily meals to keep the members...
"Guaranteed to Turn Any Club, Field or Arena Into a Writhing Mass of Sweating, Crashing Bodies." Every Lamb Of God...
Metal Hammer ranks Lamb of God’s twelve studio releases, placing the 2004 breakthrough *Ashes of the Wake* at the top and the 1999 debut *Burn The Priest* at the bottom. The list highlights early‑2000s peak albums such as *Sacrament* and...
One of Metal’s Biggest Bands Soundtrack a Fist-Fight Featuring Bruce Campbell as Satan in the New Episode of Invincible, and...
Amazon Prime’s animated series *Invincible* featured Slayer’s iconic 1986 track “Raining Blood” during a climactic Hell‑level fight, with Bruce Campbell portraying Satan. The episode, titled “Hurm,” introduces an original storyline not found in the comic source material, expanding the show’s...
Ever Wanted to Hear Blink-182, Creed and Chris Stapleton Hail Satan? This Guitarist Is Turning Pop-Punk, Country and Classical Songs...
Zachary Ezrin, guitarist of avant‑garde black‑metal outfit Imperial Triumphant, launched an Instagram series that re‑imagines pop‑punk, country and classical hits as minor‑key black‑metal renditions. The videos, including a black‑metal take on Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and Blink‑182’s “Dammit,” have quickly...
“They Chose to Make This Buck-Wild Album. If Metallica Can Do that, Then We Can Do That”: Why Avenged Sevenfold...
Avenged Sevenfold guitarist Zacky Vengeance says the band fell in love with Metallica’s divisive 2003 album St Anger, praising its raw, unpolished production and seeing it as a creative‑freedom cue. He notes that despite mixed fan reaction, the album’s willingness to...
The 30 Best Metal Albums of the Decade (so Far)
Metal Hammer has released its mid‑decade roundup, naming the 30 best metal albums released between 2020 and 2025. The list highlights a mix of veteran acts such as Nightwish and newer forces like Green Lung, while also spotlighting genre‑bending projects...
"He Bought a Retired Police Sniffer Dog because He Kept Forgetting Where He'd Hidden Hisdrugs." Quireboys Frontman Spike Is Currently...
Quireboys frontman Spike is touring the UK with an unplugged, acoustic show that mixes classic covers, original material and off‑the‑cuff storytelling. He rarely follows a setlist, letting audience shouts dictate the next song, and often invites guest guitarist Del Bromham...
"There's No Reason Why You Can't Get Better as You Get Older." Nine Thunder Albums to Listen to and One...
British hard‑rock outfit Thunder, formed in 1989, has released 14 studio albums and built a reputation for powerful live shows. Their first three EMI releases – *Back Street Symphony*, *Laughing On Judgement Day* and *Behind Closed Doors* – remain commercial...
“Marrying the Idea of Death to an Upbeat, Singalong Chorus Has Always Been Interesting”: This Band Love Sneaking Prog Into...
The Decemberists released their 2024 album As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again, featuring the 19‑minute epic “Joan In The Garden” that occupies an entire side of the double‑vinyl. The record blends upbeat choruses with lyrical meditations on...
"Open Your Mind. Wear What You Want, Sing What You Want to Sing, Be What You Want to Be. Be...
Ana Popovic, the Serbian blues guitarist, is set to play London’s Jazz Café on March 30 with a flexible seven‑piece ensemble. She recently received high‑profile praise from Bruce Springsteen, who called her “one hell of a guitarist.” Her latest album, *Dance To The...