Classic Rock (magazine)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Classic Rock | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Editor | Scott Rowley |
| Categories | Music Magazine |
| Frequency | Monthly |
|
Publisher |
Future Publishing |
| Total Circulation (ABC Jan-Dec 06) |
62,699 |
| First Issue | 1998 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Website | www.classicrockmagazine.com |
| ISSN | unknown |
Classic Rock is a magazine dedicated to the radio format of classic rock, published by Future Publishing, who are also responsible for it's "sister" publication Metal Hammer. Although firmly focusing on key bands from the 1960s through early 1990s, such as Queen, Free, Deep Purple, Status Quo, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Metallica and The Who, it also includes articles and reviews of contemporary and upcoming artists it deems worthy of note, such as The Answer and Wolfmother. Despite starting as a one-off project it has become one of the UK's best selling music magazines, and attracts much attention and respect of many of classic rocks biggest names. It recently published its 100th issue.
Contents |
[edit] Beginnings
Classic Rock was an idea formulated by ex-Metal Hammer Deputy Editor Jerry Ewing (subsequently Editor of Classic Rock), along with Metal Hammer colleague Dave Ling and art editor Andy Ryan at Dennis Publishing. They suggested a one-off title dedicated to classic rock. They felt it was neglected in publication and would attract a large audience. In 1998 original publishers Dennis Publishing allegedly begrudgingly authorised the first issue of Classic Rock featuring Guns N' Roses and including an article by Mick Wall, a journalist who became something of a renowned name when Axl Rose insulted him on the track "Get in the Ring" on Use Your Illusion II. It sold better than expected and was continued. Wall is one of six writers, along with Ewing and Ling who where involved in that publication and still write for the magazine today. The magazine attracted a niche audience initially but sales grew as Classic Rock featured artists such as Black Sabbath. Iron Maiden and Aerosmith on its cover in the first year. It attracted those who saw mainstream music publications such as Q and NME to be stale, and too focused on discovering the "next big thing". It also came at a time when the charts were even more dominated by pop bands than usual, as record companies seemed unwilling to risk money on bands who wrote their own material. Classic Rock soon became a regular fixture in newsagents the UK, Ireland and Europe, and now publishes 13 issues a year.
[edit] Key Acts
The magazine focuses on established bands with credentials dating back to the 1960's. Indeed, many of the artists who have appeared on its cover are deceased (Jimi Hendrix and Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy featured on early covers, as did bands with deceased members such as Queen and The Who). Acts to have appeared on the front cover 3 times or more to date include Queen, Guns N' Roses, Black Sabbath / Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page has been on the cover on his own right 3 times), Metallica, Thin Lizzy, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Genesis, AC/DC, and Mötley Crüe. More recent acts to have been on the cover include The Darkness and despite only having released one album to date, Velvet Revolver have been on it twice, though it comprised of members well known to Classic Rock enthusiasts, such as Slash. Despite the dominating nature of acts undeniably falling into the category of classic rock, the magazine takes an inclusive attitude to its genre and is happy to include heavy metal, prog rock, punk and grunge acts. Recent features have included thrash metal band Slayer, and are happy to review acts as diverse as Porcupine Tree, Buckcherry and Rodrigo y Gabriela. Monthly updates on 'sleaze' and prog releases are a regular feature.
[edit] Contemporary Acts
Classic Rock review any release that even comes close to being classified as rock, including albums, DVDs, concerts and books. It includes an annual award for best new band. Acts such as Muse, DragonForce, Wolfmother and The Answer have all been featured in recent months, indeed The Answer's debut album Rise received rave reviews.
[edit] 100 Greatest British Albums
For the 91st issue (April, 2006), the magazine presented 'The 100 Greatest British Rock Albums Ever', which were voted for by Classic Rock staff and various people associated with rock music (including Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath fame, Lemmy of Motörhead and Francis Rossi of Status Quo). The magazine decided to let AC/DC be classed as a British act, although the band was formed in Australia. Two of the band's singers (Bon Scott and Brian Johnson) and guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young are British. Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin IV reached first place.
[edit] 100th Issue
The 100th issue, quite a landmark considering the haphazard nature of the magazine's origin, contained all the regular features, but only one article, in which 100 names in rock were asked to write a piece on their nomination for a "rock icon". Contributors included such notable figures as Brian May, Lemmy (who nominated Tina Turner, who was then himself nominated by Ian Camfield) Ian Gillan, Gary Moore, Phil Collins, Sebastian Bach, Peter Frampton, Jerry Cantrell, Chris Cornell, Paul Rodgers, Chad Smith, Jack Black, Zakk Wylde and Matt Bellamy.
