Classic Rock August 2018

WELCOME THE COVER: PHOTO BY MARK SELIGER It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since the rock world lost one of its greatest voices. Losing Chris Cornell so young and so unexpectedly was quite the gut punch – I still find it difficult to fathom that we won’t hear his incredible, indelible tones on any new music from Soundgarden. I remember the first time I saw the band play, in a small, sweaty gig at Bristol’s Bierkeller, and they tore the place apart. It was the first (and, if I’m honest, only!) time I ever saw a band that would go on to be a genuine arena filler playing in a tiny venue on their way up. There was definitely something special going on. We can take solace…

This month’s contributors CHRIS ROBERTS This issue, Classic Rock writer Chris Roberts goes on a teenage rampage through the glorious early 70s musical revolution that was glam rock, talking to the young dudes who witnessed and played their parts in its rise and fall as Britain stomped from black and white to colour, felt the noize and got it on. Read all about it from p44. MARK SELIGER Award-winning photographer Mark Seliger took our amazing cover shot of Soundgarden. He started out at Rolling Stone in 1987, and became their chief photographer, and moved to Condé Nast in 2001. Last year some of his work became part of the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC. Learn more at markseliger.com MARK SELIGER: GETTY PHILIP WILDING Radio producer,…

INSIDE THE WORLD OF ROCK the DiRT Danny Kirwan May 13, 1950 – June 8, 2018 MAIN: ALAMY; INSET: GETTY MICK FLEETWOOD HAS led the tributes to Danny Kirwan, who was a guitarist with Fleetwood Mac from 1968 to 1972 during their blues period, and played on the band’s albums including The Pious Bird of Good Omen and Then Play On and hit singles Albatross and Man Of The World, among others. The drummer broke the news on behalf of Fleetwood Mac with the following statement on Facebook: “Today was greeted by the sad news of the passing of Danny Kirwan, a huge force in our early years. His love for the blues led him to being asked to join Fleetwood Mac in 1968, where he made his musical home…

the DiRT RIP Thank you and good night. DJ Fontana March 15, 1931 – June 13, 2018 Dominic James Fontana was Elvis Presley’s drummer for a halcyon period of almost 15 years, playing on almost 500 tracks from October 1954 onwards, including Jailhouse Rock, Don’t Be Cruel and Heartbreak Hotel. The 87-year-old had been suffering from complications following a broken hip. Neil Jones Died June 8, 2018 At the age of 70, the guitarist with hit 1960s rock band Amen Corner has died of cancer. Welshman Neil Jones scored a string of hits with the band including Bend Me, Shape Me and (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice, before taking up a career as a photographer. Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy December 29, 1929 – June 15, 2018 Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy was…

NEWS Metallica have donated their prize money of one million Swedish kronor (approximately £85,000) from winning the coveted Polar Music Prize to three separate charities. Previous recipients of the prize include Chuck Berry, Patti Smith, Bjork, Peter Gabriel, Led Zeppelin and Bruce Springsteen. Metallica have pledged to play in Europe again next summer during an as-yet unconfirmed four-month run of stadium shows. Foo Fighters surprised fans at the Firenze Rocks Festival in Florence, Italy, by getting Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan on stage to perform GN’R’s It’s So Easy. Rose and Grohl shared lead vocals, while Slash and Duff jammed with the rest of the band. Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan (pictured) has reunited with his boyhood band The Javelins to pay tribute to the likes of Chuck Berry,…

Jon Hiseman June 21, 1944 – June 12, 2018 ONE OF THE most influential drummers in rock music has died at the age of 73. Jon Hiseman, best known for his work with Colosseum and Colosseum II, succumbed after a short battle with brain cancer. Hiseman first got noticed during the 1960s after taking over from Ginger Baker in the Graham Bond Organization. He went on to join John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers before he co-founded the pioneering jazz-rock band Colosseum in April 1968. After they disbanded in 1971, he formed the short-lived Tempest, before bringing in Gary Moore and Don Airey for the more jazz-fusion Colosseum II in 1975. Hiseman also worked closely with his saxophonist/flautist wife Barbara Thompson. In 1994 Colosseum re-formed, and recorded the albums Bread And Circuses and…