#classic rock magazine

[josephquinncurl]

Eddie Munson is on the cover of ClassicRockMag being part of the list of the best of 2022 🔥🎸

[fuckyeahvanhalen86-95]

In 2009, former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony reunited for a brand new band, Chickenfoot, also featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and guitarist Joe Satriani. As the band explained to Classic Rock that year, they were ready to bring back the party vibes with their self-titled debut album.

“I’m jazzed to be playing with these guys. I’ve recorded an album with Andy Johns, who’s produced my favourite ever bands. I’m playing with guitar god Joe Satriani and Hall Of Famers Mike Anthony and Sammy Hagar. And I’m just a schmo from Detroit who makes a racket.”

The ‘schmo’ in question is none other than Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith who makes up one quarter (or should that be a drumstick?) of Chickenfoot, the supergroup du jour who are already creating a lot of excitement with the announcement of an album in April and a European tour this summer.

With so much promise and such a stellar cast, do they actually live up to the hype? The name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue with ease or conjure up visions of a union between some of rock’s mightiest behemoths.

“Chickenfoot was just supposed to be a bullshit name that we used for a while,” reveals former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony. “And then rumours spread about the band and we thought, fuck it. Let’s just call it Chickenfoot. It all comes down to the music anyway.”

“That’s right,” concurs Will Ferrell lookalike Smith. “And let’s get one thing straight: we’re not a supergroup.We like hanging out together, and the music is a bonus. We just happen to be in other groups.”

CR caught up with the band ‘hanging out together’ at Sammy Hagar’s recording studio (which seems to double up as a garage for his vast collection of vintage sports cars) located on an anonymous industrial estate just outside San Francisco. While Hagar, Anthony and Satriani live close by, Smith has flown in from LA and is a day late, having very recently become a father.

“You were fired yesterday,” jokes Satriani.

“You can just take a walk around the block and get fired from this band!” Smith complains.

“We should exclusively play the Chad Smith catalogue!” retorts Satriani.

Smith: “I was going to bring that up. Question: Why did the drummer get sacked from the band? Answer: He said: ‘Hey, guys, I’ve got a few songs I want to try out.”

This is kind of banter carries on relentlessly throughout the day as the band members flit in and out of photo shoots and management conferences while CR tries to collar them. Which is what you’d expect from a collective with such high-profile party animal credentials; even the usually more introspective Satriani has been seized by the levity of the occasion.

“Make sure you run this by Gene Simmons,” he tells his manager when he’s given a copy of Chickenfoot’s new logo. “Remember: Kiss own everything.”

Chickenfoot’s origins came about when Hagar left Van Halen for the last time in 2005 and formed his own band The Waboritas, whose shows featured a segment where Hagar and Anthony would play under the guise of The Other Half (as in the other half of VH) featuring special guests. This eventually developed into regular jam sessions at Hagar’s Cabo Wabo club in Mexico, where Smith owns a holiday home.

“Sammy invited me to play at the club on New Year’s Eve,” the drummer explained. “I told him that I didn’t know much Van Halen but I knew and loved the first Montrose album. He said: ‘Great! We’ll do the whole album!’”

Instantly bonded by their love of classic rock music (Smith is also a huge fan of this esteemed magazine) and besieged by requests from fans wanting to know when the band were going to tour and record, Hagar decided that if they were going to take this venture seriously then they would have to expand the line-up.

“I can just about carry off playing guitar in a jam band scenario,” the frontman and tequila entrepreneur explains, “but to do it properly we needed a guitarist. And as far as I’m concerned Joe Satriani is the best guitar player in the world.”

The band made their official debut just over a year ago in Las Vegas at a Hagar concert, where they played a short set of covers (including Led Zeppelin’s Rock And Roll and Traffic’s Dear Mr. Fantasy).

Satriani had played with Hagar in a project called Planet US in 2003, and when the two men got together in the studio there was an immediate rapport. “We wrote eight songs in two days,” Hagar recalls. “And then when we all got together and wrote more songs it turned into a band.”

They hired producer Andy Johns (whose illustrious CV includes Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Free and Jimi Hendrix) for the album, but he got seriously ill halfway through recording process and Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Metallica, Aerosmith) took over. The final result is as confident, energetic and musical as one would expect from such an elite corps of players. And you won’t be surprised to learn that Hagar agrees.

“This is the best record I’ve ever done in my life,” he enthuses. “I feel like everything I did – working in Montrose, Van Halen and then going solo – happened so I could be who I am right now with this band.”

We’re given an exclusive preview of three tracks from the band’s self-titled debut. Soap On A Rope and Sexy Little Thing have the humour and loose, spontaneous feel of prime VH, with the unashamed unbridled energy of Montrose. Avenida Revolucion is an epic anthem about a dividing road on the Mexican/American border – a contentious subject close to Hagar’s heart.

“That’s a very political song. But I live on the Californian border and in Mexico as well, and I’m telling you, it’s a problem. You drive down Avenida Revolucion: for miles and miles it’s wall-to-wall flowers, crosses and messages for people who’ve been killed. It’s a mess.”

So fired up with this new project, Hagar has already managed to stir some controversy when during an interview in Toronto he reportedly said that Chickenfoot could – ahem – rival Led Zeppelin. The very mention of this makes him groan loudly and bury his face in his hands: “I’m backing off that statement right now, it was the stupidest thing I ever said,” he admits, and then explains what actually happened.

“As you know, I own a tequila company. And I was spreading the word in Canada. I got real fucked up, and then this guy brings up Chickenfoot. I said: ‘We’re better than Zeppelin,’ or something. What I was trying to say is that this band is like early Zeppelin – it’s got a hard-rock edge to it that’s special. I would never compare anything to Led Zeppelin, they were the greatest band ever.”

In the meantime the band aretalking to record labels and putting together a tour of Europe’s festivals this summer which will include some shows in the UK. This will mark a long-overdue return for Anthony and Hagar. “I feel so guilty I haven’t played there in years,” Hagar confesses. “When I was in Van Halen we’d do 130 dates in the US, and the management would say: ‘Are you ready to do Europe?’ And we’d say: ‘Fuck you. We’re done.’ And when we finally got there we thought we were the biggest band in the world and we ended up supporting Bon Jovi. That broke the band up.”

So, Chickenfoot: musical saviours, or a bunch of old rockers indulging in a mid-life-crisis vanity project? Hagar firmly believes it’s the former, and that the age card works to their advantage.

“I agree it’s hard for old bands to get together and write new material,” he admits. “When I was in Van Halen at the 2004 reunion, I wanted to do a new album but we couldn’t, because we were past it. But I think if you still have it in your heart and mean it, then the more seasoning you have, the better you get. Let’s face it: are you going to pay the same price for some band you’ve never heard of as you would to see the Stones or Zeppelin?”

Originally published in Classic Rock 132

[koffinyshlogginn]

[ylly22-2]

Sparks Interview CLASSIC ROCK magazine Issue 314

[thedepartmentofdiscoveries]

David Bowie interview from Classic Rock Magazine, December 2023.

[mikeladano]

REVIEW: Def Leppard - Def Leppard (2015 Japanese + Classic Rock fan pack edition)

REVIEW: Def Leppard – Def Leppard (2015 Japanese + Classic Rock fan pack edition)

[leviabeat]

"She's very interesting if you look into all the details around her; she was definitely shady," Volbeat frontman Michael Poulsen told BraveWords.com. "I just thought, how the hell? If you read about her, there's so many things that come up. She's been all around, flirting with a lot of royal men. At that time, having the kind of act that she had with her Spider Dance… people were coming to her show, the miners were throwing their gold in front of her because she would be lifting up her skirt so they could see everything. She was very controversial, but at the same time, she was very beautiful, and all the men were totally drawn to her. It's a very interesting character."

Volbeat debuted the song during the band's appearance in June 2013 at Germany's Rock Am Ring Festival.

Poulsen told Classic Rock magazine about his writing for the Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies album: "I wanted to bring in some characters that people weren't so familiar with or maybe had heard a little about," he said. "Lola Montez is not a typical character, the same with Pearl Hart. I wanted to find characters who were a little bit deranged."

"Mostly, the inspiration came from books as I read a lot," he continued. "The same with Black Bart, who is one of my favorite characters. Of those three names, they are all real characters who were alive."

Via songfacts.com

[fullaccessdetroit]

BOURBON HOUSE to Release New Single, “Runnin’ Hot,” on FRETBARD RECORDS!

BOURBON HOUSE is set to release their new single, “Runnin’ Hot,” on FRETBAR RECORDS, Friday Nov 17th. Captivating vocals with a driving rock feel makes “Runnin’ Hot” by BOURBON HOUSE one of the best female fronted releases of 2023! “BOURBON HOUSE has made a statement with their new single ‘Runnin’ Hot.’ I feel as if I’m being told to watch, pay attention because this band and this song, is…

[jaynedolluk]

Read Classic Rock which was an 80s special so they had features on the albums that built the 80s and the Los Angeles glam scene as well as interviews with Girlschool, Thor and Tigertailz.

[itseclecticbeardmakerthings]

Music Life - Revista Japonesa - Anos 70

[thejovimysterytrain]

[fuckyeahvanhalen86-95]

The British guitarist Ritchie Blackmore is the founders of Deep Purple, band that became one of the most important in the history of Hard Rock music. The musician was part of the group from 1968 to 1975 and from 1984 to 1993. He also was successful with his own band Rainbow, especially in the late 70s and early 80s. Over the decades many of his peers gave their opinion on his playing. One of them was the late legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen.

WHAT WAS EDDIE VAN HALEN’S OPINION ON RITCHIE BLACKMORE?

It’s not surprising that Ritchie Blackmore was a big inspiration for Eddie Van Halen, since the British musician created many fast guitar riffs and solos. He influenced countless generations of musicians that would later on be known for their speed and technique.

Talking with Billboard magazine in 2015, Van Halen revealed which his favorite guitar riffs of all time. One of them was the one in the classic Deep Purple song “Burn”, released on the album of the same name released in 1974. It was the first one to feature singer David Coverdale and bassist Glenn Hughes.

But it wasn’t just the Blackmore riffs that Van Halen admired. The musician said in a conversation with Rolling Stone in 2011 that he also liked the vibrato bar used by the musician. “Ritchie Blackmore I liked because of his vibrato bar use on ‘Deep Purple in Rock’ (1970). Also, they come out with great riffs. I mean, come on, ‘Smoke on the Water’ is one for the history books.”

In an interview with Classic Rock magazine in 1978, when Van Halen had just released their successful debut album, Eddie already had praised Blackmore, saying that he was the one that got him “hooked on the whammy bar”.

There are many videos that show Eddie playing Deep Purple riffs in the backstage and at his famous studio 5150.

HE HAD A STRANGE FIRST MEETING WITH BLACKMORE ALONGSIDE GARY MOORE AND DON AIREY

Curiously, the first time Eddie Van Halen had the chance to meet Ritchie Blackmore he was accompanied by the also legendary guitarist Gary Moore.

Airey, who is currently Deep Purple’s keyboard player, recalled in an interview with Mulatschag TV back in 2020 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage) that he arranged that meeting when he was a member of Rainbow.

“There was once when Gary Moore first went to L.A he befriended with Eddie because for the first time in his life he had someone that seriously frightened him. They came to a Rainbow gig at Long Beach. And they both looked so young, especially Eddie.”

“Eddie wanted to meet Richie. I suddenly saw Richie coming and I said ‘Hey Richie! I want you to meet two people. This is Gary Moore and this is Eddie Van Halen’. Richie kind of stormed off (laughs). I don’t know what he thought. (That maybe) I was trying to set him up or something,” Don Airey said.

WHAT RITCHIE BLACKMORE SAID ABOUT VAN HALEN

Ritchie Blackmore was not a big fan of the “tapping” as he told Guitar World magazine in 1991 but he said Eddie saying he was probably the most influential player in the last 15 years. Eddie started the “tapping” movement without his intention. Everything started after the first Van Halen album that led almost all Hard Rock guitarists started copying his technique.

After Van Halen’s death at age of 65 back in 2020, Ritchie Blackmore released an statement saying that the Dutch guitarist changed the guitar and was the “ultimate guitar hero”.

“Eddie Van Halen was a brilliant guitarist who started a technique of guitar playing which was emulated by a whole generation of guitarists”.

“He was one of the nicest musicians I ever met in the music business. Very shy and not at all conceited about his ability as a guitar player. Frank Zappa said he reinvented the guitar. I agree. He will be sadly missed. But his brilliant legacy will always be remembered. The ultimate guitar hero,” Ritchie Blackmore said.

[legendarytragedynacho]

Patti Smith performs in the United Kingdom. Circa 1970

📷 Dick Barnatt/Redferns/GettyImages via Rolling Stone Magazine

[maziecrazycloud]

“Led Zeppelin are gods among men, and Aisling Cowan in their queen.”

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In May of 1971, CREEM magazine’s journalist: Oliver Thorne set out to try and discern just who Aisling Cowan was, the elusive female guitarist of the intrepid LZ. Here is his interview and cover of LZ’s performance in Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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(OBVIOUSLY ALL OF THIS ISNT REAL FOR LEGAL REASONS) I hope you guys like it though. Both Aisling and Oliver are my OCs that I have created for the story I have been writing known as “Forest of Time”. In which a girl from the twenty first century gets pulled back into 1969 by the Seelie Court of Fae. She get sucked into the world of rock n roll when she meets Jimmy Page by chance. Or not👀. Strange magick is afoot. She changes history on accident and becomes a part of LZ, for good or worse. I haven’t written this specific part of the story yet. But I couldn’t resist creating just how much Aisling changes history. Enjoy!

Here is the link to my story if you’re interested!: https://archiveofourown.org/works/42940200/chapters/107881455

I really flexed my understanding of newspapers and i love CREEM, so ofc I had to make an alternate universe version of the magazine to fit my AU of Zeppelin! Cheers and Dark Tidings.🎸👹 (this may be the best thing ive ever made)

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Article below!

Non vintage textured illustration of Aisling✌️

[metal-sludge]

KISS (1973 - present) | HIT PARADER, October 1996.

[nightisthenotion]

George Harrison on a “Star of the Month” calendar poster in Bravo Magazine, March 1971