As I type this, it seems that the summer has finally arrived in the UK. The rain has stopped, the sun is shining..
. Well, for a day or two at least. All that being said, the dismal British weather hasn’t dampened the joie de vivre of the festival and summer gig season as our rock heroes roll in and out of town and into Europe and beyond.
And it shows – our live reviews section this month is an absolute monster, proving that high-voltage rock’n’roll is in a hale and hearty state. There was the triumphant return of AC/DC, Stevie Nicks back in Hyde Park, ZZ Top, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam and more besides..
. We caught Metallica delivering the goods in Norway, Smashing Pumpkins smashing it in Portugal. It’s been quite the month.
This issue we also celebrate some big album anniversaries: 50 years of Aerosmith’s mighty , 25 years of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ monster hit , and more. And we pay tribute to John Mayall, the ‘Godfather Of British Blues’ who sadly passed away in July. Until next month.
.. With their label ready to drop them after a so-so first album, they clung on, dreamed on, dug in and recorded a second, , that gave them lift-off.
We look back at the life and music of the Godfather of British blues, who passed away in July aged 90. The Def Leppard frontman on the upcoming US tour, not selling out, guest appearances, retirement, the next album and more. Twenty-five years ago, with the album they were on top of the world.
But it was the calm before the sto.