Jump to content

Classic Rock (magazine): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Tidied up publication history, added categories for special editions and fan packs and added citations for awards and podcast.
Tags: nowiki added Visual edit
Line 19: Line 19:
|logo=Classic Rock logo.svg}}
|logo=Classic Rock logo.svg}}


''Classic Rock'' is a British [[magazine]] and website dedicated to [[rock music]], owned and published by [[Future plc|Future]]. It was launched in October 1998 and is based in [[London]]. The magazine publishes 13 editions a year, mainly covering rock bands from the 60, 70s, 80s and 90s, with the likes of [[Led Zeppelin]], [[AC/DC]], [[Pink Floyd]], [[The Rolling Stones]], [[Queen (band)|Queen]], [[Black Sabbath]], [[Aerosmith]] and [[Deep Purple]] amongst its most prominent cover stars. As well as veteran rock artists, ''Classic Rock'' also covers modern rock bands and releases, with [[Alter Bridge]], [[Rival Sons]], [[Halestorm]], [[Ghost (Swedish band)|Ghost]], [[Blackberry Smoke]] and [[The Struts]] amongst the younger artists to have appeared on its cover in recent years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blackberry Smoke - Check out the new issue of Classic Rock Magazine! They did a special feature on us and other rockin' artists for 'The Class of 2015'. Ya'll can get the full edition here: https://subscribe.teamrock.com/classic-rock/issue-213 {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/BlackberrySmoke/photos/a.139073224797/10153443902954798/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Magazinepublished |first=Classic Rock |date=2022-10-14 |title=Alter Bridge: The rise and rise of rock's reluctant superstars - only in Classic Rock |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/alter-bridge-the-rise-and-rise-of-rocks-reluctant-superstars-only-in-classic-rock |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=loudersound |language=en}}</ref>
'''''Classic Rock''''' is a British [[magazine]] dedicated to [[rock music]], published by [[Future plc|Future]], who are also responsible for its "sister" publications ''[[Metal Hammer]]'' and ''[[Prog (magazine)|Prog]]''. Although firmly focusing on key bands from the 1960s through early 1990s, it also includes articles and reviews of contemporary and upcoming artists it deems worthy of note. Despite starting as an on-off project it became one of the UK's best selling music magazines.<ref>{{cite news|last=Plunkett|first=John|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/feb/11/mojo-q-nme-kerrang-abcs|title=Mojo overtakes Q as top-selling music magazine|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=11 February 2010|accessdate=21 March 2021|location=London}}</ref> In September 2010 it published its 150th issue.


==Publication history==
Former owner TeamRock bought ''Metal Hammer'', ''Prog'' and ''Classic Rock'' from Future in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Plunkett|first=John|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/apr/02/ex-gmg-radio-chief-buys-future-publishing-titles |title=Ex-GMG Radio chief's venture buys Future Publishing titles in £10.2m deal|work=The Guardian|access-date=31 August 2013}}</ref> On 19 December 2016, TeamRock called in the administrators with the loss of 73 jobs, after experiencing financial difficulties, and suspended publication of all three titles.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-38370464|title=Jobs lost as rock music media firm Team Rock collapses |work=BBC Business|date=19 December 2016|accessdate=21 March 2021}}</ref> On 8 January 2017, ''Classic Rock'', along with sister magazines ''Metal Hammer'' and ''Prog'', were bought by previous owners Future Publishing for £800,000, and resumed publishing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sweney|first=Mark|title=No need to fret: Metal Hammer magazine saved from closure|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jan/08/heir-guitars-rock-and-metal-music-publisher-teamrock-saved|date=8 January 2017|accessdate=21 March 2021}}</ref>
''Classic Rock'' was launched by [[Dennis Publishing]] in 1998. It was subsequently sold to Future in 2000, then sold again to [[Startup company|start-up]] publishing company TeamRock in April 2013<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former GMG execs buy Classic Rock and Metal Hammer for £10.2m |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/former-gmg-execs-buy-classic-rock-metal-hammer-102m/1176644?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=www.campaignlive.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>. Following the collapse of TeamRock in December 2016, Future bought back the magazine and its website in January 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Future acquires Team Rock’s Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Prog brands |url=https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/future-acquires-team-rocks-metal-hammer-classic-rock-and-prog-brands-3664 |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=www.inpublishing.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>


On 27 March 2018, the family of Future's UK consumer music magazines including ''Classic Rock'' re-branded and became covered under the umbrella title of '''''Louder''''' (also known as '''''Louder Sound''''').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/teamrock-rebrands-to-become-louder|last=Munro|first=Scott|title=TeamRock rebrands to become Louder|website=Louder|date=27 March 2018|accessdate=21 March 2021}}</ref>
On 27 March 2018, Future re-launched Classic Rock and its sister magazines ''[[Metal Hammer]]'' and [[Prog (magazine)|''Prog'']] under the umbrella title of Louder.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-25 |title=About Louder |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/louder-about-us |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=loudersound |language=en}}</ref>


== Brand extensions ==
==Key acts==
⚫
===Special editions===
The magazine focuses on established bands with credentials dating back to the 1960s. 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 (band)|Queen]] and [[The Who]]).
''Classic Rock'' has published numerous special editions, including magazines dedicated solely to Led Zeppelin, [[Iron Maiden]], [[Guns N' Roses]] and others<ref>{{Cite web |title=Classic Rock Bookazines 1506 (Sampler) by Future PLC - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/futurepublishing/docs/rocs1506.issuu |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}</ref>. ''Classic Rock''<nowiki/>'s sister publication, ''Prog'', was originally issued as a ''Classic Rock Presents'' one-shot magazine in 2009 before being launched as a separate, full-time title soon after. Other off-shoots of the publication included ''The Blues'' magazine, which ran from 2012 to 2016<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-08-24 |title=The Blues Collection – the best of The Blues Magazine is onsale now! |language=en |work=loudersound |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/the-blues-collection-the-best-of-the-blues-magazine-is-onsale-now |access-date=2022-11-15}}</ref>, while ''Classic Rock Presents AOR'' ran for 13 issues between 2010 and 2014.


===Fan packs===
Acts to have appeared on the front cover three times or more to date include [[Queen (band)|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 at least 4 times), [[Metallica]], [[Thin Lizzy]], [[Pink Floyd]], [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]], [[AC/DC]], and [[Mötley Crüe]]. More recent acts to have been on the cover include [[The Darkness (band)|The Darkness]] and [[Velvet Revolver]] have been on it twice.
In 2010, Classic Rock partnered with [[Roadrunner Records]] to publish ''Classic Rock Presents: Slash'', featuring a special edition magazine dedicated to then-former Guns N' Roses guitarist [[Slash (musician)|Slash]] and packaged with a copy of his [[Slash (album)|debut solo album]]. The partnership marked the first time a major album was released exclusively with a magazine publisher ahead of general release. Classic Rock subsequently released official 'fan packs' with [[Whitesnake]], [[Alice Cooper]], [[Motörhead]], [[Def Leppard]] and [[Rush (band)|Rush]] amongst others. ''Classic Rock'' would also release a second fan pack with Slash in 2012 for his album ''[[Apocalyptic Love]].''<ref>{{Cite web |last=published |first=Matthew Parker |date=2012-05-03 |title=See inside the Classic Rock Presents: Slash Apocalyptic Love Fan Pack |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/see-inside-the-classic-rock-presents-slash-apocalyptic-love-fan-pack-542543 |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=MusicRadar |language=en}}</ref>


⚫
===Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards===
Despite the dominating nature of acts undeniably falling into the category of classic rock, the magazine also includes [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[progressive rock]], [[blues]] and [[grunge]] acts.
''Main article:'' [[Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards|Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards]]


Between 2005 and 2016, ''Classic Rock'' hosted the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour - an annual awards ceremony celebrating the achievements of some of rock music's biggest icons. Held in London annually, winners at the Roll Of Honour Awards over the years included [[Lemmy|Lemmy Kilmister]], [[Alice Cooper]], [[Jimmy Page]], [[Ozzy Osbourne]], [[ZZ Top]], [[Gregg Allman]], Queen and more.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vinnicombe |first=Chris |last2=published |first2=Tom Porter |date=2010-11-11 |title=Classic Rock Roll Of Honour award winners - the full list |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/classic-rock-roll-of-honour-award-winners-the-full-list-295403 |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=MusicRadar |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Editor |date=2015-11-11 |title=Brian May - Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards 2015 |url=https://brianmay.com/brian-news/2015/11/brian-may-classic-rock-roll-of-honour-awards-2015/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=brianmay.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lachpublished |first=Stef |date=2016-11-11 |title=Jeff Beck, Joe Perry and All-Star Band triumph at Classic Rock Awards in Tokyo |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/jeff-beck-joe-perry-and-all-star-band-triumph-at-classic-rock-awards-in-tokyo |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=loudersound |language=en}}</ref>
==Contemporary acts==
''Classic Rock'' reviews any release that even comes close to being classified as rock, including albums, [[DVD]]s, concerts and books. It includes an annual award for best new band. Acts such as [[Rose Hill Drive]], [[Muse (band)|Muse]], [[DragonForce]], [[The Trews]], [[Wolfmother]], [[The Answer (band)|The Answer]] and The Fluffy Jackets have all been featured.


===The 20 Million Club===
=='100 Greatest British Rock Albums Ever'==
In July 2020, ''Classic Rock'' launched ''The 20 Million Club'' [[podcast]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 20 Million Club |url=https://open.spotify.com/show/3bwN7ZGGBd6egyGLmi9CO6 |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=Spotify |language=en}}</ref> Hosted by British broadcaster [[Nicky Horne]] with guests from the ''Classic Rock'' team, the podcast analyses the biggest-selling albums of all time, with two seasons produced so far.
For the 91st issue (in April 2006), the magazine presented 'The 100 Greatest [[Great Britain|British]] Rock Albums Ever', which were voted for by ''Classic Rock'' staff and various people associated with rock music (including [[Glenn Hughes (British musician)|Glenn Hughes]] of [[Deep Purple]] and [[Black Sabbath]] fame, [[Lemmy]] of [[Motörhead]] and [[Francis Rossi]] of [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]]). The magazine decided to let [[AC/DC]] be classed as a British act, although the band was formed in [[Australia]]. All of the band's singers ([[Dave Evans (singer)|Dave Evans]], [[Bon Scott]] and [[Brian Johnson]]) and guitarists [[Angus Young|Angus]] and [[Malcolm Young]] are of UK descent. Led Zeppelin's ''[[Led Zeppelin IV]]'' reached first place.

==Landmark issues==
The 100th issue 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 [[Brian May]], Lemmy (who nominated [[Tina Turner]], and was then himself nominated by Ian Camfield), [[Ian Gillan]], [[Gary Moore]], [[Angus Young]], [[Phil Collins]], [[Sebastian Bach]], [[Peter Frampton]], [[Jerry Cantrell]], [[Chris Cornell]], [[Paul Rodgers]], [[Chad Smith]], [[Jack Black]], [[Zakk Wylde]] and [[Matt Bellamy]].

The 200th issue contained short interviews with 200 different rock artists, including Black Sabbath, [[Ian Anderson]] of [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]], [[Lars Ulrich]] of [[Metallica]], and [[Thijs van Leer]] of [[Focus (band)|Focus]].

⚫
==Special issues==
''Classic Rock'' has also published, in conjunction with ''Metal Hammer'', special decade issues featuring 1970s (Issue I), 1980s (Issue II), and 1990s (Issue III) hard rock and metal bands, throughout 2006. In 2007, three special editions were also published with bonus DVDs for £7.50. These each focused on one genre of rock music - first blues rock (Issue I), then progressive rock (Issue II which has now become a bi monthly magazine due to the popularity), and finally, heavy metal (Issue III). A special 2007 collectors edition ''bookazine'' was produced entitled "High Voltage", featuring stories by Mick Wall and photographs by [[Ross Halfin]] on Jimmy Page, Ozzy Osbourne, and Axl Rose.

In 2010, ''Classic Rock'' partnered with Road Runner Record UK to publish the Classic Rock Presents: Slash. Believed to be the first magazine publisher to top an online album chart, the pioneering “Fan Pack” release gives fans in Europe Slash's debut solo album, one month before it receives a standard release with a full 132 page magazine about Slash. The partnership marks the first-time a major album has been released exclusively with a magazine publisher, ahead of general release.

⚫
==Roll of Honour Awards==
The [[Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards]] are an annual awards program established in 2004. Winners of the awards are chosen by the awards team and voted on by readers of the magazine. Winners are announced at an annual awards show and featured in the magazine.


==Notable contributors==
==Notable contributors==

Revision as of 14:59, 15 November 2022

Classic Rock
Issue 257
EditorEditor: Siân Llewellyn
Art editor: Darrel Mayhew
Production editor: Paul Henderson
Reviews editor: Ian Fortnam
Features editor: Polly Glass
Online editor: Fraser Lewry
News/live editor: Dave Ling
CategoriesMusic magazine
FrequencyMonthly
PublisherFuture
Total circulation
(December 2012)		56,714[1]
Founded1998
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Websitewww.classicrockmagazine.com
ISSN1464-7834

Classic Rock is a British magazine and website dedicated to rock music, owned and published by Future. It was launched in October 1998 and is based in London. The magazine publishes 13 editions a year, mainly covering rock bands from the 60, 70s, 80s and 90s, with the likes of Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith and Deep Purple amongst its most prominent cover stars. As well as veteran rock artists, Classic Rock also covers modern rock bands and releases, with Alter Bridge, Rival Sons, Halestorm, Ghost, Blackberry Smoke and The Struts amongst the younger artists to have appeared on its cover in recent years.[2][3]

Publication history

Classic Rock was launched by Dennis Publishing in 1998. It was subsequently sold to Future in 2000, then sold again to start-up publishing company TeamRock in April 2013[4]. Following the collapse of TeamRock in December 2016, Future bought back the magazine and its website in January 2017.[5]

On 27 March 2018, Future re-launched Classic Rock and its sister magazines Metal Hammer and Prog under the umbrella title of Louder.[6]

Brand extensions

Special editions

Classic Rock has published numerous special editions, including magazines dedicated solely to Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Guns N' Roses and others[7]. Classic Rock's sister publication, Prog, was originally issued as a Classic Rock Presents one-shot magazine in 2009 before being launched as a separate, full-time title soon after. Other off-shoots of the publication included The Blues magazine, which ran from 2012 to 2016[8], while Classic Rock Presents AOR ran for 13 issues between 2010 and 2014.

Fan packs

In 2010, Classic Rock partnered with Roadrunner Records to publish Classic Rock Presents: Slash, featuring a special edition magazine dedicated to then-former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash and packaged with a copy of his debut solo album. The partnership marked the first time a major album was released exclusively with a magazine publisher ahead of general release. Classic Rock subsequently released official 'fan packs' with Whitesnake, Alice Cooper, Motörhead, Def Leppard and Rush amongst others. Classic Rock would also release a second fan pack with Slash in 2012 for his album Apocalyptic Love.[9]

Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards

Main article: Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards

Between 2005 and 2016, Classic Rock hosted the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour - an annual awards ceremony celebrating the achievements of some of rock music's biggest icons. Held in London annually, winners at the Roll Of Honour Awards over the years included Lemmy Kilmister, Alice Cooper, Jimmy Page, Ozzy Osbourne, ZZ Top, Gregg Allman, Queen and more.[10][11][12]

The 20 Million Club

In July 2020, Classic Rock launched The 20 Million Club podcast.[13] Hosted by British broadcaster Nicky Horne with guests from the Classic Rock team, the podcast analyses the biggest-selling albums of all time, with two seasons produced so far.

Notable contributors

References

  1. ^ Ponsford, Dominic (14 February 2013). "Mag ABCs: 137 out 516 consumer mags put on circ year on year, full breakdown". Press Gazette. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Blackberry Smoke - Check out the new issue of Classic Rock Magazine! They did a special feature on us and other rockin' artists for 'The Class of 2015'. Ya'll can get the full edition here: https://subscribe.teamrock.com/classic-rock/issue-213 | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2022-11-15. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  3. ^ Magazinepublished, Classic Rock (2022-10-14). "Alter Bridge: The rise and rise of rock's reluctant superstars - only in Classic Rock". loudersound. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  4. ^ "Former GMG execs buy Classic Rock and Metal Hammer for £10.2m". www.campaignlive.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  5. ^ "Future acquires Team Rock's Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Prog brands". www.inpublishing.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  6. ^ "About Louder". loudersound. 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  7. ^ "Classic Rock Bookazines 1506 (Sampler) by Future PLC - Issuu". issuu.com. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  8. ^ "The Blues Collection – the best of The Blues Magazine is onsale now!". loudersound. 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  9. ^ published, Matthew Parker (2012-05-03). "See inside the Classic Rock Presents: Slash Apocalyptic Love Fan Pack". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  10. ^ Vinnicombe, Chris; published, Tom Porter (2010-11-11). "Classic Rock Roll Of Honour award winners - the full list". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  11. ^ Editor (2015-11-11). "Brian May - Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards 2015". brianmay.com. Retrieved 2022-11-15. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ Lachpublished, Stef (2016-11-11). "Jeff Beck, Joe Perry and All-Star Band triumph at Classic Rock Awards in Tokyo". loudersound. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  13. ^ "The 20 Million Club". Spotify. Retrieved 2022-11-15.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Classic_Rock_(magazine)&oldid=1122042517"