There’s a quote from Roger Waters in this month’s cover feature that sums up the state of the Pink Floyd nation during their very ambitious – and very fractious – tour supporting The Wall album, which drew to a close 45 years ago.
“We have been pretending we’re all jolly good chaps together,” he said, “but that hasn’t been true in seven years.”
While the Gilmour/ Waters-led Floyd would go on to record one more album together, 1983’s The Final Cut – and quite how they managed that is anyone’s guess – The Wall tour really did spell the dissolution of the band. Was it the sheer scale and ambition of the trek, the financial ramifications, creative differences or something else entirely that brought things to a head?
Elsewhere in this issue, we go boozing with Airbourne in Spain – who knew the O’Keeffe brothers were proper oenophiles? We revisit the heady days of the Sunset Strip with Faster Pussycat; venture back to 1989 with Aerosmith’s now-clean Toxic Twins to discuss their story so far; chat with sidemen to the stars Carmine Appice and Billy Morrison, and so much more.
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Features
Pink Floyd
Their hugely ambitious 1980/81 tour for The Wall redefined rock shows. But, plagued by power grabs, bad blood, sackings and bitter dysfunction, it also tore the band apart.
Airbourne
We joined the wine-loving Aussie hard rockers in Spain to uncork a few bottles and shoot the rock’n’roll breeze.
Faster Pussycat
When they hit the Sunset Strip in the mid-80s, cocky as hell, hair-metal superstardom beckoned. Just six years later, their label pulled the plug – and the band collapsed.
The Gospel According To… Blackie Lawless
Challenge yourself, not others. Drugs are not for him. The window on rock’n’roll is closing… These nuggets and more.
Aerosmith
In the mid-80s they needed a big album. Then Pump raised the hard rock bar. In this archive interview, the band look back over two decades of chaos, addiction and their sober comeback.
Carmine Appice
The drummer has played with Vanilla Fudge, Ozzy, Rod Stewart and more – and co-wrote a massive disco-rock hit.
(Image credit: Future)
Regulars
The Dirt
Roger Taylor open to more from Queen; Iron Maiden sell some of their publishing; Lou Gramm to retire from live performance; Welcome back Vardis, and Gloria Mundi; Say hello to Alyssa Bonagura and The Meffs. Say goodbye to Bonnie Tyler, Clive Davis, David Clayton-Thomas and Doug Goldstein.
The Stories Behind The Songs: Bruce Hornsby And The Range’s The Way It Is
How a song about deep-seated racism in the South became an unlikely No.1. And as its writer tells Classic Rock, “sadly the song still retains a bittersweet topical quality.”
Ever Meet Lemmy? Billy Morrison
He partied with Ozzy, got a bollocking from Sharon, shot up with Nick Cave, choked on Cypress Hill’s weed smoke, and was tasked with Lemmy’s backstage rider. He is sideman to the gods, Billy Morrison, and these are some of his stories.
The Hot List
We look at some of the essential new tracks you need to hear and the artists to have on your radar. This month they include Hannah Wicklund, Stanley Simmons, Floor Jansen, The Anchoress, Ben Poole, Juliet’s Not Dead and more.
Reviews
New albums from Airbourne, Mastodon, Hollywood Vampires, Sparks, Doro, Kris Barras, Jack White, Afghan Whigs, Kasabian, Sinner and more. Reissues from Ten Years After, Pixies, Black Oak Arkansas, Jethro Tull, Donnie Vie, Quicksilver Messenger Services and more. DVDs, films and books on Metallica, Jeff Beck, Supertramp, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and more. Live reviews of Metallica, Black Crowes, Def Leppard, Robert Plant & Saving Grace, Joan Jett, Sammy Hagar, Garbage, System Of A Down and more.
Buyer’s Guide: Pat Travers
Never one to repeat himself, the Canadian guitar hero boasts a prolific, genre-shifting back catalogue.
Lives
We preview tours by Accept, Curved Air and Love/Hate. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.
The Soundtrack Of My Life: Amy Lee
The Evanescence singer picks her records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.
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(LouderSound)
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