! e c i l A e l c n u e v i gl
lon ISSUE FIVE - NOVEMBER 2011
by Cristina Massei
In a music panorama overloaded with disposable icons, young and old fans increasingly seek refuge in the most arguable legends of the past. As Classic Rock takes the spotlight in the print department – even sprouting into Prog and AOR editions – and High Voltage rubs elbows with the big summer Festivals, they all come back like in that Stephen King movie. To be fair, some of them have always been there – maybe not enjoying the same exposure – and some were truly missed, but let’s face it: some of them would be better off being remembered for their past glories. And no, I don’t mean we need another lousy reissue/best of, thanks. The fight for survival can take different shapes. Some decide to join forces: we’re all impatient at the mouth-watering prospect of that Squire-Hackett collaboration finally coming to life, yet we’ve just been stabbed twice in the back by the horror that is Lulu: union doesn’t always make you stronger, as Lou Reed and Metallica sadly prove. Will Squackett restore our faith?
£ FREE
In the meanwhile, some prefer to stick to their chosen route, like old school rockers Venom; some just explode in a tsunami of talent taking over everything on their path, like Slash; some keep entertaining with the best live shows you’ll ever see– hello uncle Alice! – and others safely milk the cow producing yet more remasters of the same 3-4 records from 20+ years ago (Do you really need names? Sorry guys, we only have 24 pages here) . And then there’s the line up issue: is it really the same band when only the original bass player is still in it? And the ugly divorces… Who takes the name? Why should Axl call himself Guns’n’Roses and not Slash or Duff? And when there’s not enough money to fight in court, you get two of them: two LA Guns, two Faster Pussycat, two Tigertailz, two Pretty Boy Floyd. Sure the world could do with just one?
venom!
Leaving the catfights on Facebook, this month we would like to dedicate some space to those music legends who just don’t want to die. Now if that’s a good or a bad thing, it’s for you to decide…
Interviews with Venom, Chris Squire, Steve Hackett, Saxon, Hardcore Superstar, The Melvins, Svolk, Nemesea, As I Lay Dying, Little Fish Reports from Supersonic, Smokehead Rocks and Damnation
SQUACKETT: It’s happening!
Live with Alice Cooper, Bowling for Soup, Melvins, Sworn Amongst, Anthrax, Testament, Steve Wilson, Soil and more + our regular reviews, features, burlesque and exclusive pictures!