Classic Rock Issue 295 (December 2021) Deep Purple

Classic Rock Issue 295 (December 2021) Deep Purple

Back in 2017, when Deep Purple released Infinite, rumours abounded that it might be their last. Thankfully, said rumours were obviously greatly exaggerated, as since then they’ve not only released the tremendous Whoosh! album in 2020, and now their very first all-covers album.

We sat down with all five members of Deep Purple to find out just what makes them tick in 2021, and what led to them making something new so soon.

Features

Deep Purple - People often think a covers album is a sign of having run out of ideas, having a contract to fulfil, or maybe both. Deep Purple’s new covers album Turning To Crime is neither. Rather, it sees the band invigorated by revisiting songs that inspired them to play rock’n’roll in the first place.

Rush - Their 1978 album Hemispheres was one of the band’s most challenging records to make, but its stunning 36 minutes are a clear indication of the trio’s chemistry. Geddy Lee recalls the album’s creation, and ponders its legacy.

Alan Lancaster - We look back at the life, music and times of the late Status Quo bassist/vocalist, who co-founded a British hard-rocking band that became one of the greats, with a broad appeal that made them a household name.

Jerry Cantrell - The Alice In Chains guitarist’s first solo album in almost 20 years highlights his acoustic side. A lockdown project, he says it turned into “a pretty cool record”.

Van Halen - In our exclusive book extract from Eruption: The Eddie Van Halen Story, we venture back to the early 80s, to Fair Warning and Diver Down, when the band were nearly at breaking point.

Dooms Children - Having sunk into a dark hole of depression, Alexisonfire guitarist/Gallows frontman Wade MacNeil found the light with his psychedelic, Grateful Dead-inspired new project, Dooms Children.

Regulars

Q&A: John Petrucci - Dream Theater’s guitar wizard on egos, tricky time signatures, worrying about the draft, own-brand bourbon, and beards.

Six Things You Need To Know About… Florence Black - Nine years, one album and more than a million streams. The Welsh rock’n’roll trio’s gambles are now paying off.

The Gospel According To… Justin Hawkins - Lowestoft and Glasgow are special places. Clothes maketh the rock star. You’ve got to have life goals. Success has its downsides. These are among the things that shape The Darkness man’s world view.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Bobby Gillespie - Primal Scream’s frontman on the records, artists and gigs that are of lasting significance to him.

Back To Live - With gigs back on the agenda, we preview tours by The Cadillac Three, Fozzy and Fish. Plus full gig listings – find out who’s playing where and when.

Reviews

New albums from Deep Purple, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, The Darkness, Steve Perry, Gov’t Mule, Rod Stewart, Black Label Society, Eagles Of Death Metal, Mostly Autumn, Florence Black, Enuff Z’Nuff… Reissues from Nirvana, Kiss, Motörhead, David Bowie, Jethro Tull, Mötley Crüe, Pretenders, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Radiohead, Frank Zappa, Funeral For A Friend… DVDs, films and books on Queen, Brad Whitford, Bobby Gillespie, Jay Jay French, The Beatles, John Illsley… Live reviews of Genesis, Skindred, Hawklords, Bruce Dickinson, Patti Smith, Steve Hackett, Caravan, Blaze Bayley…