Classic Rock Issue 333 (November 2024) Motorhead

Classic Rock Issue 333 (November 2024) Motorhead

Every time I hear Thin Lizzy’s Jailbreak, I always have a chuckle to myself over the opening lyrics: ‘Tonight there’s gonna be a jailbreak, somewhere in this town.’ Somewhere? Um, well, yeah, Phil, I’d wager it’s gonna happen at the jail… 

All that said, it doesn’t detract for a second from what an absolute banger of a song it is. In fact it’s an album stuffed with ’em – The Boys Are Back In Town, Emerald, Cowboy Song, Warriors, to name just a few. 

It was the make-or-break album for Lizzy too. They needed a hit record, or it was likely going to be the end of the road for them. This issue their manager Chris O’Donnell writes about the high stakes of that album and the challenges that awaited them when they tried to take on America. 

On a more sombre note, just as we went to press, we heard the very sad news of the passing of Great White’s singer Jack Russell. We’ll pay tribute to him next issue. 

Until next month…
Sian Llewellyn

Features

Eddie Clarke. Or ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke, I should say. It’s easy to immediately think of Lemmy whenever Motörhead’s name is mentioned, but let us not forget that Motörhead at their absolute peak was the work of the three amigos – Lemmy, ‘Fast’ Eddie and ‘Philthy’ Phil Taylor.

This issue we venture back in time to 1979 and take a look at exactly what was going on in the Motörworld at the time of Overkill, an album that definitely made good on its opening lyric: ‘Only way to feel the noise is when it’s good and loud’. Feel the noise we did. And still do…

Sadly, I often have to use this space to speak about those we have lost. And this month it’s one that hits close to home among the Classic Rock team and the wider rock and metal industry. While you may not know her name, earlier this month we lost Michelle Kerr, press officer extraordinaire, and someone without whom so many of the features and interviews that end up in our pages, and those of Metal Hammer, Prog and myriad other publications, would never have seen the light of day.

Thank you, Michelle. We’re gonna miss you.

Sian Llewellyn

Features

Motörhead - In an exclusive extract from his Fast Eddie biography, Kris Needs looks back at the making of their game-changing Overkill album and the subsequent killing-it UK tour.

Jack Russell, RIP - Alan Niven, the former manager, co-songwriter and producer of Great White, talks about the Jack he knew.

Q&A: Nikki Sixx - The Mötley Crüe bassist on making new music, replacing Mick Mars, life-work balance, learning when to say no.

Myles Kennedy - With his brand new solo album The Art Of Letting Go, the lifelong worrier is learning to do what his record title suggests.

Bill Wyman - WW2 evacuee, RAF airman, Rolling Stone, hit solo artist, bandleader, author, restaurateur, archaeologist, cricketer… and there’s been much, much more to his life than that.

Tuk Smith - With his latest album he’s followed the adage that if you want something doing properly, do it yourself.

Howlin’ Wolf - We look back at the blues legend’s London sessions in 1970, with a superstar cast that included some of England’s rock royalty, a linchpin moment in the history of the blues.

MC5 - Wayne Kramer was the guardian of the Detroit band’s legacy until he died earlier this year, after making one final album.

Regulars

The Dirt - Iron Maiden announce 50th-anniversary world tour for 2025/26; new album, single and UK tour coming from The Darkness; Jane’s Addiction cancel US tour and announce hiatus. Welcome back Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Finger Eleven. Say hello to The Southern River Band and Bobbie Dazzle. Say goodbye to Herbie Flowers, Zoot Money.

The Stories Behind The Song: The Offspring - Inspired by a baseball-capped server at a dive-thru, Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) brought the band a UK No.1 single, lifted them out of the doldrums they were in and set them up for the next period of huge success.

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 The Damn Truth, Crobot, The Heavy Heavy, Cats In Space, Sam Millar, Larkin Poe, SKAM and more.

Reviews - New albums from MC5, Jerry Cantrell, Quireboys, Primal Scream, The Offspring, Moggs Hotel, Massive Wagons, Big Big Train, Von Hertzen Brothers, Devin Townsend and more. Reissues from Queen, Thin Lizzy, Tony Iommi & Glenn Hughes, Mountain, The Yardbirds, Whitesnake, Ian Hunter, Foreigner, Tom Petty and more. DVDs, films and books on Small Faces, UFO, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Blur, Roxy Music. Live reviews of Blackberry Smoke, Biffy Clyro, Saxon, Pixies, Terrorvision, The Cold Stares, KK’s Priest, The Lemon Twigs, Ugly Kid Joe and more.

Buyer’s Guide: The Damned - After releasing the first-ever punk single and first punk album, they went on to make records with a wide range of musical styles.

Lives - We preview tours by Royal Republic, Dream Theater and Creeper. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Steve Howe - Yes guitarist Steve Howe picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.