The return of heavy

WW2 evacuee, RAF airman, Rolling Stone, hit solo artist, bandleader, author, restaurateur, archaeologist, cricketer… Even just his time in The Greatest Rock’N’Roll Band In The World is storied, but there’s been much, much more to his life than that.

Jerry Cantrell shaped the sound of alternative rock with Alice In Chains, but on his new solo album he’s taking inspiration from the heroes of his youth: for tone, Jeff Beck and blues-rock master Robin Trower, and for guitar harmonies, Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy

Some call him the Iron Man. Others see him as the Master of Reality or the Hand of Doom. One thing everyone seems to agree on, however, is that heavy metal was first conceived in the mind of Anthony F

Josh Tillman’s latest grand orchestral apocalyptic vision is bleak but joyfully delivered. By Tom Doyle. Illustration by Bill McConkey.

Shaken and stirred – former Purson bandleader has a licence to thrill on third solo album.

Jeff Beck had no equal for the joyous, headstrong energy and beguiling subtlety he brought to his playing. When he died suddenly in January of 2023, he left behind the lightning rods through which his electrifying talent passed – an eclectic collection of guitars, many of which are as heavily customised as the hot-rod cars that were Beck’s other ruling passion. Almost exactly two years after his passing, these legendary instruments are now set to go under the hammer in London. We join the experts from Christie’s auction house on the eve of the sale to take a closer look at ‘Oxblood’ and other historic instruments from Jeff ’s career – and discuss the portrait they paint of a pragmatic, restless yet peerlessly gifted ta lent and his musical legacy