Rock Archives - Page 21 of 27 - Vintage Rock Times

Earl Slick, the artist too drunk to jam with John Lennon: “I was so hungover”

For any self-respecting musician, the chance to record alongside John Lennon is the thing of fantasy. After all, the former Beatle is among the most important, successful, and universally beloved figures to ever grace the airwaves, penning a litany of music’s most iconic tracks alongside The Beatles and crafting a truly compelling solo career in […]

The Led Zeppelin song gave Eddie Van Halen his incredible technique: “What if I use my finger”

To be a legend is to be memorable above all else. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of incredible guitar players who have had their blast in the spotlight and then disappeared into the ether. Without a defining moment, style, or image, a legacy is nigh-on impossible. If there is one guitar technique that Eddie […]

Live Killers: Queen’s Thunderous 1979 Double LP That Captured the Band’s Fiery ‘Jazz’ Tour and Cemented Their Legend as a Stadium Rock Powerhouse

22 June 1979 – Queen released their first Live album in the UK, “Live Killers” and this was also their first double vinyl. It was recorded over the span of three months during their European leg of the ‘Jazz’ tour (January to March 1979). The album was self-produced by the band and was their first […]

“From Farrokh to Freddie: A Boarding School Friend’s Heartwarming Memories of the Humble Boy Who Became a Rock Legend”

“Freddie and I were in school together. I only know him as Farrokh, later as Fred Bulsara, not Freddie Mercury. He was a really friendly and good-natured chap. We spent our holidays in Mumbai, and he came to my place very often. At school, nobody teased him anymore than they teased anybody else. We were […]

“Sailing Through Sound: How the Sea Became Paul McCartney’s Sanctuary, Muse, and Musical Compass Across Decades of Songwriting”

Paul McCartney has long found solace and inspiration in the sea. As a devoted fan, I’ve always been fascinated by how his sailing trips, particularly around the Scottish coast and the Caribbean, have subtly infused his music with a sense of calm, rhythm, and freedom. His 1983 yacht trip through the Virgin Islands, for instance, […]

How an Icelandic Concert Inspired Led Zeppelin’s ‘Immigrant Song’?

There are lots of mystical and moving metaphors to be found in Led Zeppelin songs, but when Robert Plant sang about coming from the land of ice and snow in “Immigrant Song,” he meant it literally. “Immigrant Song” appeared on Led Zeppelin’s 1970 album Led Zeppelin III and was its lone single. Several months prior […]

Was Freddie Mercury the greatest frontman of a rock band?

For many fans, critics, and musicians, the answer is a resounding yes—and it’s not hard to see why. Freddie wasn’t just a singer; he was a showman, a songwriter, and a force of nature who could captivate an entire stadium with a glance or a gesture. His vocal range, spanning over four octaves, allowed him […]

Inside the Final Days of The Beatles: Paul McCartney’s Lonely Struggle to Hold the Band Together and the Breakdown That Still Echoes Today

According to many close to him, Paul McCartney broke down alone on several occasions during the band’s final years — the most heartbreaking being after one of their tense Apple Corps meetings in 1969. At the time, The Beatles were barely functioning as a group. Business disputes, personal drama, and creative control issues had torn […]

“From Riffs to Ruins: The Unstoppable Force of Led Zeppelin”

Led Zeppelin are the world’s greatest supergroup. They first took to the stage on September 7th, 1968, as The New Yardbirds. That night, at the Gladsaxe Teen Club in Copenhagen, fans were initially disappointed as they only recognised Jimmy Page. The legendary John Paul Jones, John Bonham and Robert Plant were unknown entities. However, what […]

“Let It Be: The Beatles’ Beautiful Chaos Behind Their Final Farewell”

Surprising Facts About Let It Be — The Beatles’ Beautiful, Broken Farewell Released just weeks after the Beatles’ breakup was made public, Let It Be has always felt like an epitaph—an uneven, haunted, strangely moving goodbye. But behind the scenes, it was even messier than fans might think. Here are a few surprising or misunderstood […]