THE BIT WHERE EVERYONE MOANS ABOUT LAST ISSUE STARTS HERE

From page 88 of Classic Rock Magazine June 2011



Cover of June 2011 issue.
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When I saw this month’s Classic Rock front cover, my heart sank. Not because I don’t like Top 100s, but because I knew it would mean that this month’s letters page would be full of people writing to say, ‘How could you miss so-an-so?’ and ‘My favourite songwriter is better than your favourite songwriter’ and ‘Why is David Coverdale talking about Isaac Hayes when he’s not even rock?’ and ‘I hate Top 100s’ and on and on and on AND ON!

I happen to love the letters page of Classic Rock . I think us rockers are funnier and feistier than your average music fan, but any issue of CR with a number on the front brings out the worst in people.

...Anyway, while I’m here... How could you miss Johnny Thunders? He’s much better than Steely fucking Dan! Isaac Hayes?! That’s not rock! etc etc.

Do I win whiskey? Jamie, Wells Sadly not, Jamie, but we appreciate the sentiment. We did get a few of those letters this month – below are some of the less insulting. The answers to your questions apply to all the below: a) We didn’t choose any of the Top 100, the artists did. That was kind of the point. b) It’s kind of difficult for us to tell Ozzy or Gene Simmons or Brian May to choose someone else because Dougie fae Dundee thinks Brian Tatler should be mentioned. c) Isaac Hayes is not rock. Well spotted. Meantime, let the shoe-ing begin...

I eagerly await each issue of Classic Rock and happily let it engross me for a good few days, nay, weeks. Unfortunately May’s issue disappointed. Why? Just under 50 pages worth of another top 100/50/20 greatest, bestest, guitaristist, vocalistist, drummerist

type section.

I feel the 100 Greatest Songwriters was a bit overlong and couldn’t help thinking that it was more padding than content and my attention waned after a few pages... I firmly stand under the banner of rock’n’roll and I will never desert your magazine, it’s the best around.

I get the impression that I am not alone in knowing what’s coming when we see “The Top 10/100 greatest ever” on the front cover though.

Anon, via email ...So Steve Rothery thinks Genesis were great songwriters and Tom Petty rates Bob Dylan. Thanks, I’d never have guessed, and just in ca

se we missed it the last few thousand times, Joe Elliot pops up again talking up his old mate Ian Hunter! The whole issue was lazy and just seemed like it was thrown together as a stopgap whilst your team were busy elsewhere (presumably compiling articles for Presents Prog / Presents AOR ). Where were the usual quality features ? Where was the usual variety? All that was left was the usual news articles and the releases round up (and in fairness – a good SST buyers guide)...

Keith, Plymouth

Great mag as always but what went wrong with 100 Greatest Songwriters? How does Marc Bolan fail to get a mention yet Billy Corgan does? How does Marc Bolan fail to get a mention yet Kiss does? How does Marc Bolan fail to get a... I think you get my drift. Bolan was one of the great songwriters of the 70s. From October 1970 unil June 1973 T.Rex were never out of the top ten for singles, including four No.1s and in the same period three No.1 albums and three top 10 albums. This was in a time when selling singles was still as important as selling albums and, unlike today, you had to sell more than 1,000 to get in the charts.

Bolan was a great ongwriter and a massive nfluence then and today. Methinks someone dropped the ball here...

Liam Smith, via email s with all ‘100 Best of...’ ts, this one is going to be

jective. Now, I’m not going to b ecry any of the songwriters and/or rtnerships that you’ve listed, and,

a st like everyone else, I’m going to ave my favourites. In my opinion ome of those listed have earned heir place amongst the pantheon, ome haven’t. But I have to ask, by ll that’s Holy, how is it that Shane MacGowan doesn’t appear ywhere amongst the selected? Is an

he not ‘rock’ enough for you at CR towers? Surely MacGowan’s lyrics

have to be some of the most evocative found in contemporary music, of any genre.

Neil, via email

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AC/DC






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