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If the live music industry were a festival, Live Nation wouldn’t just be headlining — they’d own the stage, the beer tents, the merch stands, the toilets, and probably the bloke selling glow sticks out the back of his van. This isn’t just a story about a big player in music — it’s about a mega-corporate hydra with more arms...

Ahhh, music festivals. That magical realm where the beer’s £7 a pint, the loos are a portal to another dimension, and somehow every band sounds like the best they’ve ever been. But why is that? Why does “Mr Brightside” hit harder when you’re stood in a field than when you’re in the car on the way to Tesco? It’s not...

If you were alive, semi-conscious, and anywhere near a radio or a Kerrang! TV marathon in 2001, you’ve heard System Of A Down’s “Chop Suey!”. And if you haven’t, where have you been, mun? Hiding in a cave in the Brecon Beacons with nothing but a tin of Spam and a copy of Now That’s What I Call Music! 48?...

Well now, butt, this one’s got the Journey faithful in full-on air-guitar meltdown mode. Neal Schon – yes, the actual guitar wizard who’s been making “Don’t Stop Believin’” echo through arenas for decades – has just dropped a big ol’ bombshell… well, more like a shiny breadcrumb… on social media. And what is it? An image. A logo. Four little...

The Prince of Darkness has never been shy of a little musical mischief.Whether it’s a sultry power ballad with a glam rock goddess or a hip-hop-infused curveball with a face-tat rapper, Ozzy Osbourne’s collaborations have been wild, weird, and sometimes downright wonderful. Here’s our 12 best Ozzy team-ups – from the iconic to the “Wait… that actually happened?!” moments. 🏴...

Ah, Birmingham. The city that gave the world heavy metal, industrial grindcore, and an accent that could make even the word “tea” sound hard as nails. From the molten riffs of Black Sabbath to the machine-gun blast beats of Napalm Death, Brum is basically the Vatican for headbangers — only instead of incense, you get the smell of leather jackets...

Are the rules still the same? What’s changed? And why is someone filming this in 4K while wearing Crocs? 🎤 THE EARLY DAYS (Late ’70s – ’80s) – Birth of the Pit Picture it: sweaty punk clubs, dodgy electrics, and beer that’s basically just brown water. 🍺 Punk and hardcore scenes — think Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Minor Threat —...

“In the left corner, it’s the flappy nuisance… in the right, it’s the sit-down saboteur… LET’S GET READY TO GRUMBLE!” Festivals are the best place in the world — live music, muddy beer, and 50,000 strangers all suddenly becoming your best mate for the weekend. 🏕️ But for every glorious moment in the crowd, there’s that one thing (or in...

Well, butt, it looks like the Mastodon camp just got a volcanic eruption that makes Mount Doom look like a sparkler. 🎆Former guitarist Brent Hinds – yes, the cowboy-hat-wearing, riff-slinging, whiskey-swilling founding member of the Atlanta prog-metal juggernaut – has taken to social media to unleash a tirade so scorching you could fry an egg on it. 🍳 In a...

Right then butt, strap in – because this is one of those lists where the mosh pit didn’t stop when the music ended… it just got angrier, louder, and involved a few too many police vans 🚓🔥. Here’s The Riff Report’s breakdown of 7 Awesome Live Performances That Ended In Devastating Riots – part gig history lesson, part cautionary tale,...

Some festivals are legendary for the right reasons — Glastonbury 2000 (Bowie magic), Download 2009 (Slipknot madness), Steelhouse 2022 (sunburn & cider perfection). And then… there’s Blue Ridge Rock Fest 2023. What was promised: The ultimate, fan-curated, heavy rock experience.What was delivered: The Lord of the Flies, but with Pantera on the soundtrack and no working toilets. This wasn’t just...

If you’ve ever looked at Judas Priest’s leather-clad frontman, Rob Halford, and thought: “I wish I could put him on my desk to glare at me until I finish my spreadsheets” — well, your weirdly specific dream has just come true, butt. McFarlane Toys, the masters of turning pop culture icons into insanely detailed collectibles, have unveiled a six-inch Rob...

Pull up a bar stool, grab a pint, and get ready for a proper emotional wallop, butt — because 2025’s been a gut-punch for the rock world. From blues wizards to metal gods, we’ve lost giants this year. And while they may have left the stage, their riffs, roars, and rebellious spirit will never fade. So here’s our Riff Report...

Well, tidy up your comments section, mun, because Bob Rock’s just lobbed a pint into the great Metallica fan debate — and it’s about to get messy. 🍺🎸 In a recent interview, the legendary producer (and Black Album architect) not only sang the praises of Lars Ulrich, but went all in defending Load and Reload, Metallica’s most controversial records since...

Listen up, metalheads and gig-goers – there’s a dark plague out there, and no, it’s not the mosh pit flu. It’s SCAMMERS – those low-life, basement-dwelling keyboard goblins who try to steal your hard-earned beer money by pretending to be your favourite bands. 🤘😡 Over the past few months, we’ve seen a spike in fake profiles popping up on Facebook,...