News

Some rock stories are about sold-out stadiums, legendary albums and unforgettable encores. Others remind us that even our greatest musical heroes are only human. In a deeply emotional revelation, Phil Collins has spoken publicly about a terrifying health battle that nearly claimed his life in 2024. The former Genesis frontman and one of Britain’s most successful solo artists revealed that...

Ozzfest is coming back, the cameras were rolling at Ozzy Osbourne’s historic farewell, and Sharon Osbourne has made one thing absolutely clear: the Prince of Darkness will never quietly disappear into the shadows. Sharon Osbourne has shared a major update on the future of Ozzfest, confirming that the legendary rock and metal festival is planned to return in 2027. She...

The Riff Report | Rock News Sometimes rock history gives us a gift that feels almost too good to be true. This week is one of those moments. More than 80 minutes of incredibly rare Led Zeppelin footage, filmed during the band’s legendary performance at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music on 28 June 1970, has finally emerged...

Trying to rank every Dream Theater album is a bit like trying to count how many time-signature changes happen during a John Petrucci guitar solo. You can give it a go, but eventually your brain starts smoking and Jordan Rudess appears from behind a keyboard stack to inform you that you’ve missed seven bars of 13/16. Since forming in the...

Marshall has officially pulled the covers off one of its biggest amplifier launches in years, unveiling the Billie Joe Armstrong 1959BJA Artist Signature – the company’s first artist signature amplifier in 14 years. Developed in collaboration with Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, the 100-watt all-valve head has been created to capture the legendary guitar tone heard on the band’s...

There are moments in music history when talent, timing and a glorious bit of brass-neck combine to create something genuinely special. For Leeds electronic duo Utah Saints, that moment arrived when they decided to ask one of Britain’s most fiercely independent artists for permission to sample her work. The artist was Kate Bush. The song was “Cloudbusting.” And against the...

Leicestershire Police have released an image of a man officers wish to identify following an alleged indecency incident at Download Festival 2026. The investigation relates to a report of two people allegedly behaving inappropriately while riding the Ferris wheel at the festival’s Donington Park site on Saturday 13 June. Police confirmed that a woman has already been identified and voluntarily...

Rock fans love a good debate, and few topics get people fired up faster than backing tracks and live enhancements. Now, Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx has weighed in on the conversation, defending the use of modern technology during live performances and arguing that it’s all about delivering the biggest and best experience possible for fans. 🎤 The Great Backing...

From Led Zeppelin’s triumphant return to Queen’s emotional farewell and Oasis defining a generation, Knebworth House has hosted some of the greatest moments in live music history. Here’s the story of the venue where rock legends are made. 🤘 Introduction Some venues host concerts. Some venues become famous. Then there’s Knebworth House. Nestled in the Hertfordshire countryside, this stunning stately...

From Bohemian Rhapsody to bovine tuberculosis, this is the rock-and-farming crossover nobody had on their bingo card Brian May has spent decades producing enormous guitar solos, filling stadiums and helping Queen become one of the biggest bands ever to walk the planet. Jeremy Clarkson, meanwhile, has spent recent years arguing with tractors, battling the British weather and discovering that running...

Today is one of the biggest days of the year for thousands of young people across Scotland. Whether you’ve been counting down the days with excitement or spending sleepless nights wondering what that envelope or email will say, the wait is finally over. To every student receiving their exam results today, everyone at The Riff Report wants to wish you...

Few voices have echoed around the world quite like Bonnie Tyler’s. Now, Wales is preparing to honour one of its greatest musical legends with a spectacular celebration of her life at one of the country’s most iconic castles. Following the heartbreaking passing of the Skewen-born singer in July, plans are underway for a major tribute that promises to celebrate not...

The 1980s were a golden era for heavy music. Thrash was exploding, traditional metal was evolving, and somewhere in the middle a new breed of musicians decided that riffs alone weren’t enough. They wanted odd time signatures, concept albums, virtuoso musicianship and songs that felt more like journeys than three-minute singles. Progressive metal was born. Without these pioneering albums there...

There are novelty songs. There are comedy records. There are tracks that briefly become popular, get played to death and then disappear into the great musical wheelie bin of history. And then there is Goldie Lookin Chain’s “Fresh Prince of Cwmbran.” A gloriously daft, proudly Welsh and instantly memorable slice of South Wales hip-hop culture, the track took one of...

There are football shirts… There are band shirts… And then there’s Cwmbran Celtic AFC, who have decided to throw the rulebook straight into the mosh pit by combining both. In one of the coolest collaborations we’ve seen this year, the Welsh grassroots football club has teamed up with four of the UK’s biggest independent bands to launch a stunning new...