Classic Pop – October 2026

Summary

Johnny Marr sits down for an exclusive interview in Classic Pop October 2026 (Issue 109) and explains why he is "desperate to get Nile Rodgers off the stage" — the cover line that launched a thousand clicks. Marr's new album The Age Of Everything marks his most confident solo statement yet.

Classic Pop October 2026 leads with Johnny Marr discussing his evolution from The Smiths to frontman and solo artist. Five Star's Silk & Steel gets the Classic Album treatment with full track-by-track context. Marco Pirroni discusses his autobiography and four decades of guitar work with Adam And The Ants and beyond. The Beautiful South go Album By Album across their entire catalogue. The Proclaimers reveal why they quit Spotify, refusing to accept what they call insulting streaming payouts. Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) discusses his solo trajectory. Jesus Jones return with a new feature. Top 20 Album Boxsets ranks the most lavish deluxe reissues ever packaged.

News sections cover Madness, Alison Moyet, George Michael, Brian Eno, Mariah Carey, and the deaths of William Orbit and producer David Z. David McAlmont and Mari Wilson both answer the Q&A. Forget Me Not highlights Fiction Factory's Throw The Warped Wheel Out. Classic Pop Moment marks Madonna's debut single release. Reviews cover Soft Cell, Echo And The Bunnymen, Dexys Midnight Runners, Bloc Party, Beck, Johnny Marr, Ellie Goulding, Blossoms, and dozens more.

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Content Guide

Cover Story / Features

p.22 · Johnny Marr
Marr on The Age Of Everything, his reluctance to be called a frontman, and the Nile Rodgers rivalry that sparked the cover line. He discusses the gear, the songwriting process and the shift from guitarist to bandleader. Guitarists can note the specific amps and pedals Marr credits for his current live tone.

p.30 · Classic Album: Five Star — Silk & Steel
The British pop act's 1986 breakthrough examined track by track, with session details and chart context. The article notes how the five-sibling group controlled their own choreography and styling. Listen for the production techniques that date-stamp the mid-80s.

p.36 · Marco Pirroni
The guitarist and co-writer behind Adam And The Ants' biggest hits discusses his autobiography Your Money Or Your Life. He names the sessions, the fallouts and the royalty disputes. Pirroni's advice on publishing rights should be underlined by any working musician.

p.42 · The Beautiful South — Album By Album
Every studio album from Welcome To The Beautiful South through the post-Paul Heaton years, rated and contextualised. The piece tracks the lyrical shift from sardonic pop to darker subject matter. Use the rankings to decide where to start if you only know Rotterdam.

p.48 · The Proclaimers
Craig and Charlie Reid explain why they pulled their catalogue from Spotify, calculating what the platform pays versus what a physical sale generates. They also discuss the enduring life of I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) and the new album. The maths they share is a case study for any artist negotiating streaming deals.

p.56 · Dave Stewart
The Eurythmics co-founder discusses his post-Annie Lennox career, including film scores, production work and his latest solo material. He cites the gear and studios that shaped his sound across four decades.

p.64 · Top 20 Album Boxsets
From multi-LP deluxe editions to vault-unboxing mega-sets, the 20 most ambitious boxsets ever released. Each entry lists disc count, book content and original vinyl pressing details. Use the list to prioritise which overpriced 50th-anniversary edition is actually worth the shelf space.

Regulars

p.10 · Q&A: David McAlmont
The vocalist answers reader questions about his career, his gear and his favourite recordings. A compact read for fans of McAlmont & Butler.

p.12 · 1-Hit Wonder: Flat Beat by Mr Oizo
The story behind the 1999 electro novelty hit, its Levi's commercial placement, and the yellow puppet that became a meme before memes had a name.

p.46 · Superfan: Magdalena Jones' Kim Wilde Memorabilia
A collector's archive of Kim Wilde records, tour programmes and signed items. The photos show how a dedicated fan can document an entire career in physical artefacts.

Reviews

p.78 · The Hot List
Fatboy Slim, Yoko Ono, Andrew Poppy, and Various Artists — Rough Trade 45s: Volume 2. Each gets a tight capsule review.

p.79 · New Releases
Thirty-seven new releases reviewed including Soft Cell, Echo And The Bunnymen, Dexys Midnight Runners, Chaka Khan, Jesus Jones, Bloc Party, Beck, Johnny Marr, Ellie Goulding, Blossoms, and Kasabian.

p.88 · Reissues
Phil Collins, Beyonce, Joy Division, McAlmont & Butler, The B-52s, Primal Scream, The Sundays, Suede, The Cranberries, and more.

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Editor's Take

The Johnny Marr exclusive delivers: the Rodgers quote is the kind of quotable hook that sells issues, and the interview actually gets into gear specifics that guitar enthusiasts will bookmark. Marco Pirroni's autobiography feature is the sleeper hit of the issue — more candid and commercially useful than the Marr piece because Pirroni names pound figures. The Proclaimers' Spotify math is the most actionable article in the magazine for any musician. Weaknesses: the Dave Stewart feature reads like a press release — quotes are warm but the questions lack edge. The Beautiful South Album By Album leans heavily on albums only completists own, with too many entries covering post-split records that lack the original songwriting duo. The Top 20 Boxsets list is a fun browse but the prices mentioned are already outdated by the time the ink dries.

Strengths
• Johnny Marr cover generates genuine fan interest with the Rodgers hook
• Marco Pirroni's publishing rights advice has real industry value
• The Proclaimers' streaming payout breakdown is uniquely actionable

Weaknesses
• Dave Stewart interview lacks critical follow-up questions
• Beautiful South Album By Album padding with solo-era records

Verdict: Recommended — Buy for the Marr and Pirroni interviews; the Proclaimers piece alone justifies the price for working musicians.