This is one hell of a great issue of the long-standing Independant Music Magazine. It’s extremely well written and presented with a selection of interesting interviews from a broad range of Rock/Metal artists from genres from New Rock (Madina Lake) to Southern/Classic Rock (Black Stone Cherry) to Good ole Rock ‘n’ Roll (Damone & Duff McKagan’s Loaded).

A variety of live reviews are also included, the most personally outstanding to me being Download 2009 (especially since I was there personally), Bon Jovi at Milwaukee Metalfest and Black Stone Cherry at Birmingham with Nickelback (especially since I was at the Sheffield gig). I am always intrigued to see what another reviewer thought of the gig and also to find out about the differences and/or similarities when artists jump from venue to venue on the UK leg of a tour.

As well as the literature on offer, there are also many decent photos of bands in concert (Jacoby from Papa Roach) or posed in promotional interview shots (We The Kings), not to mention CD reviews a plenty of all genres. Again, it’s really interesting to compare what the Black Velvet Editor, Shari and her team of contributors thought to CD’s that we had also reviewed for Metalliville.com

I was really impressed to find out some amazing stuff in the interviews such as just how read Duff McKagan is – he is an expert or world finance and even is a column writer in a famous USA Newspaper and then there’s the info about the awesome cartoon series, Squidbillies about Redneck Sqids, that Black Stone Cherry mention in their interview that I had to check via youtube and am itching to see more of when I get over to the USA !! Shari has a unique style as well, by asking a question developed from lyrics from the bands various songs.

This is definitely a magazine that equally stands head to head with the likes of Classic Rock and makes some leading well-known magazines look like disposable used toilet paper in comparison – Black Velvet is a magaine that fully deserves the financial rewards & praise because as well as being an exceptional read, it comes from an Editor who stands for what she believes in, who pours many hours and love into something that she can be totally proud of producing.

Here’s to another 10 years of Black Velvet and then some....

By Glenn Milligan