Fireworks is a melodic rock magazine that comes out bi-monthly. In a continuing theme on this website, Fireworks is also different from the competition because it is written for people who love rock music by people who love rock music. Click the logo and you can see all the previous issues of Fireworks - I took over as designer in March 2004. Transcriptions of interviews are also available there. As well as doing all the artwork, I write reviews and the occasional article so I'd like to thank my Fireworks collegues for giving me the opportunity to force my opinions on our readers everywhere.

Feedback for Fireworks is universally positive, one example of which is on the left, taken from www.rockreport.be (who I honestly have no affiliation with so I couldn't have paid them if that's what you're thinking). You can get the magazine from Borders, mail order or subscription. You can contact me to get a copy or contact Fireworks HQ at: Fireworks Magazine, 10 Dunnock Close, Offerton, Stockport, SK2 5XD  U.K.  Alternatively email the HQ at: fireworks.mag@ntl.com. Back issues are also available from the HQ with a mere 60p added for the postage. An ideal gift for loved ones with great taste. The magazine is also available as a purchasable PDF from www.melodicrock.com - you even get to download the free CDs as mp3s, so you don't miss out on anything except the actual printed paper.

What an issue number 19 was. Not only was one of my favourite rock stars, the mighty Glenn Hughes, the legendary Voice Of Rock, on the cover, but we also had his Deep Purple colleague and Rainbow leader Ritchie Blackmore give us a huge interview, the second part of which was present here. On top of that, we also had interviews with two of rocks then newest supergroups, Soul SirkUS and Living Loud.

Still not enough for you? Ok then, we spoke to Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale, Sebastian Bach from Skid Row and gabbed with Britain's very own Thunder. Plus more in depth reviews than you can shake a stick at, and that was the tip of the iceberg. Live reports from all over the country and beyond are here for your viewing pleasure, all the re-issues are in there to tell you what's worth buying again - what more could you want?

Since that issue, we grew in size and stature. We became a full colour magazine, and celebrated with a monster 100 page issue, once again adorned by our friend Ritchie Blackmore, and featuring some folks you may have heard of, like Uriah Heep, REO Speedwagon, Michael Schenker, Jeff Scott Soto, Bob Catley, Todd Rundgren, Edgar Winter, Stephen Pearcy... and that's just some of the 35 interviews featured. There were also twenty pages of all the new releases, DVDs and reissues out put out there - a more comprehensive guise you'll do well to find. Add that to the THREE free CD's we had on the cover, featuring people like Jimi Jamison, Shadowman, Sonarta Artica and others, which clocked in at almost four hours of melodic rock bliss. Top that! If you try and tell me you can get better value for £4.50 anywhere else, I will fight you.

The general opinion of people who see the magazine is that it gets better with every issue, which is nice to hear as all at the magazine constantly strive to improve it. We've done a few issues now which have come near or exceeded the 100 page mark. Which, supplied adverts aside, meant I created about 90-94 pages from scratch. Yes, I am that good. If you think I'm lying, buy a copy and be prepared to eat your words!

You can find samples interviews on the Fireworks website, along with thumbnails of all the issues I've worked on. Surf on over to www.rathole.com/fireworks

Also, if you surf over to my personal website, www.jamesgaden.co.uk, you will find ever interview I've ever done for the magazine, listed there available for download in PDF format so you can see it exactly as it appeared. You'll find them cleverly filed in the "interviews" section. That's how I roll.

These are some random pieces from past issues I've worked on. If you want to see the full magazines, I'm afraid the only thing I can suggest is you buy the next one or order some back issues.

There's loads of good articles, actually full of facts and talk about the music, not cheap gags at the expense of an artists hairstyle or age, like lesser publications.

We present in depth guides for the latest releases, and tell you if it's not up to scratch.

You also get to read some of my reviews, including the classic Pete Way one which I hammered mercilessly.

Go on, be a devil.

Click here to get in contact    Click here to go to James' personal website    Click here to go home