As part of the 2018 hennemusic Rock News Awards, the daily news site is counting down the Top 10 Rock News Artists of the past year.
Finalists for the 9th annual hennemusic Rock News Awards are chosen by readers: the Rock News Story Of The Year is determined by page views, while the Rock News Artist Of The Year is based on the combined total page views of the top 50 hennemusic rock news stories of the past twelve months.
The 2018 hennemusic Rock News Awards winners will be announced on Thursday, December 27.
2018 Rock News Artist Of The Year – Top 10
10 – VAN HALEN
09 – SAMMY HAGAR
08 – FOO FIGHTERS
07 – GUNS N’ ROSES
06 – AEROSMITH
05 – ZZ TOP
04 – DEF LEPPARD
03 – FLEETWOOD MAC
Rock News Artist Of The Year No. 2 – PINK FLOYD
For a band that released their final album in 2014, Pink Floyd maintained a steady media profile throughout 2018 thanks to a number of reissues, an online vintage video series and a return to live performances by drummer Nick Mason.
David Gilmour’s 2017 concert film, “Live At Pompeii”, was awarded a Silver Medal at this year's Event Cinema Association Awards in London in February; the project had worldwide admissions of nearly 400,000.
The iconic UK outfit delivered multiple vinyl reissues in the spring, including: a newly-remastered mono version of their 1967 debut album, “The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn”; the 1995 live package, “Pulse”; and, their 1971 compilation, “Relics.”
In April, Nick Mason announced his return to the stage for the first time since Pink Floyd’s appearance at the 2005 Live 8 concert in London; Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets – named after the group’s second album – would exclusively perform pre-“The Dark Side Of The Moon” material during four intimate London concerts in May.
Following the creative and commercial success of his live return, Mason extended his plans by announcing a month-long fall tour of the UK and Europe would begin in September.
Roger Waters was presented with the Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Award at the 2018 O2 Silver Clef Awards in London in early July; the bassist spent most of 2018 on the road with the second and final year of his global “Us + Them” tour.
An ongoing vintage video series through Pink Floyd’s YouTube channel continued throughout the year – including their first official clip with new guitarist David Gilmour – as the band streamed rare footage of classic songs and media appearances from their extensive catalog, with a particular emphasis this year on material from the 1960s.
The group continued their reissues series in the fall with the release of the vinyl debut of their 2011 compilation, “A Foot In The Door: The Very Best Of Pink Floyd.”
Just ahead of his fall tour, Mason released a box set collection of his solo albums, “Unattended Luggage”, in late August; the limited-edition offering compiles the rocker’s 1981 release, “Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports”, 1985’s “Profiles” and 1987’s “White Of The Eye” soundtrack in both 3CD and 3LP vinyl packages for the first time in over 20 years.
As the fall live series wrapped up, Mason detailed dates for a 2019 UK tour and, later, plans for a spring 2019 trek across North America.
See also:
Search Pink Floyd at hennemusic
2018 hennemusic Rock News Awards announced
The Eagles sweep the 2017 hennemusic Rock News Awards
AC/DC sweep the 2016 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen and KISS top the 2015 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen sweep 2014 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen and Pearl Jam top the 2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen dominate the 2012 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen win two hennemusic Rock News Awards
Guns N’ Roses named hennemusic’s Rock News Artist of The Year
Jimmy Page’s 2011 plans named hennemusic’s Rock News Story Of The Year
