CATEGORIES

SEBASTIAN BACH

He was the youth gone wild: played clubs and guzzled beer at 14; fronted Skid Row and got hit records, star friends, a taste for coke, and the sack; drank more beer; toured with musical theatre productions; has a solo career... \"I've had a pretty fucking extraordinary life,\" he says.

BACK IN BLACK

As pack leaders of the post-millennial alt.blues scene - until fame turned their hair grey - The Black Keys have reignited their mojo on twelfth album Ohio Players.

GOING MY WAY

From aspiring band guy to multi-faceted solo superstar, Lenny Kravitz has worked with some of rock's greatest. On his new album, he's revisiting his youth.

Anthrax

One of thrash metal's Big Four bring the noise - and Kreator and Testament - in November.

Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse

If \"a modern-day vaudeville circus act creating music\" sounds like your thing, catch them live.

WATCHING THE RIVER FLOW

Most thought 1994's The Division Bell was Pink Floyd's final statement. But after sifting through surplus material, 20 years later, with a little help from his friends, David Gilmour pulled The Endless River out of the hat.

Silveroller

\"We're going to that original well where rock'n'roll came from. There's not many bells and whistles.\"

Eagles

A song built on a riff that guitarist Joe Walsh came up with, its title was what it was like being in the Eagles at that time.

"Things can go very badly wrong"

But not too often. The Iron Maiden singer, aviator, business mogul and awardwinning everyman, Bruce Dickinson, returns with a new solo album, The Mandrake Project – Top 10 across the planet at the time of writing – and a ton of anecdotes about his extraordinarily successful career. Just don’t try and put him in a box. “I’m not a number, I’m a free man!” he warns Joel McIver.

Being Soaring.

In April 1984, the original, faster Bobby Oproduced version of West End Girls was released.

Clearing The Way

The end of an era for Bolan's glam-rock trailblazers.

SOCK IT TO ME DISC-ITS! WHEN TWO TRIBES VINYL AND CD (AND CASSETTE) WENT TO WAR

Dream, if you can, a courtyard. An ocean of violets in bloom. Alternatively, a 1984 record shop and all its pristine treasures. Close your eyes, let’s go there together. What do you see? From chest-level down – vinyl.

PNEUMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE

Forming in West Berlin in 1980 and achieving their greatest notoriety circa 1984, industrial noise-punks Einstürzende Neubauten have far e xceeded t he i r p ro jec ted l i fe expectancy. Founding frontman Blixa Bargeld traces the evolution of the metalbashing pioneers. Jeremy Allen is all (suitably protected) ears

FRUITS OF THEIR LABOUTES

Bananarama had their first Top 3 hit in 1984, Robert De Niro's Waiting. Rob Hughes meets lifelong friends and bandmates Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward as they look back on their career, album by album

Steve Harley 1951-2024

As frontman for Cockney Rebel, the singer-songwriter crafted one of the glam rock era's greatest singles in Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me).

She'd only Just gun

With their rapturous harmonies, the Carpenters dominated the 70s’ airwaves, selling over 100 million records with hits like Close To You and Yesterday Once More. But by 1979, lead singer Karen was seeking a new direction… Biographer Lucy O’Brien recounts her attempts to move out of the restrictive environment of the family band that had made her a star

Out Of The Darkness

Long-anticipated solo debut from Portishead singer is worth the wait

The Collector

Swiss-based Icelander Sunna Margrét is a rising force in experimental pop. Having begun her career as a teenager touring with electro-pop ensemble Bloodgroup, she is about to release her debut full-length solo LP, Finger on Tongue.

Music to die for

From wrathful Verdi to ethereal Fauré, there are many different ways to compose a Requiem, as Jeremy Pound discovers

The mighty Sampson

As soprano Carolyn Sampson turns 50, she tells Ashutosh Khandekar about the development of her voice through a remarkable catalogue of recordings

Avian anthems

From Vivaldi to Messiaen, composers have often been inspired by birdsong. But accurately mimicking chirrups and tweets in music is far more difficult than it sounds, finds Tom Stewart

Northern light

From her first piano lesson, composer Errollyn Wallen has lived and breathed music; and though inspired by a range of styles, her composing is a deeply personal expression, as she tells Kate Wakeling

THE BIG 400!

BBC Music Magazine has reached its 400th issue! To celebrate, we look back over eight milestone issues since the very firstin 1992

FESTIVAL GUIDE 2024

It's that time of year again... Spring has finally sprung, and along with the promised sunshine we welcome a brand-new season of glorious summer music.

DOUBLE-STOPS

Playing two notes together is a useful addition to any guitarist’s arsenal. Simon Barnard shows how this can be used in a variety of styles.

BRIAN SETZER

For this issue Andy G Jones is looking to unravel the style of rockabilly’s most ardent torchbearer, the stupendous Stray Cat himself.

JOSÉ FERRER El Amable (Andante Sostenuto)

This month Declan Zapala explores a hidden gem from 19th-century Spain's heritage of composer-educators of the classical guitar, whose influence is still felt today.

MARCIO PHILOMENA

Guitar instrumentals have supplied some of music’s most evocative moments. Jason Sidwell asks top guitarists for their take on this iconic movement. This month: the brilliant New York-based Brazilian jazz guitarist.

ALLAN HOLDSWORTH

Experiencing Metal Fatigue? Sinking in quick Sand? Then join Charlie Griffiths as he unlocks the secrets of the master of Wardenclyffe Tower.

MUDDY WATERS

The father of Chicago blues is in the spotlight this month. Join David Gerrish as he examines the man who electrified and defined the genre.