“A total disaster… devastating on every level. I felt invisible and unimportant and manipulated”: How Sara Bareilles’ failed co-songwriting sessions led to Love Song, her ‘stick it to ‘em’ smash
“I wear it as a badge of honour that it was voted the worst song of all time. But that song has paid the rent for many decades”: Bernie Taupin doesn’t regret writing the lyrics for a much-maligned US No 1 hit – but he’s still embarrassed by it
“A master-quality listening experience that captures the full dynamics of the recording”: Forget vinyl and CD revivals – Joni Mitchell’s Court and Spark has just been reissued on reel-to-reel tape
How Beck and Nigel Godrich’s “simple and clean” philosophy produced one of the best-sounding albums of the 21st century: “When he opens his mouth, a canyonesque vibration comes out. It’s quite remarkable”
“Ooh, Olivia does remixes now”: Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan fans have big expectations regarding a collab single after Pro Tools video teaser
“We didn’t want to just say we changed everything. But we were like, ‘How can we make it better?’” Fender reveals the next generation American Professional range – and fixes a “70 year gripe”
“I was asleep in the jungle when the awards happened and got all these calls at four in the morning”: Oli Barton-Wood on being the MPG’s Breakthrough Producer of the Year and the spontaneous joy of Ezra Collective
Frail Mike Love returns to Beach Boys’ stage, but his bandmates are worried: “A part of me wonders if this could be the last time”
“I still can’t believe I get to play with one of my favorite bands. We did some shows with Megadeth and Exodus, and the teenager inside me was completely freaking out”: Anthrax’s Jonathan Donais on what it’s like to shred for one of the Big Four
“I said, ‘This could be an interesting riff.’ It turned out in 21/8. But it’s not like, ‘Oh, how many notes could we fit together and make a crazy time signature?’”: Elite drummer Gavin Harrison on how The Pineapple Thief create their progressive art rock
“If you’re in the front row on Keanu’s side, you’ve been warned. Your hair is going to move, but in a good way”: Keanu Reeves and Bret Domrose on pushing air with Dogstar
“Pasta, cereal, toilet roll and tinned fruit”: Matthew Herbert has made an entire album from samples of everyday food items
Sombr stumbles over his lyrics but Lindsey Buckingham delivers a blistering guitar solo as they duet on a Fleetwood Mac classic
“We changed a bunch of the keys a bunch of times to try to find what was comfortable for her to sing it”: Linkin Park explain the adjustments that had to be made for new vocalist Emily Armstrong
“Lately, it’s always gone to whoever’s popular. I’m sure the next one will have Harry Styles or Taylor Swift or something. That’s probably how it’ll go”: Veteran songwriter Don Black on who might get the next Bond theme, and why it probably won’t be him
Humble Slash accepts Gibson spirit award: “If Les Paul was around, would he agree that I deserve this thing?”
“He was so much more than a great guitarist and innovator. I cherish the relationship we had”: Slash is honoured with the Les Paul Spirit Award for 2026
