When Steely Dan’s perfectionism overwhelmed Mark Knopfler
It’s safe to say that listeners often take for granted the amount of painstaking hard work that goes into getting a song recorded. With tracks often r...
Features
The band Josh Homme said 'set the bar so high'
Josh Homme once admitted that one band “set the bar so high” he deliberately avoided sounding like them.
How Ian Curtis wanted Joy Division to be 'extreme'
Ian Curtis did more than front Joy Division, he shaped their sound with an uncompromising vision.
'Obviously disturbed': Kurt Cobain's named his favourite Beatles member
Kurt Cobain admired The Beatles deeply, and he was clear about which member resonated with him most.
The hit band who 'embarrassed' Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix admired originality above all else, and one chart-topping band represented everything he rejected.
How Janis Joplin inspired a Tom Petty classic
Tom Petty often acknowledged his influences, and one offhand remark by Janis Joplin proved unexpectedly transformative.
The pioneering pop star John Lydon loves
John Lydon built his reputation on tearing down the past, yet one pioneering pop artist has long earned his admiration.
The Beatles album that changed it all, according to Nick Mason
For Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason, one Beatles album fundamentally reshaped what a band could be.
'The greatest who ever was', according to Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry rarely spoke in superlatives, but when he did, his praise carried the weight of rock ’n’ roll history.
How AC/DC hired Bon Scott
Bon Scott’s path to joining AC/DC was as unconventional as the man himself.
'I would shoot fingers off': The moment Waylon Jennings brought a revolver into the studio
Waylon Jennings’ war with the Nashville establishment reached a breaking point inside the studio.
Keith Richards once named his favourite Chuck Berry song
Keith Richards has often spoken about his debt to early rock ’n’ roll, and one Chuck Berry song stands above the rest for him.
Phil Collins once named his 'favourite' Genesis song
For Phil Collins, one late-era Genesis song arrived fully formed and remains his personal favourite.
Why Bob Dylan hated Woodstock
Bob Dylan lived at the heart of the counterculture, yet he remained deeply sceptical of Woodstock and what it came to represent.
The classic rock band Tom Petty called 'punk'
Long before punk had a name, Tom Petty saw its attitude reflected in one classic rock band.
The Jimi Hendrix song that 'excited' a teenage Angus Young
Long before AC/DC took shape, a single Jimi Hendrix song left a young Angus Young completely transfixed.
Why George Harrison loved The Band
George Harrison admired restraint and authenticity, qualities he felt were embodied perfectly by The Band.
The Police song Stewart Copeland wishes he wrote
Amid years of tension and creative rivalry, Stewart Copeland singled out one Police song he openly wished he had written himself.
Why David Bowie said Bob Dylan hated him
David Bowie once suggested that Bob Dylan actively disliked him, and his explanation was as revealing as it was self-aware.
The supergroup Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix tried to form with Paul McCartney
Jazz, rock, and the ultimate what-if, when Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix tried to recruit Paul McCartney.
The guitarist Syd Barrett called 'perfect'
Amid the chaos of 1967, Syd Barrett found clarity in the playing of a guitarist he deeply revered.
Why Robbie Robertson thought Eric Clapton was "terrible"
Robbie Robertson never shied away from reassessing his early judgments, including his first reaction to Eric Clapton’s playing.
The Pink Floyd legend David Bowie called a 'major inspiration'
David Bowie rarely spoke in absolutes, but his admiration for one Pink Floyd figure remained constant throughout his life.
The artist Paul Simon said is 'very, very deep in the soil of American culture'
Paul Simon has long acknowledged the artists who shaped his songwriting, and few influenced him more deeply than one foundational American act.
The 'phenomenal' member of Bad Company, according to Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page rarely handed out praise lightly, but one Bad Company member earned his admiration from the very beginning.
When Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler pulled a knife on AC/DC’s Malcolm Young: 'You f**kin’ idiot'
A notorious backstage incident that briefly derailed a major 1970s rock tour, involving AC/DC, Black Sabbath, and a confrontation that became legend.
The moment Janis Joplin realised she had talent
Janis Joplin’s journey towards self-belief began long before fame, shaped by blues music, defiance, and a single revelatory moment.
Why Keith Richards hated The Band
Keith Richards never held back when it came to voicing his opinions, and his dislike of The Band remains one of his most unexpected critiques.
The "trash" song Tom Petty hated more than any other
Tom Petty was never shy about his opinions, and one mid-80s track stands out as the song he regretted more than any other
The show that convinced Sting to leave The Police
One stripped-back set convinced Sting it was time to move on.
