A brush with royalty

When the Irish band were a folksy blues three-piece, it was Eric Bell who defined Thin Lizzy on their 1971 self-titled debut and early 70s follow-ups, Shades Of A Blue Orphanage and Vagabonds Of The Western World

Featuring smashed guitars, mental breakdowns, and the appearance of David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails’ Self Destruct touring cycle has passed into legend. Photographer Jonathan Rach was there to capture the carnage

How a new documentary celebrates rock superstar Bruce Springsteen’s lifelong love affair with Britain

Midge Ure, the Live Aid orchestrator and Ultravox synth-pop pioneer, looks back at his trial by fire with Thin Lizzy – and why he told Phil Lynott: “I’m not the guy you should be asking”

Steve Fairclough has the inside story of the eye-catching group photo for the cover of the 1979 Madness LP, One Step Beyond …

THE HAMMER INTERVIEW