DENNIS WILSON was The Beach Boys' drummer, pin-up, alcoholic and chaos agent. He may also have been the group's other genius. In this extract from his new book on the band, PETER DOGGETT explores Wilson's tragic decline, and the extraordinary miracle it contained: Pacific Ocean Blue.

Fondly remembered this month...

Fifty years on from their first successes, Roger McGuinn, the 12-string architect of THE BYRDS , tells Uncut about their exceptional first 18 months – and his relationship with Gene Clark. As the young group make their jet-powered escape from the folk think tank, we hear about making the scene on the Strip, outraging Iowa and a muted response in the United Kingdom. But ultimately how “Eight Miles High” became the spectacular conclusion of the band’s first era. “I almost left The Byrds entirely to go and be in this space band With Dino Valente,” McGuinn tells John Robinson

My Focus – Live Under The Rainbow

Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist and positive force Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield left us on November 20.

Best known as Billy Idol’s collaborator of 40-plus years, Steve Stevens transcends the punk-rock guitarist mould, taking in flamenco, jazzfusion, prog and classical styles – and he remains as excited about guitar today as he was when he first picked one up