The great and good of progressive music give us a glimpse into their prog worlds. As told to Grant Moon.

PETER GILES

Strawbs co-founder Dave Cousins died in July following a long illness. The singer, songwriter and guitarist enjoyed an active musical career spanning more than six decades and has been name-checked by many musicians as a key influence and inspiration. We reflect on his rich legacy and reveal plans for a number of posthumous releases, including the long-awaited new Strawbs album.

Singer-songwriter and the voice of the Genesis Revisited shows, Nad Sylvan has moved further away from his onstage persona with his latest solo album, Monumentata . He reveals the story behind the intimate record that pays homage to his late father and finds him mixing up influences – from Pink Floyd and Keith Emerson to The Addams Family !

Recording Find El Dorado , a new album of cover versions, has been a revelatory experience for PAUL WELLER . Assembling a connoisseur’s collection of songs including those by The Bee Gees, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Lal & Mike Waterson, Richie Havens and Ray Davies has sent Weller off on an unexpected reverie, triggering memories of The Jam’s early days, his totemic father and manager John, fallen bandmate Rick Buckler and, of course, that time with Ronnie’s pet lion… But there are more urgent, contemporary issues to address, too, including recent record shop swag, movie acting, King Charles’ coronation, the travails of Kneecap, the revived Sex Pistols and Frank Carter, and what’s next for music’s hardest-working legend. “What can I tell you?” he shrugs to Pete Paphides. “It’s how I work and it’s how I relax.”

Returning with an album of man-and-guitar Dylan covers, the Eurythmics legend’s playing has never been laid so bare. He tells us about gigging folk clubs underage, the blues in his palette, and a memorable night on the tiles with Robert Zimmerman himself