David pajo and slint

WE WERE THE first band of our generation that started to grow up,” Billy Corgan says, reflecting on the making of the Smashing Pumpkins’ 1995 grand opus, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. “The b

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.

AL JARDINE WILL be the first to tell you he didn’t play much guitar for the Beach Boys in the Sixties. Early Beach Boys albums — like Surfin’ Safari (1962) and Surfin’ U.S.A. (1963) — feature plenty o

SPINAL TAP’S SEMINAL 1984 DOCUMENTARY WAS A HEAVY-METAL MASTERPIECE. NOW, AS THE HAPLESS TRIO RETURN WITH SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES , WE MEET THEM TO DISCUSS THEIR COMBUSTIBLE CHEMISTRY

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

PETER GILES