The revitalised Soft Machine are back with their 13th studio album, appropriately titled Thirteen . Packed with impressive songwriting and even a few firsts, it’s arguably one of the ever-evolving collective’s luckiest releases. Woodwind and keys player Theo Travis tells Prog about its creation and the posthumous appearance from one of the band’s co-founders.

He’s lived it live and dangerous as part of the classic line up of Thin Lizzy, lived it loud in Motörhead, ridden his own band Wild Horses, has an impressive list of credits as both session musician and producer… There’s much more to Robbo than you probably think.

Big Big Train cofounder Gregory Spawton on the records, artists and gigs that are of lasting significance to him.

Following Richey Edwards’ disappearance and the “commercial disaster” of The Holy Bible , the MANIC STREET PREACHERS were told that this is the end. Instead, they roared back with an unassailable anthem heralding one of the biggest British albums of the ’90s. Sam Richards celebrates 30 years of Everything Must Go : “It was the most spectacular feeling,” says Nicky Wire. “That period when you go over the top...”

I went to art school to be a painter. Mick Jones went to art school to put a band together. My friend was invited to try out as drummer for Mick’s band, London SS, and I went to support him. They drag

She shot Alice Cooper, shared a stage with a pre fame Iggy Pop, sang with Donovan and wrote songs with KT Tunstall, toured and became friends with Noddy Holder and Phil Lynott… She is glam icon Suzi Quatro , and these are just a few of her stories.