War

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.”

John Lennon called them “sons of The Beatles”. Axl Rose said there was nothing like them. But how did a trio of Brummies create the progressive orchestral pop rock band who eventually became a global phenomenon following 1975’s breakthrough album Face The Music ?

SEPTEMBER 2025 TAKE 342

Underrated masterpiece or epic misfire? As Metallica’s divisive 1996 album gets a blockbusting reissue, we break it down track by controversial track

VENUE INDIGO @ THE O2, LONDON DATE 07/05/2025 ...

Hall Of The Mountain Grill ATOMHENGE ...