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...”

Metallica ’s 1984 began with a gear heist and a cancelled UK tour; it ended with them being heavy metal’s Next Big Thing. Then came Master Of Puppets. This is the inside story of the making of that album and the two year whirlwind that took four “alcoholica” outcasts from the El Cerrito garage to the big time.

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

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

Knocked up quickly in a Soho rehearsal room, one of the first rallying cries of punk becomes a perennial anthem

Simon Neil leads a back on top Biffy ...