Latest articles by James McNair
The story of Ray Manzarek, the unsung genius behind The Doors
Jim Morrison grabbed the headlines, but Ray Manzarek brought depth, musicality and menace to The Doors
How ZZ Top’s Afterburner continued one of the most unlikely success story
ZZ Top hit big with Eliminator. So they repeated the formula with Afterburner
Prog veteran David Paton: I loved working with Alan Parsons, Kate Bush and Rick Wakeman. There’s one band I hated
The singer, bassist and guitarist explains what it was like to make music with legends – and wonders if he retired too soon
Genesis ex Anthony Phillips on why he really quit – and why he’s not their version of The Beatles’ Pete Best
Amiable co-founder of the prog giants reflects on leaving before the band became huge, and explains why he wishes he’d met his replacement Steve Hackett sooner
The only person to have won Grammys in 10 different categories isn’t afraid of AI
Guitar virtuoso explains why he can’t wait to escape domestic life and get back on tour, and reveals his multi-generational approach to his many collaborations
Nine Styx albums you should listen to and one to avoid
Selling 50 million-plus records over more than five decades, Styx are the kings of pomp rock
Anthony Phillips’ fight through pain barrier to make his new piano album
It took him three years to complete guitar-free project as he struggled with wrist issues, while resisting the urge to preprogram pieces on synth (much)
The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde wrote a classic late 70s hit. She’s still not sure why it was so popular
Gluecifer's Captain Poon on touring with Lemmy, fun with chickens and the origins of that stage name
Having said new music was unlikely, Norwegian rockers Gluecifer are back with their first album in two decades
“My love for music was dying”: How a lifestyle change led to a 15-minute prog epic and a record deal
The American’s memories of seeing Yes, Black Sabbath and Grand Funk Railroad helped save him from despair – as did seeing his sibling play like Eddie Van Halen before Eddie did himself
How a controversial song inspired by a school shooting became a UK No.1 for the Boomtown Rats
Despite what many thought, I Don't Like Mondays wasn't about getting back to work after the weekend
“Mike got back with Dream Theater and I started praying”: Neal Morse Band return with L.I.F.T. (and Portnoy)
Despite concerns their drummer wouldn’t find time to take part, fifth album has been compared to their 2016 virtuosic victory, and they’re planning to tour it with the complete studio line-up
Heavy Pettin: The Next Big Thing whose career was killed by a soppy power ballad
Heavy Pettin toured with Ozzy and Mötley Crüe. Then their entry for 1987’s Eurovision misfired and killed their career, and they’ve regretted it ever since. But now they're back and gunning for glory
He may have been around for nearly 60 years, but David Gilmour’s return to form was inevitable. Here’s why
While the ex Pink Floyd leader is a world-class guitarist and vocalist, his attitude to family, social issues and collaborations make him even bigger than that
Ian Anderson on Jethro Tull, the right kind of guitarist, and forgetting what he's done
Ian Anderson talks about Jethro Tull’s latest album Curious Ruminant and ponders the itch to make another
The 50 Best Rock Albums of 2025
Twelve months of life-enriching, extraordinary new music
RudolfSchenker and Klaus Meine look back at 60 years of Scorpions
How Scorpions went from being called ‘the worst German import since the V2 bomb’ to much-loved rock royalty
“A perfect distillation of 80s alienation and ambition”: Tears For Fears’ 40th anniversary Songs From The Big Chair
The era-defining 1985 album that made stars of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith returns in extended format with Steven Wilson remixes
How Bob Geldof ended up in the The Wall movie despite hating Pink Floyd
The future Live Aid organiser hated Pink Floyd – but he still ended up starring the movie version of their 1979 album
Cyndi Lauper, Chrissie Hynde, Aimee Mann and the Rush duets that got away
For their 1987 single Time Stand Still, Rush wanted a female singer. They got someone who turned them into "complete goofballs"
Why Stevie Nicks turned down Prince's biggest song and spent the night at his purple palace
Stevie Nicks reveals how she and Prince became flirty friends and collaborators...
The bassist who survived Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull and believing he’d murdered his bandmate on stage
Veteran admits he sailed close to the wind as he taught prog giants to drink – but he learned how much it means to play live with a band
XTC’s art-rock classic Drums And Wires benefits from Steven Wilson's finesse
Their 1979 commercial breakthrough benefits from Wilson’s finesse, while Steve Lillywhite’s original mix remains daisy-fresh
