Latest articles by Johnny Sharp
His Lordship aimed for the bullseye of rock'n'roll - and recorded one of the best albums of 2025
Pretenders' sidemen James Walbourne and Kris Sonne's second album as His Lordship is a savage blast of high-octane, garage-rooted R&B
“An immersive emotional ride, showing that music makes us feel whole again”: Airbag’s Dysphoria Live
Over 20 years in, Oslo trio deliver their first official live album – and it was worth the wait
“I wanted to end humanity!” Self-confessed egomaniac counts the ways of our deaths on apocalyptic concept abum
Whether you want to spend your last five months surrounded by family, living in denial or taking part in a shaggathon, there’s a song for you on this apocalyptic concept album
“We were asked to do Glastonbury. I had no intention”: John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest and the demons that drive him
New album Relativity gave him flashbacks to the 70s – and though the factors that led to his split with Les Holroyd are all in the past, he can’t see how a reunion might happen
Rick Wakeman on his sequel to The Red Planet, and taking David Bowie along for the ride
Keyboard maestro has gone back to work with the English Rock Ensemble for the follow-up to his 2020 album, and he says the process feels like early 70s Yes
Japan’s career was much more fun than it seemed
Attacking punks, getting stuck on a disco label, fighting the New Romantic tag: Steve Jansen recalls how the schoolmates’ natural sense of rebellion became unique music before egos got in the way, and the flukes that made them big in actual Japan
“It could have been like painting a moustache on the Mona Lisa”: Welsh duo risked covering prog royalty
Their third release, partly inspired by the album-sleeve scenery around them, features a long list of impressive guests. They’re hoping someone will accuse them of “drowning in a sea of pretentiousness” again
Derek Shulman takes aim at Syd Barrett, Beach Boys and Eagles in his not-very-gentle memoir Giant Steps
Former Gentle Giant vocalist who became an A&R bigwig provides an refreshingly undiplomatic account of his career on stage and off it
“I’ve done Genesis longer than Peter Gabriel!” Nad Sylvan is being more himself than ever
Best known for his12 years with Steve Hackett, the US-born Swede explores his own life and times at last. And is that a Pink Floyd reference as sings about being frontman and sideman in someone else’s project?
Review: Michael Schenker lets rip on new MSG album Don’t Sell Your Soul
Guitar hero Michael Schenker follows his re-imagined UFO favourites with a set of his own new material
Arjen Lucassen decided to be an egomaniac, and the result is Songs No One Will Hear
Ayreon mastermind’s third solo album mixes humour and tragedy as he explores the countdown to an extinction-level event
Arjen Anthony Lucassen has fun counting down to Armageddon on Songs No One Will Hear
Tragedy and comedy are combined among rich musical moments in Ayreon leader’s pre-apocalyptic adventure
When The Pineapple Thief’s Bruce Soord realised the truth about his stage fright
It may have been the 13th album by Bruce Soord’s band, but he regarded is as their third, after drummer Gavin Harrison’s arrival changed everything
Chimpan A battle the TikTokification of music on M.I.A. Vol 1
Rob Reed and Steve Balsamo’s unique approach delivers an ambitious and unorthodox triumph
Robert Jon & The Wreck keep the southern vibes alive on Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes
Hard-working southern-fried So Cal quintet Robert Jon & The Wreck make an impressive return on album number nine
Anthony Phillips infuses nimble guitar work with surreal intros on Radio Clyde 1978
Extended, remastered edition of 2003 release will appeal to fans of the Genesis co-founder’s playing and early solo songcraft
“Intoxicating beauty remains; she enchants in any era”: Judy Dyble’s Darkness To Light
Clamshell collection assembles the original Fairport Convention singer’s trio of 21st-century career-reviving albums
Tobias Forge on spirituality, isolation and the positive joys of fandom
Tobias Forge, aka Papa V Perpetua, talks dark matters and working towards a "newer, better, bigger" Ghost
“Lyric-led music in contrast with his King Crimson work”: Jakko M Jakszyk’s Son Of Glen
True life informs the versatile guitarist’s first post-Crimson solo release, with plenty to pique interest even if it veers away from traditional prog
Supergroup the Dead Daisies kick back down south with uneven blues covers album
Lookin' For Trouble was recorded at Fame Studios in Alabama, home of the Muscle Shoals Sound
“The world was my oyster, but when I opened it there was a turd inside… When my wife said, ‘I want half of everything,’ I said, ‘Write me a cheque for 450 grand and you can have half the debt!’” Fish on his three-decade solo career
As the former Marillion frontman released final album Weltschmerz, he reflected on going from the depths of debt and divorce to mountainous creative peaks
Status Quo's classic Live! gets a deluxe, multi-disc makeover
Status Quo's classic live 1976 double repackaged in an eight-CD set with three full show recordings
When true rebels came out as prog fans: Five essential neo-prog albums of the 80s
The second-wave movement didn’t last long – but its bands revitalised the genre with an attitude and energy that’s still being felt today
