Mark Blake

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s classic debut album (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) was released on August 13, 1973, setting them on the path to stardom

How the “junior member” broke into the band’s songwriting clique, his embarrassment over his solo success, and how the Sex Pistols influenced his choice of record label

A blues band? A hard rock band? Think again

Yes singer pushed far beyond his comfort zone for 1976 debut solo record, and when it was finished the world – and his bandmates – seemed underwhelmed. Was it worth the effort?

Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott on his love of Deep Purple – and the deep cut he loves

In 1966, The Who were a bunch of drinking, drugging, brawling rock stars-in-waiting. Pete Townshend was about to change all that

The Game dialled down Queen's hard rock, and Hot Space was such a departure that it confused their fan base. It was time for a rethink

Paul Kossoff should have been one of rock and blues' great guitar heroes. Instead, the light of the Free and Back Street Crawler guitarist shone briefly – and burned out quickly

He helped launch Pink Floyd’s career and got arrested with the Rolling Stones – John ‘Hoppy’ Hopkins was the King Of The 1960s Underground

Bruce Dickinson fronts the UK’s most successful heavy metal band, holds a commercial pilot’s licence, releases solo albums, write novels and screenplays, and more. A full life? Not half

Metal God Rob Halford salutes the most wonderful time of the year, as he selects his eight favourite Christmas songs

Fronting The Darkness gave Justin Hawkins fame, a collection of fabulous catsuits, and some serious addiction issues. After some dark days his band are now flying high again

In November 1973, 19-year-old Who fan Scott Halpin travelled to see the band play at San Francisco's Cow Palace. He ended up on stage

For over three decades, a two-minute clip of tuned wine glasses was the only sign of a project begun in 1980 and finally abandoned four years later

Paul Rodgers looks back at his life, times and solo career, ponders the tragedy of Paul Kossoff, and reveals that he owes his life to martial arts

Deceptively straightforward but with a rhythmic banana skin, Turn It On Again began Genesis's transformation from major cult band to stadium-filling hit-makers

One minute Queen were taking the bus and watching their Top Of The Pops performance in a shop window: the next they had the world at their feet

The fleeting moment when a prog supergroup hijacked the US pop charts, becoming 1982's band of the summer

Formed from the ashes of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The Rutles were a razorsharp pastiche of The Beatles with links to Monty Python and the Fab Four themselves

The former Genesis guitarist discusses new album The Night Siren, his time in Genesis and his 'Nurofen hands'!

Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham look back at the troublesome birth of a classic live album, Thin Lizzy’s Live And Dangerous

A short celebration of Herman Rarebell, Roger Taylor and eight other sticksmen who bravely stepped out from behind the kit

In the summer of 1976, Jon Anderson released his first solo album, Olias Of Sunhillow – forty years later, he talks us through its complex creation

From underground clubs to sold-out stadiums, Pink Floyd's path through rock has been revolutionary and stunningly successful. Here are their 50 best songs