Articles by Max Bell

Stevie Ray Vaughan: The triumph and tragedy of In Step and Family Style

By Max Bell

Overdoses, divorce and too much drink, but with a health scare that nearly killed him and the In Step album to make, Stevie Ray Vaughan looked like he was finally getting back on track...

Can: The making of landmark album Tago Mago

By Max Bell

In the heady days of 1971, German experimentalists Can pushed the musical envelope to the furthest fringes with their landmark album Tago Mago. Cue broken bones, acid-fried recording sessions, and terrified British actors

Led Zeppelin – How The West Was Won review

By Max Bell

The mountains and the canyons start to tremble and shake as Zep's live album gets the remaster treatment…

The line-up for the Stiff Live Stiffs tour of ’77

The story of Stiff, the most anarchic record label of all time

By Max Bell

Drugs. Fisticuffs. A signing policy that included Motörhead, The Damned and Elvis Costello. Stiff Records wasn’t just the first indie label, it was also the most anarchic...

Cover art for The Monochrome Set - 1979-1985: Complete Recordings album

The Monochrome Set - 1979-1985: Complete Recordings album review

By Max Bell

Non-stop colourful pop excellence

Cover art for Eric Clapton: Life In 12 Bars by Lili Fini Zanuck

Eric Clapton: Life In 12 Bars by Lili Fini Zanuck review

By Max Bell

In-depth look at Slowhand’s life and career, but with few new insights

Cover art for The Doors - Absolutely Live album

The Doors - Absolutely Live album review

By Max Bell

Flawed but electrifying classic trip back to 1970

Cover art for Stealers Wheel - The A&M Years album

Stealers Wheel - The A&M Years album review

By Max Bell

More spokes to this Wheel than just that Reservoir Dogs moment

Cover art for Steve Marriott’s Packet Of Three Watch Your Step – The Final... album

Steve Marriott’s Packet Of Three Watch Your Step – The Final... album review

By Max Bell

Manor Park’s finest caught just before his death

Cover art for Eagles - Hotel California: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition album

Eagles - Hotel California: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition album review

By Max Bell

This could be heaven or this could be hell

Cover art for Strawbs - The Ferryman’s Curse album

Strawbs - The Ferryman’s Curse album review

By Max Bell

Abandon hope all ye who enter here…

The epic true story of Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane

By Max Bell

Say hello to Grace Slick. Lover to Morrison. Friend of Joplin. Arrested more times than Lemmy. Took more drugs than Winehouse. Mouth like a trucker

Cover art for Earthbound: David Bowie And The Man Who Fell To Earth by Susan Compo

Earthbound: David Bowie And The Man Who Fell To Earth by Susan Compo review

By Max Bell

Mad times in New Mexico, ’75

Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real - Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real album review

Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real - Lukas Nelson & Promise Of...album review

By Max Bell

Chip off the old block

Cover art for Neil Finn - Out Of Silence album

Neil Finn - Out Of Silence album review

By Max Bell

Easy on the ear, but nothing that stands out from the Crowd

10 deep cuts that show the genius of Tom Petty

By Max Bell

10 lesser known classics from the catalogue of the great Tom Petty

Cover art for Pentangle - The Albums album

Pentangle - The Albums album review

By Max Bell

At last. A definitive box set from folk-rock’s first supergroup

Cover art for Ringo Starr - Give More Love album

Ringo Starr - Give More Love album review

By Max Bell

Another all-Starr affair

a shot of the grateful dead back in the 60s

The strange lives and far-out times of The Grateful Dead

By Max Bell

We take a look back at The Grateful Dead's far out career, from the Summer Of Love through drugs, death, hanging with Hells Angels and creating a catalogue unique in American music