Latest articles by Max Bell
How an unlikely rock star led the psychedelic revolution that swept 60s California
Arthur Lee inspired Jimi Hendrix, formed Love, gave Elektra Records their first hit and blew John Densmore's mind
The trauma and transformation of Stevie Ray Vaughan
After almost dying at a London show, Stevie Ray Vaughan was given two weeks to live - it was the wake-up call he needed
The story of legendary rock'n'roll cowboys the James Gang
With a classic funk-rock sound, the rise of rock'n'roll cowboys the James Gang looked unstoppable, inspired by a real kick-ass guitarist who would both make and break the band
The life and times of Ten Years After’s Alvin Lee, the fastest guitar In the west
Alvin Lee of Ten Years After was one of the most under-rated guitarists of the late 60s and early 70s
How Poco invented a brand-new sound - only to have it stolen by the Eagles
While everyone else was getting laid at the Tropicana, "squeaky-clean" Poco created a country-rock template others were quick to borrow
How Mott The Hoople fell to earth - and left one of rock’s great farewell albums behind them
Mott The Hoople’s The Hoople album was a fitting swansong
The 70s rock classic inspired by a tragedy at sea which helped tear Mountain apart
Mountain served up a stone cold classic in Nantucket Sleighride
Jon Keliehor went from an unknown psychedelic group to playing with The Doors and rubbing shoulders with Charles Manson
Jon Keliehor was on the frontlines of the West Coast rock scene in the late 60s
Nine Steve Miller albums you should listen to and one to avoid
Buying guide In a career of over 60 years, guitarist, singer and songwriter Steve Miller has recorded classic songs and acclaimed albums
How the LA club scene in the 1960s shaped American rock then sparked a revolution
The Doors to a riot: Six months in the life of Sunset Strip
How Bonnie Dobson's post-apocalyptic first song finally found its way home
For over three decades, Morning Dew's authorship was in dispute, but its author wasn't afraid to call out the injustice
What happened when Ronnie Lane swapped lead singers and showbiz for a new life down on the farm
Swapping champagne and private jets for a rundown farmhouse on the Welsh border
The story of the debauched tour that sent Joe Cocker over the edge
The Beatles queued up to give Joe Cocker their songs, but drink, drugs and wild times on the infamous Mad Dogs & Englishmen touring circus almost finished him off
Nine albums by The Doors you need to hear... and one to avoid
Buying guide More than just a band that produced some classic music, The Doors and Jim Morrison remain iconic, their recordings embraced by each new generation
The acid-dazed adventures of Soft White Underbelly, the band that became Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult were one of the weirdest bands of the early 1970s, but they began even more strangely
Steven Van Zandt’s tales of Paul McCartney, Miles Davis and more
One blues icon pulled a gun on the E Street Band guitarist
The oddball career of Kevin Ayers, quintessential English songwriter
Kevin Ayers co-founded Soft Machine, influenced Bowie, shared acid trips and girlfriends with Hendrix, and knew Syd Barrett better than most
How doomed Beach Boy Dennis Wilson made his solo masterpiece Pacific Ocean Blue
Beach Boys drummer and singer Dennis Wilson made a much-loved cult classic with 1977’s Pacific Ocean Blue – then spiralled out of control
The wild story of Canned Heat, the badass blues band that death couldn’t kill
Booze, barbiturates, suicide and overdoses – the twisted tale of America's first great boogie-rock band
An audience with Ginger Baker, rock’s most cantankerous drummer
From Cream to Blind Faith and beyond, this is how Ginger Baker revolutionised music
The epic life and crazy times of Mick Fleetwood, the heartbeat of Fleetwood Mac
Mick Fleetwood was a member of Fleetwood Mac from the start – and lived to tell the tale
Why Marianne Faithfull saw the best and worst of the late 60s and early 70s music scene
The late, great Marianne Faithfull had a life like no other
The turbulent story of Arthur Lee and Love, the 60s renegades who helped invent the LA rock scene
The Doors were stars but their Sunset Strip peers Love deserved to be equally famous
