Latest articles by Mick Wall
How Mötley Crüe cleaned up and made their biggest album
Drugged up, boozed up and almost washed up, Mötley Crüe went into rehab, came out and recorded a classic of the late-80s LA metal scene: Nikki Sixx takes us back
The Bob Dylan albums you should definitely listen to
Buying guide Without the man who raised pop lyrics to the level of poetry, we might still be waiting for the concept of album-oriented music
How the Rolling Stones channelled chaos to make the final album with their most potent line-up
When Ronnie Wood, the Stones and some A-list mates holed up at his house to help with his solo album, it sparked a days-long party and a Rolling Stones hit
The tempestuous story of Def Leppard’s High ’N’ Dry, the album that turned them into US stars
1981’s High ’N’ Dry was the record that introduced Def Leppard to America – and changed things for ever
Meet Sacri Monti, the psychedelic rockers who don’t know where they’re going but dig the journey
From Oceanside, California, Sacri Monti met in high school in the early 2000s and have been jamming (and other things) ever since
Nikki Sixx on making new music, replacing Mick Mars and work-life balance
We catch up with Mötley Crüe legend Nikki Sixx
How The Doors snatched victory from the jaws of chaos to make the classic Morrison Hotel album
By 1970, Jim Morrison was in an alcoholic spiral and facing jail time – but The Doors still managed to make one of their greatest albums in Morrison Hotel
Scott Gorham on Thin Lizzy's breakthrough, Phil Lynott, and why they screwed up their US tours
1976 was a pivotal year for Thin Lizzy. Guitarist Scott Gorham, one half of the band’s classic twin-guitar sound, takes a trip down memory lane
How the delivery of a new drum kit gave Motörhead's Overkill to the world
'Fast' Eddie Clarke: "Once we'd cracked the formula of how to work together on Overkill, that's when we really started to take off"
How Aerosmith got their wings and flew
With their label ready to drop them after a so-so first album, Aerosmith clung on, dreamed on, and recorded a second that gave them lift-off: Get Your Wings
The epic life and high times of Bad Company bassist Boz Burrell, rock’n’roll’s ultimate cool dude
Boz Burrell bought effortless cool to King Crimson and Bad Company and died the way he lived – on his own terms
The story of the Red Hot Chili Peppers album Flea thinks is the best they ever made
The Red Hot Chili Peppers were unravelling, but they pulled together, kept it together, and recorded their masterpiece album: Californication
An unexpected interview with Kate Bush while she was writing Hounds Of Love
In 1984 Mick Wall was surprised when he rattled off a hopeless request for a chat – and received an invitation to visit the Def Leppard fan at her home-from-home
As Fish prepares to move to an island, he reflects on Marillion, going solo and life after music
After next year's farewell tour Fish is leaving music and the bright lights behind to live with his wife (and 13 sheep) on a Scottish island
The song Ronnie James Dio called one of the "proudest things he'd ever done"
Begun by Dio when he was fronting Black Sabbath, it transformed his career and became one of the classic metal tracks of the 80s
Queen, and the struggle to make Day At The Races
After A Night At The Opera, Queen had the world at their feet. But how on Earth do you follow such an album?
The tortured and tumultuous life of the late Ginger Baker
Driving across deserts, owning polo ponies, making and losing fortunes, influencing generations of musicians… Ginger Baker‘s story nothing was like no one else's
The rise and decline of Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd’s original singer and psychedelic icon
Original Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett died on July 7, 2006. This is the story of the rise and decline of a psychedelic icon
In 1970 Free had the world in the palm of their hands... and they let it blow away
How Free made their masterpiece, Fire And Water
The Humble Pie albums you should definitely listen to
Humble Pie were unable to capture the power of their live shows in the studio, but their best albums still include some absolute gems
The Eagles song that was written as a warning but heard as a celebration
Life In The Fast Lane was built on a swaggering riff from Joe Walsh, with a title that reflected the craziness of the Eagles
“Dave Swarbrick would go berserk with his Echoplex”: The origins of Fairport Convention
The folk-rock pioneers’ 80s resurgence was no less unlikely than their earlier years, as they meandered towards success and influence
How Iron Maiden grew up - the story of Powerslave
When it came to making the follow-up to 1983’s Piece Of Mind album, Iron Maiden knew they needed to come up with something a bit special. That was Powerslave
