Interviews

The inspiring, turbulent and triumphant story of Tarja Turunen

By Natasha Scharf published 20 February 26

Tarja Turunen didn't just kick the door down for women in metal in the 90s: she made opera cool as hell

Motörhead's Ace Of Space: How to create a classic while intoxicated

By Dave Everley published 19 February 26

It’s one of the instantly recognisable songs in rock'n'roll. But how did Ace Of Spades come about?

“We just went with it, hoping that it would be more of a blessing than a disaster.” How Alien Ant Farm’s bizarre cover of Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal turned them from D-listers to nu metal giants (for a bit, anyway)

By Stephen Hill last updated 13 February 26

In 2000, Alien Ant Farm were nu metal also-rans struggling to find their place. Then a thumbs up from Papa Roach and a Michael Jackson cover changed their fortunes overnight

The classic album that turned Lacuna Coil from cult band into household names in metal

By Dannii Leivers published 11 February 26

Before this release, these gothic metallers weren't well known outside of their homeland. That quickly changed

What happened when XTC's bass player accidentally wrote their first big hit

By Paul Lester published 11 February 26

Making Plans for Nigel established XTC as the intelligent arm of the post-punk movement – and it's still being directed at current Nigels

The southern rock legend who quit Lynyrd Skynyrd before they became famous and then rejoined 25 years later

By Paul Rees published 7 February 26

Rickey Medlocke has been involved in not one but two iconic Southern Rock bands

The story of the Orange Crush, R.E.M.'s anti-war commentary disguised as a four-minute pop song

By Rob Hughes published 2 February 26

R.E.M. countered accusations of selling out to a major by using their commercial clout to promote their political activism

The story of the UFO classic inspired by a pair of murderous twins

By Neil Jeffries published 26 January 26

For a much-loved ballad on 1981's The Wild, The Willing And The Innocent, UFO turned to the criminal underworld for inspiration