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“This album, I’m never submittin’ it”: Drake joins BTS and Stray Kids in snubbing next year’s Grammys
The 2027 Grammys have been scheduled for 7 February next year, but we already know that there will be some notable absentees from the glittering ceremony.
“It improves in all the right places”: Strymon TimeLine MX review
Fifteen years on, Strymon's flagship TimeLine returns with dual engines, new delay types, a reverb, and a five-minute looper
John Feldmann on the secrets of Blink-182’s buoyant sound
Ten years back, we spoke to the newly-enlisted producer of Blink-182’s seventh album to dig into how the Matt Skiba-augmented pop-punkers navigated a rough period to make a record worth waiting for
“He gave us the songs that became the soundtrack to our love stories”: Soul singer Freddie Jackson has died
It’s been announced that the US soul singer Freddie Jackson died on Monday. He had just turned 70 last week.
“I betrayed the music community I care so much about”: Wu Tang associate sentenced to 18 months for streaming fraud
It’s taken a while but for the first time someone has actually been sent to prison after being found guilty of streaming fraud.
Guitarist Jan Akkerman recalls the creation of a bizarre ’70s rock classic – Hocus Pocus by Focus!
It is one of the most eccentric and insanely brilliant hit songs of all time, and it was inspired in part by The Beatles.
Arturia’s AstroLab gets its biggest update yet, adding deeper sound editing and 67 new presets
Arturia has released a major firmware update for the Astrolab series, bringing deeper sound editing, fresh sounds and several performance enhancements to this popular stage keyboard.
“I couldn't believe how he’d deteriorated”: Tony Iommi on Ozzy Osbourne’s condition at their last rehearsals
Tony Iommi has been talking about his own experience at last year’s Back To The Beginning show and how shocked he was at the severity of Ozzy Osbourne’s condition.
Amazon Prime Day is a bust for music makers, but don’t worry, the Musician’s Friend Rocktober sale is here to save the day with up to 50% off big-name brands
Grab yourself a bargain this Fall on everything from the likes of Ernie Ball, Gretsch, Alesis, Casio, and many more
How a broken body let Scott Holiday’s mind run free on his trippy solo debut
The Rival Sons guitarist got slammed in a bike accident and found a creative surge as he healed, using automatic writing in search of psychedelic sounds
Jean-Michel Jarre to release 50th anniversary edition of Oxygene
“The sound had a particular depth, movement and life of its own,” says Jarre. “We returned to the original tapes with the aim of preserving that character rather than changing it”
UDO does its best Oberheim impression with the release of the expandable DMNO ON desktop synth
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Bristol-based synthesizer developer UDO Audio. The brand’s debut Super 6 scored a 5 star review when it landed in 2021, and UDO’s CS-80-referencing follow-up Super Gemini topped our 2023 gear-of-the-year list.
The Gibson Custom Shop brings back the 1957 L-5 CES with a meticulous VOS reissue
Gibson pulls out all the stops for this Custom Shop classic, using 3D scans and applying a dovetail neck joint to create the ultimate jazz box
Galantis shares memories of co-writing Britney Spears’ Toxic with us and explains why he’s re-working hits from The Killers and Feist on his new EP
The EDM heavyweight reflects on his extensive career, from co-writing Toxic with Britney to his indie-pop outfit Miike Snow, Christian Karlsson explains to us why Galantis now gives him more freedom than ever before
“It’s one of the rarest ever made”: Cherry Audio brings a forgotten ’80s synth back to life
Clad in transparent plastic with illuminated internals, this quirky analogue poly is the latest vintage synth to get the Cherry Audio treatment
How Nirvana took an obscure ’60s psych-rock song and turned it into their debut single
“The hypnotic feel was an indicator of their direction in songwriting”
The sound of the underground: Roni Size to play the world’s deepest rave in an abandoned Welsh mine
We’ve often heard about the dance music ‘underground’ during its long history in the UK. Well, one of its leading figures is taking that phrase literally and plans to play the world’s deepest rave in an abandoned mine in a couple of weeks.
“It was a wild time. We mixed the album in two days on the most primitive console”: How Led Zeppelin created an epic masterpiece
“You hear Whole Lotta Love and you lose your mind. That’s it, period!”
“The ISA preamps deliver superb quality recorded tones”: Focusrite ISA C8X review
The Focusrite ISA C8X pairs two Lundahl-transformer ISA preamps with six Focusrite preamps, analogue saturation, and a built-in monitor controller
How John 5 and Fender reinvented the Telecaster with the Mötley Crüe guitarist's new signature collection
John 5 tells how he first fell in love with the Telecaster and then decided how to turn it into a high-performance shred machine with a killswitch and a Floyd
"It’s becoming an uphill struggle”: Sony reveals the number of deepfake AI tracks has doubled in six months
Sony has announced that it has the number of times it has asked for fraudulent AI tracks to be taken down from streaming platforms has doubled in the last six months.
Baby Audio HyperWarp wants to be your new quick-fix for glitches, stutters and out-there inspiration
Described as a ‘time-bending granular effect’, Baby Audio’s latest release HyperWarp is a rhythmic multi-effect plugin designed to quickly mangle sounds and inspire new ideas.
Justin Timberlake apologises for his beatboxing era as video discussing it goes viral
The problem with being an artist who’s grown up in public is that every misstep – whether musical or otherwise – remains on the record/YouTube for all to see, and can come back to haunt you when you least expect it.
“Learn to Play is needed more than ever”: Britain’s biggest music making weekend is next week
Learn To Play is just a week away. This is the national event that encourages aspiring musicians – both adults and young people – to pick up an instrument, develop new skills and enjoy a taster lesson with an expert.
Up to $250 off Apple MacBooks in the Amazon Big Deal Days sale
The ultimate laptops for music production just got a serious price cut. Here's why I'd never use any other machine to make music
I used to sell digital pianos and keyboards for a living – these are the only deals I’m recommending in the Amazon Big Deal Days sale
I’ve hand-picked a slew of discounted pianos and keyboards from Yamaha, Alesis and Donner
“I don’t think John Deacon did cope”: Roger Taylor and Brian May open up about losing Freddie, touring and depression
With the concert film of their landmark 1986 Budapest gig about to be reissued, Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen have given an interview to The Times that covers everything you’d expect. And a couple of new revelations.
Levi Seacer Jr on his unforgettable first rehearsal as Prince's guitarist
Sonny T was going to play bass. Levi Seacer Jr was super excited to move onto guitar. He brought all his pedals... He should have left them at home
"She carved out space for women in a genre dominated by men": Canadian blues rock singer Sass Jordan has died
Tributes have been coming in for the Canadian blues rock singer Sass Jordan, who has died, aged just 65.
“You can throw in a range of pitch-shift curveballs if desired”: DOD Drag Delay review
DOD builds on the legacy of its Rubberneck with a new analogue delay that’s sure to get your attention
"He's so easy to play with, it's really addictive”: Josh Homme sings the praises on Dave Grohl
Queens Of The Stone Age have a new album at the end of this month and in the run up to the release of Perfecth, Josh Homme has sat down with Rick Beato for a chat.
“The most beautiful piece of music ever written”: Why Dave Grohl adores this ’70s soft rock classic
“I was really in love with this woman and I wrote a song to impress her”
Could the claim that Olivia Dean copied Bill Withers’ Just The Two Of Us come down to four bars of music?
British star Olivia Dean is being accused of copying the melody from Bill Withers’ 1981 hit Just The Two Of Us in her song I’ve Seen It, the final track on her 2025 album, The Art Of Loving.
“He went ‘you can have those’”: Antiques Roadshow goes to Caerphilly and finds a rare Led Zep… single
Rare records don’t crop up very often on BBC1’s Antiques Roadshow, but one did the other night – a rarer-than-hen’s-teeth Led Zeppelin single from the early 1970s.
The Chompi sampler has been reborn as a free plugin
Temecula DSP's Nibbi is an unofficial port of the original firmware, released days after Chase Bliss made the discontinued sampler's code open-source
“Financial armageddon”: The reason Devin Townsend is back on the road after taking an “indefinite” break from touring
Metal guitarist, songwriter and producer Devin Townsend has opened up about why he’s returned to the stage just 18 months after he said he would take an “indefinite” break from touring.
Phil Collins says he doesn’t write songs any more, but does have a potential title for one
He might not be making a musical comeback, but as he prepares to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame next month, Phil Collins has certainly been making his presence felt on the interview circuit.
Mark Plati on David Bowie’s return to the avant-garde during the 1990s
Beyond Bowie’s dedicated fans, many overlook his 90s albums, but, as producer Mark Plati explained to us, the former Starman was firing on all cylinders creatively during this fruitful time
“Not a high crime or misdemeanour”: Joe Bonamassa has sympathy for up-and-coming artists using AI
Joe Bonamassa has given his five cents’ worth on the whole AI in music debate, in a very measured, nuanced way.
How Paul Hardcastle created his sample-driven masterpiece 19
The making of a hard-hitting, documentary-inspired hit, created with some limited sampling technology
“They put horns on their record”: Talking Heads reveal they were accused of ‘selling out’ on debut single
The four members of Talking Heads reunited to launch their pop-up radio station on SiriusXM earlier this week with an extensive conversation with Este Haim.
“He could be a complete idiot, over some things”: Paul McCartney thinks that Lennon “expected more” from him in the early 70s
In virtually every interview he’s given since 1970, Paul McCartney has been asked about his relationship with John Lennon. You might well ask what else is there to discover about the friendship that changed music history? But, just occasionally, Macca reveals something we weren’t aware of.
Instagram reharm sensation Oli Howe on the formula behind his chaotic reworks of classic hits
“David Foster commented and then he sent me a DM saying, ‘Where did you come from?’ And I was just like, "Oh my God, what do I say to that? Brighton?’”
“The faster you work, the more it resonates with listeners”: 808 Prince on the vintage drum machines and spontaneous energy behind his new self-titled project
Formerly known as Funkineven, the London-based producer/DJ has reinvented himself with Roland's classic '80s drum machine serving as inspiration
I found the best studio gear deals in the Sweetwater sale
Freshly launched this week, the Sweetwater Studio & Recording sale is delivering up to 50% off hardware and up to 85% off software. Whether you want to add some analogue colour to your mixes or bulk up your mic locker, there’s some great gear on offer.
“Breathing feels like a chore”: Lola Young bemoans the effect of vaping on her health on TikTok
Lola Young has been complaining that breathing feels like “a chore”, something she blames solely on her continued penchant for vaping.
“I had no plans to join Queen”: Why Paul Rodgers joined forces with Brian May and Roger Taylor
“Queen are so creative, they’re almost up there with The Beatles – and The Beatles are my favourite band”
SampleRadar: 485 free tape-treated samples
The crackly, hiss-laden sound of magnetic tape is an increasingly popular aesthetic in modern music production, as producers eschew the polish of the contemporary DAW for the retro colour and lo-fi warmth that tapes provide.
Simply the test: It's MusicRadar's Quiz of the Week #13!
It's Friday once again, and that can only mean one thing… It's our weekly run-down of music happenings in 10-question quiz form! Each week, we jam in the stories and test whether you – our loyal readers – have been paying attention or not. Our quick quizzy recap will soon have you in the know as to who's rocking what, where and why. Hit the button below for this week's on-site highlights.
Giles Martin reveals that his father's piano solo on In My Life was originally played on an organ
You could come up with plenty of reasons why producer George Martin deserved to be known as ‘the fifth Beatle’, but one of the most tangible is the Bach-inspired piano solo from 1965’s In My Life.
“I want people to think, ‘That band Venom was crazy!’”: Heavy metal innovator Conrad ‘Cronos’ Lant dies at 63
“I took chances as an artist and a musician – I helped keep the music alive”
"Genuinely punches above what its asking price might suggest": Patina PJ-6 offset guitar review
A solidly made, budget-friendly guitar that is looking to deliver relic'd aesthetics without the custom shop price tag
Universal Audio’s next generation of Volt audio interfaces offers more ways to shape your sound
Switchable preamp characters and six flavours of compression bring more tonal variety to UA's affordable, easy-to-use interface range
Novation launches FLPad and FLpad Mini, its first dedicated pad controllers for FL Studio
Developed in partnership with Image-Line, this pad-based alternative to the FLkey range is bundled with a six-month pass for FL Studio Producer Edition
The MusicRadar gear roundup Sep 2026 edit, featuring fresh drops from Taylor, Yamaha, ESP and more
This month's highlights include sumptuous 12-fretters from Taylor, Cesar Gueikian's Gibson DES range, a tremolo-equipped Strandberg Boden Essential and more
“You’re not going to get me into politics, are you?”: Bono says Ed Sheeran was reluctant to get political on recent collaboration
Like everyone else, U2 have been asked what they think about the Ed Sheeran/ Macklemore controversy that has taken up so many column inches this month.
Slipknot's Jim Root pleads ignorance amid growing backlash against Marilyn Manson support slot
Slipknot guitarist Jim Root says that he had no involvement in the decision to have Marilyn Manson as the main support act on the band’s upcoming shows in 2027 in South America and at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Positive Grid just kicked off the deal season with a gigantic 38% discount on our favourite headphone amp for guitarists and a wallet-friendly FRFR
The Positive Grid Sparktober sale offers sizable discounts on the Spark Neo Core and Spark Cab
Billy Joel wishes he’d got the chance to perform with John Lennon, and says Hendrix was "from another planet"
Billy Joel has collaborated with some pretty big names down the years, but he admits that there are a few who he’d have liked to tick off his list.
“These songs have meant so much to so many people”: Roger Waters and son announce a ‘Pink Floyd Show’ tour
With the chances of the three surviving members of Pink Floyd ever performing again being virtually nil, Roger Waters has taken matters into his own hands and used the band’s name to front his own tour.
Eric Clapton on why he has no regrets about auctioning off his most “sacred” guitars
Slowhand says guitars have been his inspiration and salvation, but when he said goodbye to his two most-famous electrics in 2004, it was for a higher purpose
“I’m not going back to sleeping on floors”: Dinosaur Jr’s J Mascis reveals why he turned down Nirvana
Every band eventually reunites these days. But few reformations have been as unlikely, nor as successful as Dinosaur Jr’s. The indie rockers, who very much played John The Baptist to Nirvana’s messiah, didn’t much like each other during their initial burst of late '80s/ early '90s success, but since reconvening in the mid '00s have released six very good, well-received albums.
Engram is a ‘generative audio sampler’ that applies circuit bending principles to AI audio models
Many musicians are understandably wary of generative music models. These tools can represent the worst of AI – performing functions that actively infringe upon human creativity, often trained on copyrighted material and doing so in a ‘black box’ that gives users little oversight or control of the process.
Robin Trower on recreating live magic in the studio and the creative power of great guitar tone
In the ’70s, it was “all a bit wild” but in the here and now, aged 81, Robin Trower says he’s playing as well as ever, and in total control of his Strat on his new album, Shine
“This is a dream inspiration engine”: BT and Spitfire Audio team up for Phoenix hybrid synth
The MPE-compatible instrument combines samples from BT's private library with six synthesis engines, deep modulation, 37 effects and a true stereo architecture
If you go down to the woods today… you might hear a prog legend playing a piano in a bear sanctuary
Rick Wakeman has played to what must be one of his most unusual audiences in his long career: an enclosure of 150 bears in Vietnam.
Al Di Meola on his legendary collaboration with fellow virtuosos John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía
“There was nowhere to hide. No drummer. No bass player. No keyboard player. Nothing underneath us holding it together. Just six hands”
“Very much on his own and really on point”: What fellow alternative icon could Johnny Marr be talking about?
Johnny Marr’s fifth solo album, The Age Of Everything, comes out on Friday and the guitarist has given an interview to the NME about the new record.
Meet Benjamin, a hardware controller that's designed to unlock the potential of YouTube music lessons
YouTube has become the biggest music-learning platform in the world, but it does have certain limitations. Looping specific song sections involves frequent clicking/touching and dragging of a progress bar and you have a limited amount of control over playback speed, so trying to master a tricky passage can be frustrating.
Guitar hero George Lynch on the highs and lows of his extraordinary career
“In any band there are complicated, triangulated emotions. Egos. And I guess my lack of diplomacy didn’t help”
"The hypocrisy in the industry is insane": House legend Todd Edwards on sampling Suno
"Do you think I need to use AI? I've been making music without AI forever. I'm using it because it's an amazing adventure – I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't"
“This could well be the amp simulator to rule them all”: Line 6 Helix Stadium Native review
Line 6 Helix Stadium Native brings Agoura amp models, Proxy clones, and 48-blocks to your DAW, but is it worth the $399.99 asking price for new users?
“The time has come to say farewell to life on the road”: Rod Stewart announces details of “last” tour
It looks like Rod Stewart has finally reached the end of the road. He’s announced The Final Encore, which he’s flagging up as his last ever tour for next year.
“That's great. But could you play not so well?”: Steve Stevens says he had to tone down his chops during grunge
For the rock artists who defined the 1980s, the early '90s were tough. Hair metal was out, grunge was in and for guitarists such as Steve Stevens it meant a necessary period of adjustment.
“My body just went, ‘You’ve had enough.'”: Larry Mullen Jr on his neck injury and how he felt “humiliated”
As we know now, the first new U2 album in almost ten years comes out in November and the band have given a lengthy interview to Rolling Stone covering all aspects of Carnaval De Luz.
“A more successful attempt at what the Volca Mix tried to do”: Korg Nu:Tekt NTS-4 review
Korg’s latest DIY kit is a mini mixer that’s perfectly pitched for small desktop production setups
The classic song recorded by Janis Joplin just three days before she died
“Her zest, her humour, her fragility, her fearlessness and her audacious, unbridled talent – it’s all captured on tape”
This free multiband bitcrusher is a surgical tool for lo-fi sound design
Equipped with mid/side routing and tonal/transient processing, RiverFlux Audio’s Bit Layer gives you eight highly tweakable layers of digital degradation
Stevie Wonder surprise releases four previously unheard songs from 1976's Songs in the Key of Life
Released exactly 50 years ago, Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life is often regarded as his crowning glory, and the last in his astonishing run of five great albums that began with 1972’s Music of my Mind.
Ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted pays his respects to the late, great Cliff Burton
Jason Newsted, the former Metallica bassist, has posted a heartfelt tribute to his predecessor in the band, the late Cliff Burton.
Nirvana's Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl reunite at the 2026 VMAs as Madonna and Taylor Swift win big
Madonna and Taylor Swift were the big winners at last night’s MTV Video Awards, winning seven and three prizes respectively, and there was also an on-stage reunion for the surviving members of Nirvana as they accepted the VMA Video Vanguard Award.
Fred Again slams AI music: “I’ve felt no pull whatsoever to even try it... the process is the magic”
Fred Again has shared his thoughts on the use of generative AI tools in music creation, joining the increasing numbers of well-known musicians and producers that have spoken out against the technology in recent months.
Petri Alanko on crafting the intense sonic universe of Control Resonant
The sonic supremo behind some of the most compelling video game soundtracks of the last decade talks us through the musical universe of Control Resonant
Olivia Rodrigo kicks off her Unraveled tour with a “one of one” heart-shaped guitar and a surprise solo
She admits that she’s not the world’s greatest guitarist, but that doesn’t mean Olivia Rodrgio doesn’t love a striking, highly individual guitar.
"To me, she is the apotheosis of mediocrity": Todd Rundgren is not a Swiftie
Todd Rundgren is a) not afraid to speak his mind and b) not a Taylor Swift fan. We already learned this when, last year, he told MusicRadar "I have yet to be convinced by any song that AI has come up with. Everything sounds like Taylor frickin’ Swift!’”
“I don't feel I've learnt enough” says Jonny Greenwood as he admits he used to be “clumsy” and “lazy”
Jonny Greenwood has admitted that back in the early days of Radiohead he was “clumsy” and “lazy” as a guitarist.
Paul McCartney remembers showing Elvis how to bass like a pro
McCartney told us that a keen Elvis Presley was eager to learn from the Beatles’ Höfner-toting dynamo when they finally met in the summer of '65
How Arctic Monkeys created their biggest-ever single – inspired by R&B and hip-hop grooves
The track was pivotal in the Sheffield band finally breaking big in America
“He’s the musical Jesus”: Todd Edwards on working with Daft Punk
From his parents' basement to the Grammy Awards, the house legend and UKG innovator weaves the tale of his winding, illustrious career in dance music
How The Mamas & The Papas created California Dreamin’, a counterculture anthem for the Summer Of Love
For all its sun-soaked connotations, the song was actually written in a freezing cold New York apartment
Andrew Watt says he kept thing loose when he produced the Stones, but also added a surprising synth sub-bass
In some ways, the Rolling Stones’ 2026 single In The Stars sounds like it could have been made at any time in the past 50 years, but producer Andrew Watt has been explaining that, as well as making something in the band’s tradition, he also wanted to ensure that they still sounded relevant.
“It blew me away so badly”: Brian May says that hearing Jimi Hendrix made him question whether he should be a guitar player
Brian May has no doubt in his mind when naming the greatest guitarist of all time. As he says in a new interview: “Jimi Hendrix, for me, will always be the ultimate guitar god.”
Want to sound like The Prodigy? Download this free pack of Prodigy-style samples
In today's edition of SampleRadar, we're taking inspiration not from a particular genre but a specific group: The Prodigy.
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?: It’s MusicRadar’s Quiz of the Week #23!
There have been plenty of ch-ch-ch-changes in the music biz this week and MusicRadar has – as always – been right there on the frontline. But can you achieve similar greatness via our weekly round-up of this week's biggest stories in 10-question quiz form? Want to test your knowledge of who's been rocking what, where, and why? See that button below?… Hit it!
Olivia Rodrigo on how being a "novice" guitarist led to a happy accident when she was writing The Cure
She and her collaborator Dan Nigro have been digging into the song's creation
“I remember Eddie sitting at the piano playing me this beautiful thing”: Sammy Hagar’s magical chemistry in Van Halen
“Eddie was the centre of things, the impetus for the songs”
“My main purpose was to get information and harmonic values”: Mythic live recordings of John Coltrane to get official release
The jazz world is celebrating what would have been John Coltrane’s 100th birthday this week and with it comes the news that a tranche of his hitherto unheard live recordings are about to get a proper release.
“Since 1997, the complaint about pitch correction has been the same: it takes the singer out of the singing. That’s the problem DVA was built to solve”: Antares launches AutoTune Advanced with new DVA vibrato engine
The new flagship product in the AutoTune® range, Advanced is built on a ground-up rewrite of the plugin's vocal tuning algorithm
Phil Collen on why you can play anything on his new Jackson, and even nail those Hysteria tones
The Def Leppard guitarist tells MusicRadar why we his Sustainer-equipped PC1-E is the guitar for all occasions, and its relic'd nitro finish ain't bad either
“Even if you have a decent amp, there’s enough variety and depth of effects in the Stage to justify integrating it into an existing rig”: Hotone Ampero II Stage review
Hotone refines its flagship floorboard for live use with NAM A2 compatibility
“Please remain vigilant”: Oasis warn against scammers in the forthcoming Live 27 ticketing bunfight
Today is the day that those who were lucky in the ballot for Oasis tickets will start to receive their access codes, but the band have warned against scammers who are sending fake ones.
Stuck in the 4-bar loop? Try these free arrangement templates for Ableton Live
If you make electronic music, you’ve probably been there: you’ve got a nice little 8-bar loop going, but you’ve had it on repeat for what feels like hours, fruitlessly tweaking with no clue where to go next.
Fender CEO admits regret over S-style cease-and-desist campaign – but says it will "improve" guitar design
Edward 'Bud' Cole says Fender wants to "help" other brands move away from the Stratocaster design to create something "unique to the naked eye" – but who defines unique?
How a Nashville session legend and a pet kangaroo helped Ella Langley to create Choosin' Texas
“We love that song, but I don’t think I could have ever imagined what’s happening with it right now," says the country star
“Expands the range of your pedalboard – without changing what already works”: Boss unveils the EX-4 Effects Expander, a compact multi-fx powerhouse that’s designed to maximise your pedalboard’s potential
Boss has expanded its multi-effects pedal lineup – quite literally – with the EX-4 Effects Expander, a compact unit that comes with 120 effects, 256 presets, and a heap of routing options to make it integrate seamlessly with your pedalboard setup.
“His influence and attitude guided the genre forward”: Hayley Williams pays tribute to her ex, guitarist Chad Gilbert
Paramore singer Hayley Williams has written a moving tribute to her ex-husband, New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert, on social media.
Polyend Loop is part looper pedal, part drum machine and comes stocked with over 100 effects
Loop is the latest addition to Polyend’s growing line of stompboxes. In typically self-explanatory fashion for a brand that has previously released a drum machine named Drums and a synth called Synth, Loop is a loop pedal. Like those instruments before it though, Loop aims to put an innovative spin on the looper format that is less utilitarian than its basic nomenclature might imply.
Michael Kiwanuka reveals that he’s had a stroke: “It's a long, tough journey ahead”
The singer songwriter Michael Kiwanuka has revealed that he suffered a stroke a few months ago and faces a “long tough journey” on the road to recovery.
“A cash grab”: Mark E Smith’s colleagues and partner wrangle over the "final” Fall album
A row has broken out about what is reportedly “the final” Fall album, over eight years since founder, frontman and sole original member Mark E Smith died.
“All I do is warfare” Dolly Parton’s estate and “killer” nephew in bitter fall out
Not a month has gone by since the sad passing of Dolly Parton and already a bitter argument has broken out amongst the surviving relatives.
NI confirms “Maschine is alive and evolving” with first major update since InMusic acquisition
Maschine 3.7 adds probability and Euclidean sequencing, and launches alongside a trio of (mostly) new Maschine Expansion packs
Elektron bans distribution of modified firmware on its community forums
Swedish gear manufacturer Elektron has banned members from distributing and promoting hacks and modified firmware on the Elektronauts community forums, CDM reports.
Who knew classic Land Rover Defender paint jobs would look so good on John Mayer’s Silver Sky?
PRS Guitars' latest limited edition drop of Mayer's signature electric offer four finishes for the Core US model, four for the more affordable SE lineup
“An exceptional talent”: Amy Winehouse to be celebrated at special Back To Black anniversary gig
It will be 20 years since the release of Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black next month. An anniversary reissue is already in the pipeline and, in addition to that, a special Back To Black 20 concert has been announced.
Rose Tattoo singer Angry Anderson – Aussie rock ’n’ roll outlaw and a hero to Axl Rose – has died
Angry Anderson, who died on 21 September 2026 at the age of 79, was a small man with a big presence. Shaven-headed and standing just an inch over five feet, Anderson cut a striking figure as the singer for Australian rockers Rose Tattoo, a key influence for Guns N’ Roses. In a varied career and colourful life, Anderson was also a close associate of AC/DC and an actor who starred in the hit ’80s movie Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.
Beck on the behind-the-scenes consequences of genre-hopping
Beck has recalled that making his shimmering 2002 classic Sea Change caused more than a little consternation from the powers that be
“He is the one that has inspired me the most”: James Hetfield hails Tony Iommi as “the riff lord”
James Hetfield has been singing the praises of Tony Iommi, describing the Black Sabbath guitarist as “the riff lord”.
Tosin Abasi gifts Joe Satriani and Steve Vai Abasi Concepts 8-strings with signature finishes
Abasi got guitar art wizard Dave Bonvillain to replicate the Chrome Boy’s finish for Satch’s ēmi 8, and to put together a special Passion And Warfare swirl finish for Vai
"He’s not too bad”: Matt Bellamy is OK with Mark Zuckerberg taking Muse's social media handle
Muse have explained how they’ve had to change their social media handles because Mark Zuckerberg wanted to use the name ‘muse’ for his new AI tool.
“I have an actual Rhodes in the studio, but I used the little Yamaha CP on my desk – it’s right there, and it’s closer!”: Bonobo reveals why he chose a $499 Reface mini keyboard over a real electric piano for Me and You
Bonobo appeared on the Tape Notes podcast to unpack the production behind several tracks on new album Distance in Static
Has Fender finally solved the problem of single-coil hum with this “innovative breakthrough”?
The Fender Silent System is passive, battery-free, and built into these limited run American Professional Classic Strats and Teles, and it promises zero hum, maximum tone
“I found it very inspiring to hang out with her”: Madonna and Charli XCX collaborate on new single
Madonna and Charli XCX have confirmed they will be releasing a new track together this week – one that’s inspired by a song from Madge’s current Confessions II album.
Harley Benton just factory modded its SC-550 Plus and sent it out with Fishman Fluence Classic humbuckers – active, multi-voiced, hum-free pro pickups in a sub-$500 guitar
Harley Benton has just rolled out a pair of SC-550 Plus electric guitars that come factory-fitted with a pair of Fishman Fluence Classic humbuckers, and many players will greet this news with joy, and no little relief, safe in the knowledge that they can put the power tools and soldering iron away.
“I was like, are these guys just really dumb?”: Beabadoobee admits she thought This Is Spinal Tap was real
Many bands have admitted that the content of Rob Reiner’s 1984 spoof rock documentary This Is Spinal Tap felt uncomfortably close to the truth, so it’s perhaps not surprising that when Gen-Z singer-songwriter Beabadoobee watched it for the first time she thought it was real.
“Some of the best quality effect algorithms”: Eventide H9 Gen 2 review
Packing studio-grade algorithms in a compact chassis, the latest Eventide effects pedal is a multi-role fighter that can do any style
“Suno’s v6 is not a fresh start”: Universal and Sony sue AI firm over copyright infringement in its new model
There’s another twist in the ongoing battle between Suno and the music industry. Universal Music Group and Sony are suing the AI firm over copyright infringement in its new v6 models.
We talk to the team behind an innovative presentation of one of Queen’s most extraordinary live shows
We speak to Playback Live, who have designed a one-off, immersive screening of Queen Budapest – which is being treated as if it’s an actual gig!
“John Lennon told me it was a great song. We took it off the worst album we ever made and turned it into one of the biggest hits we ever had”: Alice Cooper’s satirical ’70s hit – and his high times with Lennon, Keith Moon, Ringo Starr and Salvador Dali
“We were used to being the underdogs – and now we were being treated like The Beatles”
A criminal record: The man behind the UK’s biggest fake vinyl factory goes down for three and a half years
The man who ran Britain’s biggest counterfeit vinyl operation has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
Sound the Eric Clapton signature guitar klaxon! Epiphone to unveil replica of Slowhand’s 1964 ES-335TDC at Crossroads Guitar Festival – but you’ll have to wait before you can buy it
Gibson will be at Crossroads 2026 with a booth where you can try guitars and win this Clapton 335. Will it have the “Hare Krishna” stamp? We'll find out when it drops in summer 2027
One of our favourite synths of recent years now lets you upload your own sounds
Analogue purists might bemoan the advent of digital music production gear, but an undeniable upside is the ease with which brands can now roll out firmware updates for existing synths, not only fixing bugs and improving usability, but occasionally adding whole new capabilities to existing.
“Every time I do it I’m like, ‘Damn, I do like to listen to this song over and over and over again, and it’s because I threw a random chord in the final chorus’”: Miley Cyrus on the bulletproof songwriting trick she learned from Max Martin
Given that he’s widely regarded as the most successful songwriter-producer of the century, it’s no surprise that many have attempted to examine Max Martin’s back catalogue in a bid to work out just how he’s managed to create so many hits.
“Primitive and somewhat unformed, but still instantly recognisable”: How some lost David Bowie songs were discovered in a Californian loft
David Bowie fans will know that last week saw the latest release from the man’s archives. These were the recordings Bowie made with Shel Talmy in the mid-'60s when he was still scrapping round for a direction in mod-era London.
“I’d rather you didn’t listen to our music on there. Please don’t”: Electro-pop duo Sylvan Esso say they’ve returned to Spotify because they can’t afford not to
North Carolinian electro pop duo Sylvan Esso have announced that a year after withdrawing their music from Spotify, they are – very reluctantly - putting it back on.
“I have explored space. I have explored time. Now… I explore distortion”: Watch William Shatner cover Ace Of Spade at his metal band’s live debut
William Shatner and his metal band made their live debut over the weekend in Chicago. They played on the main stage at Riot Fest on the Sunday, but the night before they treated fans to an intimate warm-up gig at Park West in town.
Zplane’s Timbre is a formant-shifting plugin with a few tricks up its sleeve
Zplane has announced the release of TIMBRE, a real-time formant-shifting plugin designed to transform the character of vocals, drums, instruments and mixes without altering their pitch.
“I thought: ‘Come on, don’t be ridiculous, of course it’s not him. Chris Martin doesn’t roam the streets of London’”: A London busker just sang a duet with the Coldplay frontman without realising who he was
You just never know where Chris Martin is going to pop up next. Having previously given an impromptu performance of Coldplay hit A Sky Full Of Stars in a British pub, he more recently appeared out of nowhere to perform for an amazed newly-wed couple’s first dance, and now he’s joined a London busker to sing 2008 single Viva la Vida.
“The most painful thing was having the sky painted, frame by frame, on my face”: We crack open Peter Gabriel’s signature hit
We take a Sledgehammer to one of the most iconic songs of the '80s
“It will be on the obituary, won’t it? ‘He was found in a cheap hotel that was about to close down, and he had a cheap rate on the room.’ You don’t need that”: At 76, rock legend Carl Palmer reveals his hopes and fears for the future
Carl Palmer has earned his place in rock history as one of the greatest drummers of all time. But as the 76 year-old tells MusicRadar: “Time waits for no man, as we know.”
“It’s been a weird week. I just feel like it happened very quickly”: Ed Sheeran speaks about censorship and the Israel-Palestine conflict on stage in Philadelphia
Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour continued as planned in Philadelphia over the weekend but the singer admitted on stage that the events of the last week made him consider cancelling the tour completely.
“A highly flexible compact mixer and USB interface that’s perfect for desktop recording and live performance”: Roland Go:Mixer Studio review
Packing a lot of power in your pocket
Are you bored of the TR-808? Explore this treasure trove of free obscure drum machine samples
Everyone loves an iconic drum machine. Celebrated beatboxes like the Roland TR-808 and TR-909 dominate the conversation in music tech, and appear in more famous tracks than we can count.
The track they tried to hide. Is this the worst Stock Aitken Waterman record ever?
Get ready for the tall tail of the time that the prodigious producers smelt a rat and made a Living Legend
“No plugins, no compressors, no gates… I don’t know how I did it!”: Underworld reflect on how they made their most breathtaking album
The Born Slippy wizards told us how their progressive 1996 album bottled a creative high - made without the luxury of modern tech
“The lead tones that Dimebag had on that album were beautiful and so individual. No-one else sounded like that”: Bullet For My Valentine on the tonal perfection of Dimebag Darrell
The Welsh powerhouses spoke to us back in 2018 and discussed everything from crafting guitar tone, their revolving door of members and the enduring legacy of Pantera’s iconic axe-wielder
Radio Head: Talking Heads reunite for their own pop-up shop radio channel in October
Talking Heads are – sort of - reuniting again to launch a new channel on SiriusXM. The new channel called, well, Talking Heads Radio, will run from October 1 to October 22 on in-car satellite radios, and until October 31 on the SiriusXM app. Apparently, it will play nothing but music by the band and their many spin-off and solo projects. That’s a lot of music, but then four weeks is a lot of air time to fill.
First Grand Theft Auto VI soundtrack album artists and release date confirmed
As excitement grows in the gaming community about the imminent arrival of Grand Theft Auto VI, it’s been announced that an accompanying soundtrack album is coming too.
“I kept seeing him out of the corner of my eye”: Mastodon’s new album is inspired by departed guitarist Brent Hinds
Mastodon released a new album – their first since Brent Hinds’ death last year – in August and the band have been telling Consequence about the new record, Marrow Deep, and the upheavals that have happened within the group over the last few years.
“It’s hard to argue with the amount of features on offer here for such an affordable price”: Millenium Drums MPS-350 E-Drum Set review
Millenium beefs up its MPS e-kit range with a new entry-level offering
“You don’t want to think about it. You don’t want to have it practiced. The whole idea is to not know what you’re doing”: Neil Young on the unconventional creative process at the heart of his 50th studio album
Neil Young has arrived at a milestone that few recording artists ever reach. His new album is the 50th of his long career. And even at this late stage, he remains a maverick figure with distinctly unorthodox methods.
“People will say they are really Phil Collins records. Fine. If that’s all they can hear, they’re not listening properly”: How Eric Clapton’s ’80s reinvention peaked with Behind The Mask – a song written by Ryuichi Sakamoto and dumped by Michael Jackson
The track was demoed for Thriller, covered by Greg Phillinganes, then picked up by Clapton. With Phil Collins producing, could the blues icon make synth-pop his own?
“A great experience that exceeded all my expectations”: Johnny Marr’s guitar nets over £3.6 million
The auction of Johnny Marr’s guitars has fetched over £3.6 million for charity – more than three times their estimated value.
Lunacy launches Nova platform with five free virtual instruments – but bigger things on the way
The LA-based company is working on an AI-powered platform for prompt-based plugin development and customization, synchronized across your browser and your DAW
“Thom and Jonny used to write together a lot. So when we got to rehearsals, they had their parts worked out and I used to be like, ‘Where do I fit into this?’”: Ed O’Brien on shaping his Radiohead role
Radiohead’s chief texture weaver, Ed O’Brien told us that his place within the band's sonic universe remained a process of continual refinement
Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing? It’s MusicRadar’s Quiz of the Week #22!
Welcome your weekend and wind down with our rundown of music's biggest news in 10-question quiz form. Each week, we pick our favourite stories and test whether you – our loyal readers – have been paying attention or not [taps music stand with baton]. Fret not. Our quick musical quiz recap will soon have you back up to speed as to who's rocking what, where and why. Here's this week's playlist of on-site highlights.
Fancy opening for Ed Sheeran? Guitar Center is running a competition for that
With the hoo-hah over Ed Sheeran’s stadium gigs being the story of the week, it should be noted that there is one show on the Suffolk singer songwriter’s tour that will be graced by a support act: Mexico City.
“When I pressed ‘record’ the two of us breathed in, and then when I finished we breathed out. That’s what it felt like”: Johnny Marr recalls the intimate and magical experience of writing songs with Morrissey for The Smiths
“Any songwriter will tell you it’s the best feeling in the world”
“When I heard Fred’s voice for the first time, I thought, God, he’ll never be a singer. He sounds like a strangled sheep”: Roger Taylor on what he thought when he first heard Freddie Mercury
Queen drummer Roger Taylor has a new solo album out and as part of the promotion he’s been on BBC Radio 2 choosing his Tracks Of My Years on the Vernon Kay show.
I’ve covered Guitar Center sales for years, and the freshly launched Guitar-A-Thon sale is a must-shop with reductions hitting up to 30% off
Upgrade your rig for less with these unmissable electric, acoustic, and pedal deals at Guitar Center
“I’m cancelling my subscription”: Suno users slam its V6 update as “muffled, generic, soulless garbage”
Following the release of its industry-backed V6 models, some of the AI music platform's most enthusiastic supporters are abandoning ship
Sonicware’s ELZ_1 core puts a powerful, multi-synthesis engine in a compact desktop box
The Japanese brand’s latest is a module version of the ELZ_1 play – but you’ll need to act fast if you want one
See iconic Jeff Beck, Mike Bloomfield and Jack White guitars up close
The Guitar Chronicles is a new coffee table photography book telling the fascinating stories behind historic vintage six-strings and basses
“I lost my voice, had a nervous breakdown and disappeared for 10 years”: La Roux re-emerges from a long hibernation with a new album about a ‘long and very painful breakup’
Whatever happened to La Roux? It seems so long ago now, but Elly Jackson scored two huge hits in 2009 – Bulletproof and In For The Kill went to Number One and Two respectively in the UK. Her self titled debut album went platinum and for a couple of years the be-quiffed red head was a regular fixture in the British media. Now she’s back and has issued a TikTok post which depicts her sipping a cup of tea (or a warm beverage of some description) with Bulletproof playing in the background. The accompanying text reads: “You think you can hurt me?
“He told us how it would change the band’s trajectory, it could be an albatross around our necks – but we wanted a radio hit”: The Wonder Stuff tell us how they spawned an uplifting indie classic
The Wonder Stuff’s Miles Hunt delves into the indie stalwarts’ 40 year history, huge success and how they wrote their hit The Size of a Cow
“Before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million”: Robert Kraft says that Ed Sheeran has asked him to match his own donation to ‘fight this humanitarian crisis’
Another day, another new development in the Ed Sheeran/Macklemore/Robert Kraft fallout. As Sheeran is working out how to fill several hours of stage time without any support acts or a backing band, it’s emerged that the singer asked Kraft – the owner of Gillette Stadium, who was instrumental in getting Macklemore thrown off the tour – to match his $2 million donation to aid in the region.
“Joan Jett has always played by her own rules, and that certainly applies to her guitar of choice”: Epiphone brings back the Joan Jett Olympic Special and gives the single-pickup powerhouse an all-new look
Epiphone has resurrected one of its most-loved signature guitars as the Joan Jett Olympic Special returns to the lineup, featuring an fresh finish and a subtle but welcome upgrade on its predecessor.
“I’m 42 years old; I’ve only just realised you can change the tuning to make it easier to play stuff!”: When Death Cab for Cutie shared their guitar rig with us
Back in 2019, we spent a bit of time with an on-the-road Death Cab, who showed us how they conjured the sounds that caught a generation's hearts
“One day Mike played a riff on the guitar, with an echo, and I suddenly sang, ‘She seems to have an invisible touch – yeah!’ It came into my head fully formed”: How Genesis created their biggest hit – with a writing process “like jazz”
“I wrote the lyrics about a person – and I’ve known a few – who gets under your skin”
“We were with Rick Rubin, drinking vodka and grapefruit juice, and we wrote that song in about five minutes”: How the Beastie Boys created the most ironic party anthem of the ’80s
“There were tons of guys singing along who were oblivious to the fact it was a total goof on them”
“This is just the beginning”: Nopia launches on Kickstarter and hits $1.4m in 24 hours
Three years after its prototype went viral, this "semi-modular harmony generator" is finally available to pre-order. We sat down with creators Martin Grieco and Rocío Gal to find out more
Drake’s “self-funded surreal” short film includes new country-inspired tracks
Drake appears to be the latest urban artist who's adding country music to their musical palette. The Canadian rapper dropped his trailed Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) the other day. He described it as a “not-so-short film”, but it’s really a collection of new videos of tracks from the three albums he released earlier this year, alongside some new tunes.
Millenium Drum’s new flagship MPS-1500 Hybrid-X electronic drum set will turn some heads
Nexus Multi-Percussion Pad packs a lot of features at a very keen price point
How Pete Townshend, Carlos Santana and a miracle pawn shop find in the depths of winter made Joe Bonamassa fall in love with P-90s: “That’s what really got me into them, the way they clean up really well but they would roar”
Seymour Duncan's collab with Bonamassa continues with a limited edition replica of the P-90S from his Polaris White '61 SG Special
“I walked into the studio and she was sitting at the piano, playing the song we were going to cut that day. When you’re in a room with greatness like that, it’s hard not to be affected in a visceral way”: Steve Lukather hails the genius of Joni Mitch
Toto guitarist Steve Lukather is renowned as one of the all time great session musicians, having played on a huge array of hit records – including the biggest selling album of all time, Michael Jackson’s Thriller. And as Lukather reveals in a new interview, a highlight of his career was working with Joni Mitchell in the ’80s.
Keith Richards, Travis Scott, PinkPantheress and more tease their inclusion on the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI soundtrack: “My Return To Game Gotta Come With Rage”
Grand Theft Auto VI – without a doubt the most anticipated video game of the decade – is due to drop in November, and a whole load of artists have been teasing their inclusion on the soundtrack.
Have Gibson and Baggs cracked the code for amplified acoustic guitar tone? Their new HiFi DNA pickup system promises “unprecedented realism, dynamic nuance, and clarity”
The HiFi DNA bridge plate pickup system has been rolled out across a huge range of Gibson acoustics, and each sensor's signal is processed via its own Class A preamp circuit
Brian May on why he’s changed his mind on AI: “We have to resist. We have to control it very, very seriously and very quickly”
Brian May has said that he has “changed his mind” about AI – now he’s firmly in the anti camp. In an interview with Absolute Radio, the Queen guitarist said that at first he thought that it was “just like the Industrial Revolution” and thus inevitable. Now he feels “we have to resist, and we have to limit its scope. We have to control it very, very seriously and very quickly." A large part of his antipathy is to data centres and their potentially destructive effect on the environment - May has long been something of a conservationist.
“He said, ‘Maybe you could build German gothic cathedral architecture out of guitar.’ And I just kind of went, ‘Okay…’”: The odd ways that David Bowie expressed musical ideas to his players
Reeves Gabrels, Earl Slick, Carlos Alomar and others told MusicRadar what it was really like to work with one of music’s central figures
All Ed Sheeran’s support acts, including Finneas, plus backing band, quit tour in solidarity with Macklemore: “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed”
It looks like Ed Sheeran’s might just have to do extended sets on the remainder of the his Loop tour. The rest of his support acts have quit in solidarity with Macklemore.
“Equal parts smooth operator and agent of chaos”: Electro-Harmonix and Adrian Belew resurrect the cult classic Echoflanger – an analogue modulation pedal for the tonally adventurous
Adrian Belew and Electro-Harmonix have teamed up to bring back the Echoflanger, a long out-of-production cult modulation pedal that Belew used to spectacular effect. That weird steel-drum-sounding guitar on Tom Tom Club’s Genius Of Love? That was the Echoflanger.
“With tracks over 10 minutes… forget about it – nothing’s going to happen on streaming services”: Can ambient music survive the era of the one-minute song?
In today’s attention economy, what role does slowly evolving, ambient music serve? We explore the modern state of the ambient scene
Universal Audio launches major update to the free Luna DAW that the company is calling its “biggest software release to date”
Available in both free and paid-for tiers, Luna 3.0 introduces a raft of new features, including AI-powered stem separation, lyric transcription and chord extraction, alongside Luna Play, a simplified recording mode designed to get ideas down fast
“You wouldn’t have expected me to state Blur and Radiohead as influences. But I get bored and I sit around and play along to songs that I like”: Slipknot’s Jim Root on his unlikely guitar inspirations
When speaking to Slipknot’s riff-merchant back in 2014, the heavy-hitting guitarist revealed some surprising musical touchpoints that informed the band’s fifth record
IK Multimedia launches flagship amp and effects modeller that lets you run four Tone Models simultaneously: “The complete Tonex rig on a single pedalboard”
The evolution of IK Multimedia’s Tonex ecosystem continues apace with the launch of its flagship amp modeller, a unit that of course brings with it thousands of guitar amp sounds and thousands of effects, cab sims, and options by the score.
“I was listening to a lot of the ’80s stuff. Born In The USA, Bryan Adams, Def Leppard, Siouxie and the Banshees, The Cure and The Smiths... These people were crucial to me”: Brian Fallon on how ’80s rock lit the fuse for his star-studded solo album
“We said, ‘Let’s not be shy about what we’re doing because none of this music was shy,” says the Gaslight Anthem frontman, who welcomes Brandon Flowers, Phil Collen and more to his solo LP
“It is in fact me who, like many other people, is living with cancer. We completely understand how the misunderstanding arose”: Gillian Gilbert reveals it’s her who is seriously ill, not Stephen Morris
Gillian Gilbert has revealed that it’s not her husband, drummer Stephen Morris, who is the seriously ill one in New Order – it’s her.
“It wouldn’t be a young generation, but I do believe that there are ways to do a new Big Four”: So who would be in Dave Mustaine’s new big four of thrash metal?
The big four of thrash metal – Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax – arguably created an entire genre between them. But who would make up a ‘new generation’ big four in 2026?
“It nearly didn’t happen. After I wrote the song, me and Diplo had a massive fight and I threw the hard drive at his head from the top floor”: How M.I.A. and producer Diplo broke the rules – and channelled Pink Floyd – on her mega hit Paper Planes
One of the most iconic pop anthems of the 21st century
“I asked him ‘Can you play this lick on the sitar? And it took him 20 minutes or half an hour to get the lick down”: Hear an early version of The Beatles’ Norwegian Wood with an unfamiliar arrangement
Apple Corps have dropped another taster from the upcoming Rubber Soul special edition. We’ve already heard the early versions of Michelle and Daytripper that are included in the package. Now it’s time for the second take of Norwegian Wood Recorded in October 1965, there were two versions of Norwegian Wood. This is the second and is closer to what eventually ended up on Side One of the album.
“By the end, you go ‘Oh my god, I love this guy’”: We speak to director Garth Jennings about capturing Pulp’s remarkable return in a new film
Oasis might have stolen the headlines, but Britpop veterans Pulp’s return has been equally as triumphant. Now, the Jarvis Cocker-led outfit’s entire journey is recounted in a new film by acclaimed director Garth Jennings
“I reached out to Biggie. He came through. He sat in the studio and vibed, no paper, just listening to the music and rapping off the top of his head”: Jay-Z recalls his early days with The Notorious B.I.G. and the fatal beef between Biggie and Tupac
“I didn’t know – nobody knew – how powerful two rappers could be”
“His typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before”: Macklemore blames stadium owner, not Sheeran, for kicking him off tour
After a week of speculation, Macklemore has been dropped from the Ed Sheeran Loop tour. However, in a statement, the rapper has made it clear he does not blame Sheeran for this turn of events and points the finger clearly at one Robert Kraft. The 85-year-old Kraft is the owner of the New England Patriots and owns the Gillette Stadium, where Sheeran and Macklemore were due to play on 25 and 26 September. Macklemore claims that Kraft rallied other stadium owners on the tour to ban him from their venues.
“No one is quite sure how the acid got inside the synth”: Can using psychedelics make you a better musician or producer?
A growing body of research is showing that psychedelics may deliver quantifiable boosts to both creativity and cognition. Could tripping out really help us make better music?
“It’s the first long-form video - I can’t think of a band that would let their lead guitarist fall flat on his face in the opening scene”: Giles Martin on the enduring importance of The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night
Giles Martin told us how The Beatles' first feature film set a new mould for how musicians presented themselves on video
“Engineers no longer need to lock themselves into proprietary plugin ecosystems”: Audient launches Horizon, a new line of Thunderbolt interfaces with sub-millisecond latency and no onboard DSP
Comprising three models aimed at the professional studio market, Horizon is the British company's new flagship interface range
“It was an absolute balls-up fiasco. It almost ruined me”: Hans Zimmer, Dr Who and the worst charity record of all time
Threatened with cancellation in the '80s, an unlikely gaggle of famous names came to Dr Who’s rescue. With appalling results
“He didn’t tap a foot or move his head or anything. He listened to it all the way through and I thought he hated it”: When an Eagle, Heartbreaker, Roger Linn and an Oberheim OB-X combined forces for a pop masterpiece – the Boys Of Summer story
Tom Petty rejected Mike Campbell's synth and drum machine demo, Don Henley didn't make that mistake… but the 1984 hit had other obstacles to overcome
“Come witness the fitness. It shall be a sight to behold”: Oasis confirm live dates for next year
It’s official: after weeks of speculation. Oasis will be touring in 2027. The announcement was made this afternoon. “START THE CELEBRATIONS!!!!,” said the band’s somewhat tongue-in-cheek statement. “After a period of reflection, ‘The Most Damaging Pop Cultural Force In Recent British History’ has declared itself fit for purpose and will once again return to lift the spirits of the people.” They added, quoting Roots Manuva of all people: “Come witness the fitness. It shall be a sight to behold.”
“Superb playability, a versatile sound set, and pretty unbeatable value”: Shergold Telstar Standard ST14 12-String review
This is an affordable retro inspired 12-string that punches well above its weight
“Addiction is a disease and it’s terrifying... my family and my future had to come first”: Elbow drummer Richard Jupp on why he walked away for a life of sobriety
Richard Jupp – who was drummer with Elbow for over 25 years – has been talking about his battles with addiction and the reason why he quit the band in 2016.
“My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality”: Pink, Joe Bonamassa and Foo Fighters are all drawn into kerfuffle over Macklemore’s pro-Palestine speech
It looks like Macklemore has kicked up a veritable hornets’ nest by using his support slot on Ed Sheeran’s current North American tour to call for a “free Palestine”.
“It’s the only guitar that I’ve ever had stolen, and the neck was like a ’50s Les Paul. It was amazing”: Noel Gallagher and Johnny Marr have a theory about Stratocasters – and one legendary Strat in common
Strats might not play a starring role in Oasis history but Marr sold Gallagher a pre-CBS ’65 model that ended up on Don’t Look Back In Anger and Wonderwall. Does Marr want it back?
“Meatloaf dippers, oh so light and yummy/Go on and warm your tummy, with dippers”: Bon Iver has written an ad jingle so catchy it will drive you mad
Here’s something you probably weren’t expecting to hear this bright early autumn morning: Justin Vernon, aka Bon Iver, has written an advertising jingle for meatloaf dippers.
“He spent all day programming a backing track then ripped the power cable out with his bloody foot and lost all the drum programming”: The New Order classic “stolen” from a Donna Summer B-side
Exploring the inner workings of one of the most iconic eighties club bangers
“He was very keen and a bit too excited... I didn’t like the idea of: ‘Now here’s another album’”: Tony Iommi on why he turned down the opportunity of one final Sabbath album with original line-up
Black Sabbath could have recorded one final album with the original lineup. But according to Tony Iommi, he passed on the opportunity.
Could a Queen avatar show actually happen?
The two remaining members of Queen seem to be considering an avatar show in the same vein as Abba Voyage.
“I don’t think most people realise the song was aimed at parents who drank and told their kids not to do drugs”: How Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane went down the rabbit hole and created a psychedelic classic
White Rabbit turns 60 this year
“He was for me what Elvis probably was for most other people. His style on every level was fantastic. Doing all the things we would later come to associate with Jimi Hendrix”: Buddy Guy at 90 – how the world’s greatest living bluesman transformed guitar
Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, SRV... They were all in awe of Buddy Guy, but his influence spans generations and he has forever changed how we play the instrument