The driving force behind the Cars' success on the road and in the garage tell Chris Maillard what's under their bonnets

At home with Chris Hughes

The former Tears For Fears producer invites us in for a cuppa

On completion of a new solo album and the soundtrack to the latest screen version of Wuthering Heights, Ryuichi Sakamoto finds himself centre stage yet again. Paul Tingen talks to the Renaissance Man of modern music.

Chas de Whalley chinwagging with the man behind some of the best tracks by Toyah, Marillion, and Thin Lizzy — Nick Tauber

Jon and Helena Marsh in their natural habitat

Producer, performer, catalyst. Richard Burgess has been a musical traveller most of his life - we finally catch up with him.

Founder member of Depeche Mode and Yazoo, Vince Clarke is joined here by Eric Radcliffe, his partner in a new band, The Assembly, air their views on writing and recording in the 1980's.

Wishbone Ash, Shriekback, Friends Again, Nazareth, Level 42, The Cars... guitarists tell of FX set-ups the cars to shriekback, level 42 to wishbone ash - seven guitarists identify their effects: what's plugged where and why they like them

Battery Studios

Jive Records' own Battery Studio complex has to accommodate acts as diverse as Schooly D, Mark Shreeve and Samantha Fox. David Bradwell raps technology.

The Ever-Ready Studio Complex

Ralph Denyer takes the lid off this top London studio complex to discover how it and the people that work their tick.

Keyboards

When is Left Right?

Sinister Tony Reed takes the side of the left-handed musician

Reports from the musical instrument exhibition plus interviews with five of the world's top designers, researchers and experts.

Going Deaf?

loud music and the ears

Software Stumbling

The software revolution hits a snag.

UMI 2B Software

The 1B version was good, but Simon Trask has spent a month with its successor, and reckons it deserves its reputation as the most professional sequencing package designed round a home computer.

Highlights from America's West Coast instrument expo. Hot scoops.

Chris Maillard samples Dave Yorath and his extensive MIDI system

A Tour With Jethro Tull

Not another tedious account of a top band on tour, but a carefully worded roadie's-eye view of what really goes on behind the scenes. Antony Freeman gives an account of the happenings as Jethro Tull hit Germany.

Dave Hastilow fishes around for some new angles on recording technique — in the field or at home. Or in the river.

Frankfurt 86

The Frankfurt show seen from a diagonal position

...on the making of their video

Always eager to expand their experiences. Mainframe duo Murray Munro and John Malloy talk to Ian Gilby about the processes involved in the shooting of the promo video that accompanied their recent Polydor single release.