An Audience With Aziz

Leading session guitarist Aziz talks to John Harris about playing, recording, and hi-tech guitar processors.

Tech Talk

The inventor of the curious Electric Stick recently left his native America to promote the latest MIDI-equipped version of his brainchild. Tim Goodyer caught him Stick-in-hand for a talk about his invention and his vision of its future.

The blurred fingers of the guitar star focussed by the blurred gaze of Richard Walmsley

Denizens of space rock, 15 years of hard work, and the band around whom legends spring almost daily, Hawkwind are planning a new strategy for 1984 with a new stage show Earth Ritual, Dave Brock and Huw Lloyd Langton explain the Hawkwind rejuvenation to Tim Oakes.

Over the last three decades John McLaughlin has done more than anybody else in popular jazz and rock music to explore the potential of the guitar, both acoustic and electric. Here he talks to Mark Prendergast about his eclectic career, pioneering use of guitar synthesizers, and the Synclavier.

Music For A Small Planet

An enterprising duo who mix business and pleasure in the pursuit of music making.

Nik Kershaw

The Man and his Music

We feature one of France's most fascinating Electro-Musicians, and look at the man, his music and the philosophy behind his composition.

A man continually in search of magic moments in the perfect quality of music.

He's played guitar with the best - David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, David Sylvian, Talking Heads, Brian Eno and, of course, King Crimson - and he's also worked away from the public eye, pursuing truths other than the rock and roll life. Mark Prendergast discovers that Robert Fripp's insights are of interest to more than just guitarists.

Jim Gilmour, principal keyboard player in the band, talks to Paul Wiffen about the host of keyboards the band use onstage and in the studio. Their recent European tour increased their reputation as one of Canada's premier music-makers. Photography by Sally Newman.

Janet Angus traces the career of this enterprising sound engineer which ranges from recording Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells' and designing Virgin record stores, to his current pre-occupation with improving the quality of film soundtracks.

A group of new faces for the 1980's, Simple Minds have expanded the original conception of 'pop' music with a series of exciting and refreshing releases and stage shows. Mike McNeil and Charlie Birchill talk here to Dan Goldstein.

Paul Young's Royal Family

Guitarist Steve Bolton and bass player Pino Palladino explain the importance of being a Swedish Chef.

TechTalk: Steven Randall

The man behind the Stepp DG1 guitar talks about his invention, the playing techniques required for it, and his views on what MIDI offers the guitarist, in conversation with Neville Marten.

Unbitten by the digital bug, Vince Clarke only drives analogue.

Wang Chung confess

Yes — All the way from America

Gary Hopkins lends an ear to the Caledonian Crooner

bemusing bostoners head for the mainstream

Are The Cult hippies? Do they like guitar solos? Do they know what other people think of them, and do they care? Chris Maillard has the answers....

Working again after two years of legal trench-warfare, The Spands talk about their comeback album, the defiantly-titled Through The Barricades. Observation post: Chris Maillard

can have an Edge like this

The Edge describes sounds and styles

Damon, Dolores and me

Indie producer of the moment, Stephen Street finds his memories are all... a Blur