Rockfield has a long and colourful history stretching back to the era of hippies and free festivals. Paul White finds out what goes on there now.

Tim Goodyer talks to pin-up keyboardsman Steve George about life at the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic...

Felton Pilate's success spans "traditional" funk to the rap revolution - just now he's writing, producing and playing keys for Hammer. Nick Batzdorf raps tech with the Hammer man.

The originator of acid house claims the secrets of good music are feel and emotion rather than a Roland Bassline and an Akai sampler. Simon Trask gets in the mood.

A prolonged period of silence from two ex-Japan members may have lead same to believe they've said all they have to say. Dan Goldstein and Tim Goodyer discover this is not the case.

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.

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

Charlie Tumahai & Simon Fox

Be Bop Deluxe's drummer and bassist under the magnifying glass.

Die Krupps: hi-tech and heavy

The Producers

Hugh Murphy — a strange case of former Connie Francis assistant publicist taking the Kilburn High Road to find a kind of fame and fortune on the fast train, City to City. Fred Dellar buys a ticket and goes along for the ride.

Paul Ward

Paul is a key figure in the Surreal to Real independent record company and has achieved success with his instrumental compositions. RM visits his home studio.

Minimalist extraordinaire

Fred Dellar presents a potted history of the people who bring you the 'product' - the record companies.

The Red Shoes Sessions

Engineer Del Palmer spills the beans on how Kate recorded her new album, 'Red Shoes'.

Philip Glass is best known for his work as a minimalist classical composer, but recently he's been completing work in fields as diverse as opera, piano recitals, film and synth ensembles. Mark Jenkins talked to the minimalist maestro during a fleeting visit to London for his latest opera, 'The Making Of The Representative From Planet 8'.

Boots No 7 or Fairlight Series 3? Tony Reed trades fashion tips with the Duran and Arcadia ivory-tinkler

Vangelis Speaks

Vangelis, one of the synthesiser world's most influential figures, reveals the long-hidden facts about his approach to modern music-making. Interview by Dan Goldstein.

Intrepid reporter/cameraman Ralph Denyer ventures into the wild suburban jungle of East London to capture the rarely heard thoughts of this lesser-spotted songbird and re-mix producer who has recently taken delivery of his very own Synclavier system.

His career began in punk performance, digressed into a fascination with synthesisers, and now finds him in collaboration with a classical composer. Colin Newman explains performance and musical subversion to Tim Goodyer.

John Thomas

John Thomas — Guitarist buys up World supply shock

Spaceward Studios, Cambridge.

Question: What do Phil Collins, Howard Jones, Chaka Khan and David Bowie have in common? Answer: They have all recorded with Arif Mardin, one of the world's top record producers. Robin Tolleson chats to the man himself...

Who you (the readers) voted as best musician, and what you (still the readers) voted as best gear. We shake the world.

Difford and Tillbrook

squeezed out