Bill DeMain

In 1980 Stevie Nicks stepped out of Fleetwood Mac with a hit-laden debut solo album that showed she could fly just as high on her own

From surf guitars to psychedelia, peace to paranoia, the 60s sound of Los Angeles and San Francisco was bright and multicoloured

The story of Axis: Bold Of Love, Hendrix’s “science fiction rock’n’roll” masterpiece

Originally formed in the early 90s, Texan alt.rock band Fastball are back with album number nine

“When I toured with Jeff Beck I never missed a single soundcheck. I'd sit on the side of the stage, just soaking it in" - Tyler Bryant

Canned Heat drummer Fito de la Parra has survived changing trends, the deaths of all his original bandmates, and more than 40 personnel changes

Visionary, guitar wizard and inspiration, Les Paul invented the electric guitar and drew the blueprint for contemporary music as we know it

Legendary producer and 'fifth Beatle' George Martin combined an adventurous sense of musicality with suit-and-tie professionalism

Legendary sideman and session guitarist Chris Spedding on a "naughty" 70s, discovering the Sex Pistols and being an honorary Beatle

Blues legend Walter Trout picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance

A late-70s blitz of punk, personal problems and tragedy forced The Who’s Pete Townshend to reassess his life and career. One of the results was his solo masterpiece Empty Glass

Mammoth WVH guitarist/vocalist Wolfgang Van Halen picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance

The best albums from the Nashville label that brought together rock'n'roll and soul

Peter Frampton has lived the rock life to its fullest, playing many parts – prodigy, teen idol, guitar hero, global superstar, forgotten man, comeback kid, survivor

By 1983 The Cars were stagnating, but Mutt Lange and a change of sound saw them heading to the top of the charts

A look back at four Beatles-crazed girls who jangled, spangled, and sang excellent harmonies

From an unwanted demo came Don Henley's Boys Of Summer, a song that aches with nostalgia and innocence

In 1970 David Bowie was a one-hit wonder, but The Man Who Sold The World helped him recalibrate his sound and vision, setting him on a path to becoming a decade-defining artist

Having asked to play guitar on Dolly Parton's Rockstar album, Peter Frampton also ended up singing one of his own classics on it

Having weathered a few years of personal disclosures that might have derailed their career, Brothers Osborne are happily balancing who they’ve become with who they've always been

In January 1970, Jimi Hendrix pulled the plug on stardom to chase a funkier, freer direction with his Band Of Gypsys. This is their story

Celebrating a real-life Texan brothel, the visiting of which was in its day "a rite of passage", La Grange is still one of ZZ Top's best-loved songs and a must-play at shows

From pleas for equality to anti-war sentiments and social commentary, we look at some of the greatest peace songs of all time

Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett on his solo projects, his hair-metal history, and why surfing might hold the key to happiness