Paul Lester

Paul Lester

Paul Lester is the editor of Record Collector. He began freelancing for Melody Maker in the late 80s, and was later made Features Editor. He was a member of the team that launched Uncut Magazine, where he became Deputy Editor. In 2006 he went freelance again and has written for The Guardian, The Times, the Sunday Times, the Telegraph, Classic Rock, Q and the Jewish Chronicle. He has also written books on Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Bjork, The Verve, Gang Of Four, Wire, Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams, the Spice Girls, and Pink.

Articles by: Paul Lester

A photograph of Steven Wilson and Aviv Geffen on a pier

A question of balance: Steven Wilson and Aviv Geffen's Blackfield is back

By Paul Lester published

The collaboration between Steven Wilson and Aviv Geffen looked like it was over in 2014 when Wilson announced he was leaving it behind. But now, Blackfield are back with album number five...

A crowd at a prog gig

Spratleys Japs live review - The Lexington, London

By Paul Lester published

Not yet rated

Tim Smith's Spratleys Japs and Guapo team up for a Cardiacs friendly

Julie's Haircut - Invocation And Ritual Dance Of My Demon Twin album artwork

Julie's Haircut - Invocation And Ritual Dance Of My Demon Twin album review

By Paul Lester published

Not yet rated

Seventh album from Italian kraut-proggers in operation since the 90s.

A press shot of Mike Oldfield in 2016

Mike Oldfield - Return To Ommadawn album review

By Paul Lester published

Not yet rated

Returning to the place that’s a “state of mind” as much as a musical concept, this work of quiet intensity mirrors the creator’s personal tumult

A photograph of Rick Wakeman sat at the piano, playing to himself

Rick Wakeman: "If I'd started on the drug thing, I would've killed myself"

By Paul Lester published

Rick Wakeman on Thatcher, Castro, never taking drugs, being Grandpa Grumpy and still doing what he loves

Singer, guitarist and drummer of The Answer live on stage

The Answer / Dead Daisies live review - Electric Ballroom, London

By Paul Lester published

Not yet rated

Two sides of the rock’n’roll coin tossed together: the adventurous and experimental versus the traditional and unreconstructed

Mike Oldfield photo

Mike Oldfield talks Tubular Bells, the dark side and getting his mojo back

By Paul Lester published

“I’ve seen life’s dark side,” says the polymath as he returns to ’75 album Ommadawn to channel his emotional fallout

Panic Room on stage in London

Panic Room, live in London review

By Paul Lester published

Not yet rated

Two sets for the price of one from Panic Room in London

A press shot of firefly burning

Introducing Firefly Burning: Experimental folk rock with an edge

By Paul Lester published

Introducing the avant-garde North London quintet

Phil Collins The Singles Collection album cover

Phil Collins - The Singles Collection album review

By Paul Lester published

Three CDs and 45 tracks – all hits, somewhere on earth

Stevie Nicks The Wild Heart album cover

Stevie Nicks - Reissues album review

By Paul Lester published

The witchy woman’s first two solo albums

Queen band photograph

Queen - On Air album review

By Paul Lester published

The Complete BBC Radio Sessions, in two-CD, three-LP and six-CD formats

A photograph of Billy Gould stood in front of a black background

Faith No More's Billy Gould: "Pissing people off is fun"

By Paul Lester published

Faith No More’s bassist talks Satanic sexual practices, coming out, bad-mouthing GN’R and being freaked out by Bowie

A generic shot of a crowd at a gig

The Enid live in Tring - review

By Paul Lester published

The Enid head to Tring to soldier on without creative mastermind Robert John Godfrey

North Sea Radio Orchestra full line up 2016

Outer Limits: How Prog are North Sea Radio Orchestra?

By Paul Lester published

They’re the collective specialising in alternative chamber music with plenty of twists and have been compared to the late great Frank Zappa. But how prog are North Sea Radio Orchestra?

A photograph of Sam Healy sat in a dark room

Sand's Sam Healy: "There are no facts when you’re listening to music"

By Paul Lester published

Sam Healy has not one but two outlets for his proggy musical ideas: North Atlantic Oscillation, and solo venture Sand. And they both have albums out now...

Emerson Lake & Palmer Tarkus album cover

Emerson Lake & Palmer - Reissues album review

By Paul Lester published

Not yet rated

Fourth, fifth and sixth albums in the ELP reissue program

Close up of Wayne Hussey of The Mission, on stage, hands on his face

Wayne Hussey: "I spent all my money on birds, booze, drugs and guitars"

By Paul Lester published

The Mission frontman Wayne Hussey answers our heavy questions for heavy rockers

Cover art for Steve Hillage's Searching For The Spark

Steve Hillage - Searching For The Spark album review

By Paul Lester published

A box set of 22 CDs, plus extras, from the 70s prog rocker turned 90s dance alchemist

The Damned portrait, 1976

The Story Behind The Song: New Rose by The Damned

By Paul Lester published

Birthed in London’s pubs, rehearsal dives and dole queues, this timeless track captured the turbulent spirit of the 70s and was Britain’s first punk single

Undertones Hypnotised album cover

Undertones - Undertones/Hypnotised album review

By Paul Lester published

40th-anniversary vinyl/digital reissues of Derry pop-punks’ first two albums.

Rolling Stones band photograph

The Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones In Mono album review

By Paul Lester published

Sixteen-LP/15-CD box set of the Stones’ output from the 60s, as nature – and their Satanic Majesties themselves – intended it to be heard

Steve Hogarth

Interview: Marillion's Steve Hogarth on being punk and replacing Fish

By Paul Lester published

We speak to Marillion frontman Steve Hogarth as F.E.A.R. (Fuck Everyone And Run), the angriest and most politically charged album they've ever recorded, is released

Portrait of Meat Loaf pointing at the camera

Meat Loaf: “I'm not afraid of anybody!”

By Paul Lester published

With a new album out soon, the larger-than-life Meat Loaf talks about Bat Out Of Hell, bad health, “dumb people” and getting back with songwriter/producer Jim Steinman

Line-up photo of Marillion, all dressed in black, in 2016

The rise and rise of Marillion – the band that refuses to die

By Paul Lester published

They’ve made it through drink, drugs and the departure of Derek Dick. Now, with the release of new album F.E.A.R., Marillion share their survival secrets