Music

Paul Simon became a master of many genres throughout his career (Image: Getty) Few artists have navigated different sides of pop music with as much ability and elegance as Paul Simon. First rising to fame in the 1960s as one-half of Simon & Garfunkel – arguably the defining duo of …

While Taylor Swift’s tracks probably feature on many people’s lists of ‘favourite music,’ have you ever wondered what the Pop Titan herself likes to listen to in the car, at the gym, or running errands? The 35-year-old has often spoken about the songs she loves by other artists, offering fans …

Big-hearted Elton John made a phone call every day for a whole year to help Squeeze guitarist Chris Difford beat the bottle, the Cool For Cats hitmaker has revealed. The New Wave musician, now 70, expressed his amazement that no matter where megastar Elton was in the world, he never …

  Few stars embraced rock ‘n’ roll’s life-threatening extremities as enthusiastically as Billy Idol. But the Middlesex-born rocker tells me he has found something to replace hard drugs and alcohol in his life – his grandchildren. “I have two granddaughters and two grandsons, all under six,” Billy beams. “Watching them …

Oasis photographed in New York by Tom Sheehan a month before Definitely Maybe made them superstars (Image: ©Tom Sheehan) It was an image that stayed under wraps for nearly two decades. But Tom Sheehan’s shot became notorious nonetheless, depicting as it did the height of rock’n’roll excess… and the depths …

The Adolescence star went on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs back in 2019 where he unveiled the eight songs he couldn’t live without. Among them were Kasabian’s Fire, Marvin Gaye’s Save The Children, Pink Floyd’s Shine on You Crazy Diamond and Oasis’ Talk Tonight. But when asked which one …

Throughout the 1960s, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were often portrayed as rival groups in British rock music – a seemingly natural narrative seeing as both bands achieved major success during the same period and were at the centre of global attention. However, members of the two bands frequently …

Dame Prue Leith has revealed that her favourite song of all time is Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, a hymn that was banned under South Africa’s apartheid regime due to its association with the African National Congress. Speaking on BBC Radio in 2021, Leith reflected on her upbringing in apartheid-era South Africa …

David Bowie is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential artists of the 20th century – having drawn from a wide range of genres including glam rock, jazz, soul, avant-garde, and electronic music over the course of his five-decade career. His constant reinvention not only shaped the …

Gordon Ramsay might be best known for shouting across kitchens and grilling fellow chefs, but when it comes to music, his tastes are more mellow than you might expect. Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in 2002, the Michelin-starred chef revealed a softer side as he shared the …