XMAS 2023

ISSUE NO: 552 Includes Free 2024 Calendar inside

COVER STORY - GLAM - By Christmas 1973 it was dominating British pop, but glam rock and its key players had deeper roots, stretching back to before the beat boom and psychedelia. We trace the circuitous routes many of its shiniest stars took to the top
MICKY DOLENZ - The sole surviving Monkee is still smiling, and enjoying the endorsement of R.E.M., whose work he is covering on a new EP. We quiz him on this and his illustrious Technicolor past
KATE BUSH - Forty-five years since she confused critics with her second album, Lionheart, we reappraise it with help from those who were there at the birth
WRECKLESS ERIC - This peer of Costello, Dury et al in the Stiff stable couldn’t follow up his 1977 semi-hit Whole Wide World, but he’s been far from idle, it turns out
SLOWDIVE - Graduates of the generously fringed early 90s shoegaze scene, the Thames Valley teens grew up and regrouped to make some of their best work in recent years
CAT POWER - Chan Marshall explains why she’s reimagined Bob Dylan’s famous 1966 Manchester Free Trade Hall set
ILLUSTRATED RECORD SHOPS - The artist behind a new book explains why she chose to paint Britain’s cathedrals of collecting
BOBBY DARIN - He sold crooning to the hep cats then dabbled in rock’n’roll, folk and country. But Darin was a troubled soul, as we discover 50 years since he died at just 37
REVIEW OF THE YEAR - Our pick of the best albums and reissues of 2023
FROM THE VAULTS - A closer look at reissues and boxed up bonanzas from R.E.M, John Wetton, Bryan Ferry and others
NEW ALBUMS - Peter Gabriel, Trevor Horn and Madness all have fresh offerings in the shops. Here’s what we make of them
BOOKS & FILMS - Memoirs by Glen Matlock and JJ Burnel are perused
SINGLES - Dave Davies, Johnny Moped and, as per most months, Wild Billy Childish
LIVES - The Hollies, Hawkwind, Deacon Blue and many others caught in concert