COVER STORY: ROGER DALTREY The Who’s psychological rock and stentorian mouthpiece flies solo (well, nearly) and offers a rare glimpse beneath his armour. Pete Townshend, Wilko Johnson and more weigh in on what makes him tick. “The Who was my band,” he tells Tom Doyle. “You have to remember that.”
FREE CD: BIG SENSATION MOJO’s covermount CD collects R&B nuggets from the birth of Mod. Bobby Parker, Chris Kenner, Ernie K-Doe and Rosco Gordon target the dancefloor.
RY COODER The wisdom of L.A.’s slide guitar king and roots music lightning rod. To wit: “Rock’n’roll in general is very distorting – it’s like a mirror in a funhouse.”
COURTNEY BARNETT As her second album hits, Australia’s neo-grunge wordsmith has the world at her feet. How will she cope? “The pressure is definitely there,” she tells Jenny Bulley.
YES Over half a century, the caped crusaders of prog have solo’d through triumph and tragedy, line-up (and key) changes. Yes’s latest twist? There’s now two of them.
SISTER ROSETTA THARPE Saluted at last by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: the gospel belter and guitar pioneer who inspired Bob Dylan and rocked a railway station in Chorlton.
DEREK TAYLOR When the Beatles’ press officer escaped to the US, benefiting were the Byrds, Monterey, peace and love. “He articulated the ’60s,” says Van Dyke Parks.
REVIEWED Kendrick Lamar / Manic Street Preachers / Unknown Mortal Orchestra / Love / Bettye Lavette / Laura Veirs / Shirley Collins / Cavern Of Anti-Matter / Wreckless Eric / Suede / Daniel Avery / Eels / U-Roy / Wye Oak / Thee Hypnotics / Amen Dunes / Mouse On Mars / The Damned / John Prine / Viv Albertine / Led Zeppelin
PLUS Johnny Cash’s secret stash (of poems, lyrics and letters) / the Texan Thai pop of Khruangbin / the madness of ZTT / Gruff Rhys in the studio / farewell, Dennis Edwards / How To Buy Steeleye Span and family / Tracey Thorn hymns the Buzzcocks / Gary Brooker remembers Procol Harum / Gaz Coombes portrays himself (in 3D) / when Ramones met Elton John / Derek Smalls says hello and goodbye to Spinal Tap