Steve Wright
Recent articles by Steve Wright
Dead end: the fatal moments that broke up 15 legendary bands
From backstage brawls to tragic silence, these 15 iconic bands reached a final, irreversible breaking point
1978 was rock's rebirth. And it gave us these 17 astounding debut albums
Inventive, fearless, unforgettable: 1978’s greatest debut albums shattered conventions, from punk’s aftermath to post-punk innovation
One-hit wonders: 25 bands who left us just one unforgettable song
From jangling indie to late-’90s pop, these bands left their mark with a single unforgettable hit that defined then forever more
Country rock: ranking the 21 greatest albums
From the jangle of Laurel Canyon to the grit of the Texas plains, here are the 21 definitive country-rock masterpieces
These 13 legendary bands tried for the big reunion... and failed
Not every reunion rocks. 13 legendary bands tried to recapture the magic – and proved some breakups should stay permanent
Soft rock: the 21 greatest albums, ranked
From the smooth gold of Laurel Canyon to the polished perfection of AOR, here are the 21 definitive soft rock masterpieces
Was this the unluckiest band in the history of rock?
From missed millions to botched tours, discover how the pioneers of thrash metal were also the unluckiest band in rock history
The forgotten classic album that sank a legendary supergroup
The supergroup that burned bright, fell apart, and left one iconic album, leaving a legacy equal parts tension and brilliance
These 12 bands were huge. But you won't hear their influence today
They defined eras and left timeless songs – yet these 12 iconic bands were a musical full stop, their sound still strangely unclaimed today
These 13 albums are the sound of the Sixties dream dying
The party’s over: 13 albums that traded ‘peace and love’ for the cold, dark hangover of a shattered American dream
These 15 rock tracks have hidden messages when played backwards
From 'Satanic' secrets to Monty Python jokes, discover 15 legendary rock tracks where the real story begins when played backward
Here's the best selling LP from each 1970s year
From monumental rock operas to the unstoppable pulse of disco, explore the ten records that defined the decade’s commercial summit
Fan of Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours'? Try these 21 soft-rock classics next
Worn out your copy of Rumours? These 11 overlooked gems from the California-rock orbit (and beyond) offer golden harmonies, confessions, and glossy ‘70s perfection
Vietnam: 15 rock icons who served... or dodged the draft
From combat veterans and 'crazy' physicals to high lottery luck, discover how rock’s legends navigated the chaos of the Vietnam draft
These 13 bands conquered the world. But they weren't having fun anymore
They won the big prize... and lost the love. Thirteen rock bands who found fame and fortune - but lost the simple love of playing together
The 22 minutes of music that basically invented 1970s rock
How a prodigiously inventive suite of orchestral polish and studio wit provided the definitive blueprint for Seventies rock
Shostakovich: a composer's frightening double life in Stalin's Russia
Dmitri Shostakovich: the Soviet voice of the oppressed, and a composer of huge integrity
Gone too soon: 21 music icons who left us far too young
From Robert Johnson to Nick Drake: 15 brilliant musicians gone too soon – tragic losses that left us wondering what could have been
These 23 songs soundtracked the dark side of 1970s America
1970s urban America could be a turbulent, paranoid, often violent place. These 23 songs soundtrack those dark, strange times
Off grid: 17 rock icons who suddenly checked out of stardom
The Great Vanishing: 17 legendary rock artists who walked away from fame to find themselves
The strange story of why Fleetwood Mac went AWOL for 5 years in the ‘80s
The strange tale of why one of the world's biggest bands went off the map for half a decade
Weird 1970s: 21 strange hits from a beautifully bizarre decade
From incendiary prog-rock odysseys to novelty oddities, these 21 unlikely hits prove the 1970s was music’s most idiosyncratic decade
Out now: our March issue, featuring Joyce DiDonato, Erik Satie, Max Richter and more
We only got one album from these 14 bands. If only we'd got more
From Derek and the Dominos to Thunderclap Newman, these 14 brilliant acts stuck around for just one LP – and we’re still yearning for more
