music
-
It was never a question of whether the Beatles would stream their songs, only when – and at what price. Their presence is a boost for streaming services
-
Metal takes the spotlight in our series rounding up the best tracks from different genres in 2015
-
Pop star tweets that charity single is what festive season is all about and that he is happy to be No 2 for one week so more money goes to hospitals
-
The rapper has stepped up to impress the judges on the show, to celebrate the TV series’ final run, in a clip shared by Kim Kardashian
-
We’ve had our say – but what did you think were the best albums of 2015? Here’s what you voted for
-
Presenter who barricaded studio shut and only changed tune when his daughter called to complain is forced to work Christmas and new year shifts
-
The Danish museum is to be renamed as Memphis Mansions in January 2016 following a lawsuit brought by the corporate arm of the Elvis Presley Trust
-
Family of Britain’s ‘oldest DJ’ renew appeal for news of Derek Serpell-Morris’s whereabouts after lookalike photo emerges
-
Fab Four’s full catalogue will make Christmas Eve debut on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play and Amazon Prime, ending long streaming site holdout
-
Slaves crown a spectacular year with a charming, spirited performance in front of their biggest audience yet
-
Grieghallen, Bergen
Gardner set out his artistic stall in charge of a new orchestra and Schoenberg’s monumental cantata certainly showed off his, and their, top-drawer skills -
-
From the thrill of Brittany Howard’s alter ego to joy on the Wirral, our critics pick some of this year’s under-the-radar releases
-
The second album from Melissa ‘Lizzo’ Jefferson is being sold on its activist-focused, issue-driven lyrical content – but the music behind it is also breathlessly great fun
-
-
We’re in the season where the biggest pop music stars of the 90s fill theatres all over again – as the stars of pantos up and down the UK
-
The Guardian music critics’ favourite albums this year, counting down to reveal 2015’s best release
-
video
-
One album to hear Sparks' The Island Years
Alexis PetridisAlexis Petridis finds himself in a state of delighted bafflement revisiting Ron and Russell Mael’s albums from the mid-1970s -
Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody reinterpreted by a duet from the English National Ballet, a string quartet from the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity Boys Choir
-
Alexis Petridis recommends skilful lyricist Hayman’s third album this year
-
Alexis Petridis argues that it’s worth dipping into their back catalogue to discover some of the New York group’s history
-
The California garage rock hero Ty Segall might be the most prolific musician working today, but there’s no sign of his well of inspiration running dry.
-
Pop singer Madonna calls fans ‘diva bitches’, at a concert in Manchester, for complaining she was an hour late on stage
-
She is the biggest pop star in the world, who doesn't have fans so much as disciples. But has Lady Gaga's Jesus complex gone too far? Simon Hattenstone finds out
interviews
-
He has outsold Beyoncé and played to bigger crowds than Take That. He also lives in D’Artagnan’s castle and has his very own orchestra. An audience with André Rieu, the violin superstar nicknamed King of the Waltz
-
From a broken foot in January the only way was up, and Florence soared with a hit new album, No 1 in America, headlining Glastonbury…
-
Once a key member of the infamous Odd Future collective, how did the internet star end up living with her parents and abstaining from drugs, sex and swearing?
-
Billy F Gibbons turns 65 this week. Here’s a classic ZZ Top interview taken from Blast in August 1976 and resurrected by Rock’s Backpages
quizzes
-
From twinkling rings to chunky chains – and the odd sparkling figurine hanging from a pendant – how well do you know these rappers’ signature jewels?
-
With the rocktastic festivals taking place this weekend, it’s time to see how much you know about their history
-
There’s more to boybands than One Direction. But do you know how many members Menudo had? Or in which paper Lou Pearlman advertised for the members of Backstreet Boys?
-
We’ve cut out the faces of 12 axemen with distinctive guitars, so you have to identify the guitarist from their instrument …
in pictures
-
From breakdancers at block parties to table dancers in Ibiza, Lost in Music is the definitive document of club culture – a photography archive that unites legends from behind the lens and behind the decks. Get ready for a rewind
-
There were wigs and fake beards all around in Mexico City as the city attempted a world record for the most people dressed as the Beatles
-
Guardian photojournalist Sarah Lee was granted exclusive access to the set of Coldplay’s groundbreaking, Mat Whitecross-directed music video at the Imaginarium, a digital motion capture studio set up by Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish in London
-
A new book entitled Rock Stars Cars details the vehicles of some of the most revered musicians in rock, rap and pop history - take a look at some of its highlights
you may have missed
-
When our correspondent was abruptly summoned to an audience with the legendary artist in his Minneapolis studios, he had no idea what to expect. Certainly not being asked to duet on Sign o’ the Times ...
-
Why did these two men hang around Huddersfield railway station asking young people what they did today? Electronic duo Darkstar explain their most daring LP yet
-
In 1969, Rolling Stone shocked the world with an issue about the rock ‘supergroupie’. A new book tells all
-
At 71, the Rolling Stones legend is proud of his cartoon image as a rock outlaw. He’s back now with his first solo album in 23 years. But some days, the wildman reputation feels like a ball and chain – he just wants to visit an art gallery or water the garden
-
Atlanta’s Young Thug is the gender-fluid, surrealist rapper who’s being anointed as hip-hop’s next titan. Don’t know what to make of him? You’re not the only one
-
Back in Hong Kong, where they recorded their album The Magic Whip, Damon, Graham, Alex and Dave talk about falling out and making up, the state of British pop music and why 90s Britpop was a wasted opportunity
-
Amy being alive meant there was hope for my heroin-addicted younger sister. When the singer died, my world caved in. What chance did we have now?
popular
Never mind the polls The old albums we loved revisiting in 2015