Articles by: Neil Crossley

Portrait of British musician Kirsty MacColl (1959 - 2000) and Irish musician Shane MacGowan, the latter of the group the Pogues, as they pose together, each holding a toy gun with one hand and, in the other, a Christmas cracker over an inflatable Santa Claus, 1987.

The story of Fairytale Of New York: “I sat down, opened the sherry, got the peanuts out and pretended it was Christmas…"

By Neil Crossley published 8 December 23

At this time when the music world is mourning the loss of Shane MacGowan, MusicRadar looks back on one of his most enduring and beloved achievements

Noel Gallagher performing with Oasis for MTV Unplugged in 1996

"Even before we got to the day of the show, there was a ‘concern’… a concern with Liam" – the story behind the farce and the glory of Oasis’s infamous 1996 MTV Unplugged performance

By Neil Crossley published 21 November 23

Riding high after playing to 250,000 people at Knebworth, Oasis set about rehearsing for a very different kind of show – an intimate MTV Unplugged performance from the Royal Festival Hall. But within days, it was clear all was not going to plan…

Rory Gallagher performs on stage at Reading Festival, United Kingdom, 16th March 1975

The story of Rory Gallagher's Rolling Stones audition: "All of the music papers were full of speculation. It's a bit like when the Pope dies and you get pictures of all these people who might succeed him"

By Neil Crossley published 8 November 23

Stunned by the sudden departure of Mick Taylor, The Rolling Stones spread the net far and wide in their search for a suitable replacement. One of the players high up on their list of possibles was Rory Gallagher

Jeff Buckley, Pacific Club, Antwerpen, Belgium, 21/09/1994

An introduction to Jeff Buckley: "I would listen to anything: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Judy Garland, Robert Johnson, Thelonious Monk, Bartk, Mahler. And I asked a lot of questions"

By Neil Crossley published 17 October 23

From his soaring, unbridled falsetto to his sonic artistry, Jeff Buckley defied conventions and left a catalogue of songs that is timeless and unique

Elliot Smith performs on stage at Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, 2000

“I thought my head would be chopped off immediately when it came out, because at the time it was so opposite to the grunge thing that was popular” – 5 essential Elliott Smith songs to start with

By Neil Crossley published 6 October 23

Elliott Smith’s elegantly crafted songs of self-doubt and despair still resonate with successive generations of discerning music fans. Twenty years after his controversial death, we assess five of his most enduring songs

Jethro Tull posed in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1972. Left to right: Ian Anderson, Barriemore Barlow (Barrie Barlow), Jeffrey Hammond, John Evan, Martin Barre

5 essential Jethro Tull songs guitar players need to hear

By Neil Crossley published 14 September 23

"And here was Jimmy Page waving like mad… I'm thinking, 'I can't wave back, or I'm going to blow the solo'”

"The worst track we ever had to record" – why 3/4 of the Beatles hated Maxwell's Silver Hammer

By Neil Crossley published 16 August 23

No Paul McCartney song ever incurred the joint wrath of Lennon, Harrison and Starr quite like Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. Here’s why…

The Beatles at Candlestick Park, their final live performance

John Lennon: "Somebody let off a firecracker onstage and every one of us looked at each other, because each thought it was the other that had been shot. It was that bad.” – Why The Beatles retired from the stage

By Neil Crossley last updated 8 August 23

How death threats, disillusionment and the very real threat of onstage electrocution all fuelled The Fab Four’s decision to stop playing live…

English singer-songwriter, guitarist and former Beatle, George Harrison (1943 - 2001), Cannes, France, 30th January 1976

The 5 George Harrison post-Beatles songs you need to hear: “I write lyrics and I make up songs, but I'm not a great lyricist or songwriter or producer. It's when you put all these things together — that makes me"

By Neil Crossley published 3 August 23

Freed from the creative confines of The Beatles, George Harrison set out to realise his true creative potential. Here are five of his finest works…

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, 1977

5 songs you need to hear by Steely Dan: "Like a lot of kids in the ’50s, we were looking for some kind of alternative culture, an escape from where we found ourselves"

By Neil Crossley published 26 July 23

Across nine studio albums, jazz-loving perfectionists Walter Becker and Donald Fagen created a stunning body of work. Here are five of their finest moments