Band of holy joy

Wise and witty dispatches from former Heartbreaker and seasoned sessioneer

Landlocked sailors, Loyalist death squads and REM homages…

The Manics release their 12th album, Futurology, on Monday (July 7) – here, we head back to the November 2011 issue of Uncut (Take 174) to hear James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore talk us through their history, and introduce us to their next stage, “the third and final great leap forward…” Words: David Quantick

Deluxe four-disc reissue of first post-Duane album...

Relaxed session from the Golden God of Nashville...

The grunge-blues giant returns, now digging deeper grooves and - shock! - nu disco...

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has apparently found rare Joy Division and New Order master tapes when digging up the basement of a new restaurant in Manchester.

More deliciously dark Americana. And a few surprises too...

“This,” says Robert Plant, gesturing round the former church that he’s chosen as the venue for tonight’s gig, “used be a house of the holy, now it’s obsolete. But it’s available for wedding receptions…” It’s funny the way Plant puts a slight tremble in his voice when he says “house of the holy”, the only reference he makes all night to his other band. Zepwatchers might also chose to read plenty into Plant’s use of “obsolete”, especially after his comment in The Independent last week – “I feel so far away from heavy rock” – further reiterated his position that more Zeppelin activity is about as likely as a Beatles reunion.

Musical comedy magic: All five albums reissued with extras