Fleetwood Mac, John Lydon, Elastica and Mac DeMarco all feature in the new issue of Uncut, dated May 2017 and now on sale in UK shops and available to buy digitally.
Buckingham McVie are on the cover, and inside in our exclusive interview, Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie reveal all about their new album as a duo, and how it fits into the storied past, present and future of Fleetwood Mac. “It’s that umbilical cord that can’t be broken,” says Christine. “It just pulls you back.”
John Lydon and Leftfield tell the story of their ’90s collaboration, “Open Up”, involving Eastern samples, Hollywood fires, magic mushroom punch and taking the Public Image man out clubbing.
25 years on, Elastica reveal the truth about their brief and brilliant time in the spotlight. “One minute we were touring in a van, lying on top of the amps, and it was us against the world,” says Justine Frischmann. “The next, we had buses and trucks and catering and so many crew we didn’t even know who half of them were.”
Mac DeMarco invites Uncut to a poolside family gathering in Los Angeles, just as the singer, guitarist and songwriter moves from cult star to festival headliner. “I know the sweet, tender side of him,” explains his mother. “And I also know the maniac.”
Wire take us through their finest albums, from 1977 debut Pink Flag and equally influential follow-up Chairs Missing right up to 2017’s Silver/Lead. “We had no studio experience,” says Colin Newman, remembering their first sessions for Pink Flag. “We smoked a few joints and played, and Bruce [Gilbert, guitar] was convinced that we’d recorded the album. We were very disappointed to come into the control room and discover that they’d only been listening to the bass drum.”
Uncut also takes a look at the impact of Morocco on visiting artists such as The Beatles, the Stones, Nick Drake and The Incredible String Band – sexual freedom, powerful drugs and hypnotic music ensue…
We also celebrate the genius of the Bronx Brontë, Laura Nyro, as her closest collaborators uncover the true story of her thwarted career, while Mike Love answers your questions on The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson and Donald Trump.
Our opening Instant Karma section features BNQT, Jim Kweskin, The Magpie Salute and The Lemon Twigs, while Future Islands‘ Samuel T Herring chronicles his life in favourite records.
Our reviews section includes new releases from Father John Misty, Bob Dylan, Robyn Hitchcock, Mark Lanegan, Willie Nelson and The New Pornographers, and archival sets from T.Rex, Klaus Dinger, Ella Fitzgerald and more. We also catch Rod Stewart and Thundercat live.
Our free CD, Dreams, includes great new tracks from Father John Misty, Mark Lanegan Band, Fairport Convention, The New Pornographers, Robyn Hitchcock, Feral Ohms, Wire, Jake Xerxes Fussell and more.
The new Uncut is out on March 16, 2017.