As they get ready to play in Ireland, Chris Difford of Squeeze tells Richard Fitzpatrick about some of his favourite albums

Bill Shanley owns 18 guitars, a number he feels is just about right.

As we mark the fiftieth anniversary of 1966, Jon Savage’s book pinpoints the year as the turning point of the sixties, a decade that divided the twentieth century into old world and new, says Alannah Hopkin.

A lot of lyrical waxing has been done about the Irish pub, about the intangible qualities that make it a superior night-time venue. 

JOHN P Quinlan is from Macroom, and founded the Vangard Gallery in Cork in 1991. He is in the midst of a nine-month stint as guest curator at Triskel in Cork.

As Ed Power ponders a possible digital backlash, he talks to John Creedon about classic songs that never made it to the top of the charts

The Lonesome Heart is Angry

One of Britain’s most famous comedians (or his alter ego, Johnny Vegas, that is) will be in conversation with the comedy actress and writer Pauline McLynn as part of the Dublin Writers Festival next week.

Dance is a strange thing. Dancers are all perfectionists. We try to be better than we are.

DONOVAN doesn’t mean to name-drop, but when you have moved in his circles it is inevitable.

AUCTIONS are for everyone.

It passed most people by at the time, but apparently Ray Davies was in Dublin a few weeks back.

Gary Barlow is "determined" to perform at the Olympics closing ceremony tomorrow night.

It won’t be music to the ears of some aficionados but a YouTube video which has gone viral explodes some myths about who really are the kingpins of the music industry.

Ray Davies claims to be Damon Albarn when people recognise him in the street.

MUSIC NEWS: While the London Olympics opening ceremony received a generally favourable response, there were a few grumbles about the musical component of the extravaganza.

Model Twiggy, 61, is to revive her music career with a new album.

Eliza Doolittle is a huge Radiohead fan.

Jimi Hendrix’s 'Voodoo Child' was today named the greatest guitar riff of all time, more than 40 years after he first recorded the classic cosmic jam.

Iggy Pop is to receive a Living Legend award.

INFAMOUS record label owner Allen Klein, who played a key role in the demise of the Beatles andalso took control of some of the Rolling Stones’ best-known songs, died in New York on Saturday after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Mick Jagger today backed a campaign to save a historic cinema where the Rolling Stones played gigs in the 1960s and where Alfred Hitchcock had his first taste of film as a boy.

The Kinks have vowed to make a comeback this year - but only if two of their bandmembers recover from ill health.

Gordon Brown received a frosty reception when he turned up at a showbiz event to present an award to “fifth Beatle” George Martin.

U2 song One contains music lovers' favourite lyric – “One Life, with Each Other Sisters, Brothers” – it was revealed today.

The Kinks frontman Ray Davies is desperate to see Paul McCartney move away from middle-of-the-road music and produce something extreme.

Ozzy Osbourne stole the show at the UK Music Hall of Fame ceremony by baring his bottom at the audience.

The Streets rapper Mike Skinner has come top of a poll to find the best album of the year.

The Kinks founder member Dave Davies will have to spend another month in hospital as he recovers from a stroke.

The Kinks frontman Ray Davies was recovering yesterday after being shot in the leg by a mugger.

The Kinks front man Ray Davies was recovering today after being shot in the leg by a mugger, US police said.

Tony Blair was so impressed by the “fantastic achievement” of England’s World Cup team that he made special arrangements to ensure that all their names were included in the British Honours list published today.

Pop princess Kylie Minogue has shot past stars such as Whitney Houston and Prince to claim a place as one of the most popular chart stars of all time.

As the Stereophonics prepare for their headline gig at Slane this month, P J Gibbons talks to frontman Kelly Jones about Wales, stardom and his love-hate relationship with the press