How we made Quadrophenia, by Phil Daniels and Leslie Ash
From the Observer archive
From the archive: How the Who made it to the top in 1966
August 2019
Oh so pretty … political upheaval credited for Dr Martens sales boost
Shoemaker enjoys revival as old classic wins fans among rebellious younger generation
'Groovy, groovy, groovy': listening to Woodstock 50 years on – all 38 discs
It was a blueprint for Live Aid and every mega-festival since. We survey a new archive box set – in full – to uncover the real story of these ‘three days of peace and music’
How we made
'It felt like a wonderful dream' – DA Pennebaker on making Monterey Pop
In a final, previously unpublished Guardian interview, the late great documentarian looks back at his groundbreaking film with Lou Adler, the legendary music festival’s promoter
July 2019
The Who review: teenage zeal undimmed by passing of years
The big picture
The big picture: punks and skins in harmony
June 2019
700 further artists affected by Universal warehouse fire
A document seen by the New York Times suggests recordings by Neil Young, Cher, Martin Luther King and Groucho Marx could have been destroyed in the 2008 fire
May 2019
The Home Office shames us all by its callous attitude to child refugees
Barbara Ellen
This country can easily afford to offer sanctuary to many vulnerable youngsters
March 2019
The Who's Pete Townshend announces debut novel, The Age of Anxiety
Musician says his tale of the ‘dark art of creativity’ is part of a magnum opus that will eventually combine fiction with opera and installation art
February 2019
Ranked
The greatest banned songs of all time – ranked!
Thirty years on from 2 Live Crew being banned by the Beeb, we pick 20 foul-mouthed, orgiastic outings deemed too scandalous for public consumption
My best shot
'I took the last ever shot of the Beatles – and they were miserable!'
The Fab Four’s farewell, the Rolling Stones’ airlift out of Altamont, the Who’s infamous toilet stop … the great rock photographer Ethan Russell relives his legendary moments
Rocketmen and stardust: why music biopics dominate the film industry
Pop star glamour is an increasingly bankable asset for movie producers, with biopics of David Bowie, Keith Moon and others coming in the wake of Bohemian Rhapsody
January 2019
Ranked
The Who: their UK singles – ranked!
The Who confirm first new studio album in 13 years
July 2018
Community venues breathe life into the UK's left behind areas
From Wanstead to Ramsgate, entrepreneurial locals are setting up shops, cafes and bars
June 2018
Heart of gold: Neil Young's online archives are a revolution in fandom
Michael Hann
The ornery singer-songwriter’s new online venture soups up the CD boxset with digital user-friendliness – and points the way to a new kind of music obsession
May 2018
Good time girl: memories of super groupie Pamela Des Barres
Pamela Des Barres had the giants of rock’n’roll in the palm of her hand, as her candid memoir reveals
February 2018
Greatest splits: Wild Beasts and the art of breaking up
As the Kendal four-piece play their final shows – apparently departing on an amicable note – we assess the best and worst ways for a band to call it a day
December 2017
Coventry really rocked when the Who dunnit
Letters: It’s going to be UK city of culture in 2021, but Stephen Battersby has happy memories of the Lanchester arts festival in the 1960s
