‘A lot of late 70s bands wore grey. But we were determined to have fun’: the return of the mega-influential Swell Maps after 46 years

Championed by the BBC’s John Peel and signed to Rough Trade, the band were punk when that meant DIY, psychedelia and prog as well as screaming chords. What’s more, they loved Pink Floyd ...

Blackadder, Red Dwarf and QI: How I wrote comedy’s best-loved theme tunes

I was very nearly a pop star. At 17, I signed a record deal with my band, Half Brother. Our album – of love songs – came out in the same month as the Sex Pistols’ debut, Never Mind the Bollocks, so ...