Foremost there was Spinal Tap - the good natured and fucking hilarious jab at rock's pomp and general ridiculousness that probably inspired as many bands as it took the piss out of. Better yet it ensured that anything of value was thereafter always turned up to 11. Actually predating the Tap by a year was The Comic Strip mob with their own version of something very metal in the form of Bad News. Vim......

Thirty years ago last week, Queen released what was arguably their most extravagant album, A Night At The Opera. The critics had a field day, panning the band for having the audacity to mix prog rock with music-hall, opera and vaudeville with such overblown pomposity. The album debuted at number one regardless, and is still regarded as Queen's masterpiece today. But that was Queen through and through: hated by the press, adored by the public.......

It's been a long time since a record has divided Londonist as much as One Way Ticket To Hell And Back, the latest from The Darkness. Perhaps it's because we're made up of so many spods and rockers that as soon as it appeared on My Space everyone wanted a say. What is it, Sunday already? So here we are at the kick off. Who wins? You decide. ‘One Way Ticket To Hell… And......