Plus: Ethel Cain on fandom, first loves, and being inspired by David Lynch

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Picks of the week
Anthrax, Lamb of God, Rick Wakeman and more share memories of Ozzy Osbourne
‘He spoke up for me when I was in prison’  
Anthrax, Lamb of God, Rick Wakeman and more share memories of Ozzy Osbourne
After Osbourne’s death at 76, the heavy metal greats he inspired remember his pranks, generosity and quadruple brandies – and relive the tears at his farewell show
Ozzy Osbourne, the people’s Prince of Darkness, took heavy metal into the light
Alexis Petridis
Ozzy Osbourne’s final performance revealed fragility was the metal god’s true power
Lauren Martin
Bounce legend Big Freedia on going gospel  
I never heard “God doesn’t love gay folks”. God loves us all
‘I’ve long struggled with my identity in pop’  
Ethel Cain on fandom, first loves, and being inspired by David Lynch
Reviews
Alexis Petridis's album of the week  
Tyler, the Creator: Don’t Tap the Glass – contradictions and confessions on a dancefloor
Tyler, the Creator: Don’t Tap the Glass – contradictions and confessions on a dancefloor
Madonna  
Veronica Electronica – Ray of Light rarities range from perfect to perfunctory
Jazz album of the month  
Anthony Braxton: Quartet (England) 1985 – recovered cassettes capture foursome in fantastic flux
Editrix  
The Big E – experimental trio speak their own ferocious musical language
 

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Spotlight
How Kingfishr made a hurling team song into an Irish folk smash hit
‘We rattled it out in 20 minutes’  
How Kingfishr made a hurling team song into an Irish folk smash hit
Thanks to its sense of romance and camaraderie, Killeagh went viral on TikTok and spent 18 weeks in the Irish Top 10. The band explain how a studio jape has united Ireland
Classical
The god of small things  
Celebrating Arvo Pärt at 90
Celebrating Arvo Pärt at 90
Album review  
King of Kings: Orchestral Transcriptions of Bach by Andrew Davis – the late conductor’s first love
King of Kings: Orchestral Transcriptions of Bach by Andrew Davis – the late conductor’s first love
Album review  
Ginastera: String Quartets – compelling and colourful
Ginastera: String Quartets – compelling and colourful
Proms 2025  
Ensemble Intercontemporain/ Bleuse – from a clown to a clarinet and Cathy Berberian
Ensemble Intercontemporain/ Bleuse – from a clown to a clarinet and Cathy Berberian
Add to playlist
Add to playlist  
Westside Cowboy’s ramshackle Americana – plus the week’s best new tracks
Westside Cowboy’s ramshackle Americana – plus the week’s best new tracks