X-Plained - Stories Behind The Songs

Brian May of Queen

Brian May wrote more of Queen's hits than you thought

Queen

Freddie Mercury performing with Queen at Live Aid, July 1985

How I Want To Break Free became Queen’s most controversial song

Queen

Dave Grohl in London at the time of the second Foo Fighters album, The Colour And The Shape, in 1997

What does the name "Foo Fighters" mean?

Foo Fighters

Damon Albarn in Tokyo, November 1994

Is Blur's Beetlebum their most heartbreaking single?

Blur

What are these 00s bands up to now with Hard-Fi, The Ting Tings, Hot Hot Heat, Noisettes and The Rakes

Where are these Noughties bands now?

New Order - Blue Monday front cover

Did New Order lose money on the Blue Monday cover?

New Order

Brandon Flowers of The Killers and Sam Endicott of The Bravery

Why Brandon Flowers "trash-talked" The Bravery

The Killers

The Cranberries' late singer Dolores O’Riordan

The true story of Zombie by The Cranberries

Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters onstage in 1995

What does Dave Grohl whisper in Everlong by Foo Fighters?

Foo Fighters

David Bowie getting interviewed in a hotel, Tokyo, April 1977.

David Bowie hid a secret message on the cover of one of his most famous albums

Paolo Nutini and Charlie Chaplin

The story behind Paolo Nutini's Iron Sky speech

Classic album titles

What’s the meaning behind these classic album titles?

Oasis in 1994

Why were Oasis were sued over the song Whatever?

Oasis

Morrissey in 1985 and the current Coronation Street set

When Morrissey wrote a script for Coronation Street

The Smiths

Green Day in 2001: Mike Dirnt, Tre Cool and Billie Joe Armstrong

How did Green Day come up with their name?

Green Day

Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon and Ringo Starr proudly display their MBE medals after their investiture at the Palace. 1965

The true story of why John Lennon returned his MBE

The Beatles

Latest On Radio X

Gang Of Youths, AC/DC, INXS, Jet and Tame Impala

The best Australian bands of all time

Tom Ogden and Joe Donovan of Blossoms' talk Music Feeds festival

Blossoms discuss taking part in "great cause" Music Feeds festival

Blossoms

Arctic Monkeys' debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

Arctic Monkeys cover star Chris McClure marks 15 years of debut album

Arctic Monkeys

Alan McGee and Liam Gallagher

Alan McGee: Liam Gallagher is "almost as big as Oasis"

Liam Gallagher

Top Scottish acts: Gerry Cinnamon, Primal Scream, CHVRCHES, Biffy Clyro and Franz Ferdinand

The best Scottish songs

Billy Bragg in 2020

Billy Bragg talks "real loss" of Glastonbury not taking place in 2021

Glastonbury Festival