The British Masters

First up is Roxy Music frontman, and successful solo artist, Bryan Ferry, who is currently celebrating 4 decades in music by releasing an album of his own songs performed by a swing orchestra.

In Johns Words "Today I'm talking to Gary Numan, who became an overnight sensation in 1979 when his post punk group Tubeway Army released the single "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and then achieved worldwide success later the same year with the release of his first solo album, and one of the cornerstones of synth pop, 'The Pleasure Principle.' Following some very lean years in the wilderness, Gary started the long and arduous task of rebuilding his career in the mid-90s, becoming a peer of many industrial and techno artists he had originally been an influence on. We catch him on tour in the UK as he gears up for the release of his 18th solo album, the much anticipated "Splinter."

He's a man who's been accused of inventing Britpop -- when his band The Auteurs released their debut album New Wave in 1993. With this and other projects such as Black Box Recorder, Haines became balefulness personified in an age of bland and chipper compliance."

In John's words, Marr is "a musical savant who indelibly altered the sound of British rock and pop music. He soundtracked the adolescence of a generation and has been a beacon of inspiration to many born since."

Moffat is "as much a poet as a singer. His lyrics come from a hard bitten Scottish literary tradition that includes writers such as James Kelman and Alan Warner. His words are as funny as they are shocking, as they are moving".

Adam Ant was a notable outlier in his genre, and was also responsible for a lot of allergic reactions in the 80s through his starting of the British face-painting craze. In John's own words, Adam Ant's "brand of pop was one of the most berserk and adventurous ever heard, and remains a symbol of what the pure flight of the imagination can achieve."

John Doran meets Tricky, to discuss missing out on working with Kurt Cobain, and how he came to be onstage with Beyonce. In Johns words "During the culturally conservative mid 90s of Brit Pop, Tricky represented what it was actually like to be British and living in a city. As his music, fashion, entire aesthetic and philosophy was the product of embracing culture clash - we needed him then to kick against the pricks, as much as we need him back now"

Lydon airs his opinions on why The Clash have no right to imitate black music and how we won't need governments for much longer. We also hear how Miles Davis terrified him and about Harvey Keitels 'method acting' with real loaded guns.

In Johns words: "The Manics appeared in the early 90's antagonizing nearly everyone they came across with their fiercely anti-fashion stance. They put out a homespun philosophy of culture alienation, boredom and despair wrapped in fake leopard skin and lipstick. They rejected slacker culture in favour of proud working class intellectualism and self-determination. Forget the Libertines, Manic Street Preachers are the last truly great mainstream British rock band"

In John's own words: "Cutting his teeth as an MC in his early teens, Dizzee wasn't even out of school when he was one of small group of rappers and producers responsible for the birth of grime. Just 10 years ago he released the genre-defining 'Boy in da Corner' which deservedly won him the Mercury Prize. Since then he has turned his attentions almost effortlessly to the pop charts. With five number 1's under his belt, I get the feeling he is only just warming up, and his eyes are squarely on the international crown."