Walkers, weep no more. The YHA is fitting mod cons. By Rachelle Thackray

Youth culture is full of new ideas for reshaping Britain. But the Blairites are deaf to innovation

Jennifer Rodger looks at a newcomer to the crowded youth magazine market

BUDDING musicians' right to draw benefit while living in bedsits and playing hopeless gigs in half-empty pubs was at the centre of a political row last night.

As an alternative to jeans, combat trousers (common-or-garden variety) have been around for a good few years. Once a ubiquitous accessory on the travelling rave scene, combat trousers never really had to withstand conditions more arduous than the odd blackcurrant-and-cider stain. Nevertheless, they were co-opted by the more militant fringes of the alternative communities of the early Nineties who felt the multiple pockets and khaki hue lent them an air of martial purposefulness - fair enough, perhaps, in the rough and tumble protests against the Poll Tax and the Criminal Justice Bill.

Rap and hip-hop have an undeservedly bad reputation in this country, as police and punters shy away from their `gangsta' associations. But now a London promoter aims to up their image

From selling second-hand clothes in Camden Market, Red or Dead's Wayne Hemingway has parlayed himself into a position of influence in the fashion world. And now he is about to be big on the TV, too. Here, he talks to Andy Zneimer. Photograph by Neil Drabble

The pop charts are 45 years old. But do they have any meaning, either for record companies or for the public? David Lister looks at a national institution.

It is 6am on Sunday morning and two people are leaving the Cross night-club in north London. One is 35 and one is 33. They have been up all night dancing. After a few hours' sleep they go to a garden centre. The are living the life of the Middle Youth.

Crazyhorse

Most young drug users are not stereotypical sad, lonely losers, according to a new study. Jason Bennetto and Benjamin Todd examine the findings of a report that suggests the Government needs to rethink its drugs policy.

Fancy decoding the semiotics of the skateboard? How about a module of Intermediate Moshing? Matthew Sweet analyses Youth Studies

The Independent and Independent on Sunday are offering you 2 FREE magazines from a selection of the UK's leading style magazines - Vanity Fair, Arena, The Face, GQ, GQ Active and Tatler. To bring you this exclusive offer, for the October issues of the magazines, we have teamed up with Conde Nast and Wagadon two of the UK's top magazine publishers.

Every weekend, millions of young people take illegal drugs and dance in dark rooms filled with loud music. But there are many dangers lurking in the shadows. Next month a meeting of club owners, doctors and police will discuss how to make it a safe pastime. Paul McCann reports.