
Gavin Martin
Late NME, Daily Mirror and Classic Rock writer Gavin Martin started writing about music in 1977 when he published his hand-written fanzine Alternative Ulster in Belfast. He moved to London in 1980 to become the NME’s Media Editor and features writer, where he interviewed the Sex Pistols, Joe Strummer, Pete Townshend, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Ian Dury, Killing Joke, Neil Young, REM, Sting, Marvin Gaye, Leonard Cohen, Nina Simone, James Brown, Willie Nelson, Willie Dixon, Madonna and a host of others. He was also published in The Times, Guardian, Independent, Loaded, GQ and Uncut, he had pieces on Michael Jackson, Van Morrison and Frank Sinatra featured in The Faber Book Of Pop and Rock ’N’ Roll Is Here To Stay, and was the Daily Mirror’s regular music critic from 2001. He died in 2022.
Latest articles by Gavin Martin

Ray Foulk: Stealing Dylan From Woodstock
By Gavin Martin published
Inside story on the birth of the British Rock Festival; and Bob’s emergence from the basement.

Live: The Fall
By Gavin Martin published
Not yet ratedBarbed brilliance hits the south coast.

The Rifles: No Love Lost Deluxe Edition
By Gavin Martin published
Three-CD remaster bonanza from the 21st-century mods.

Willie Nile: If I Was A River
By Gavin Martin published
Pared to the bone life/career assessing triumph from street-rock veteran.

Nick Hall: I Need A Dodge! Joe Strummer On The Run
By Gavin Martin published
Documentary looks back at Clash man’s Spanish sojourn.

Stephen Dale Petit: At High Voltage
By Gavin Martin published
Righteously (and suitably) titled live album gets full CD and exclusive digi release.

Judy Dyble: Gathering The Threads (Fifty Years of Stuff)
By Gavin Martin published
Self-compiled, vault-raiding, three-CD comp from original Fairport Convention singer.

Bachman: Heavy Blues
By Gavin Martin published
Canadian rock legend Randy drops first name for guest star-studded, piledriving rebrand.

Jesse Hector: Running Wild
By Gavin Martin published
Glorious 90s sides from the West London rock legend.

Gov’t Mule: Dark Side Of The Mule
By Gavin Martin published
Warren Haynes’s crew deliver a set of Pink Floyd covers live.

Steve Boone With Tony Moss: Life On The Run With The Lovin’ Spoonful
By Gavin Martin published
Astonishing memoir from Summer In The City bassist, FBI informer and drug smuggler.

Mike Bloomfield, Al Kooper, Steve Stills: Super Session
By Gavin Martin published
Legendary 1968 summit, now lovingly remixed by Kooper.

The Deviants: Reissues
By Gavin Martin published
Not yet ratedDefiantly deranged triptych from Mick Farren’s Apocalyptic Horsemen.

Small Faces: Reissues
By Gavin Martin published
Not yet ratedHandsomely packaged, generously expanded and annotated: mod maestros in their pomp.

Man: The Twang Dynasty/Call Down The Moon
By Gavin Martin published
Not yet ratedWelsh proggers’ 90s comeback – now with extra live tracks.

Small Faces: Reissues
By Gavin Martin published
Not yet ratedThere Are But Four Small Faces / Greatest Hits The Immediate Years 1967 - 1969

Jack Bruce: Something Els
By Gavin Martin published
Cream man’s cruelly overlooked 1993 album with bonus tracks.

Various Artists: One For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert
By Gavin Martin published
Star-studded tribute to late, great (Small) Faces hero.

Walter Trout: The Blues Came Callin'
By Gavin Martin published
Cathartic, life-affirming songs from ailing blues veteran.

Neil Young: Hyde Park, London
By Gavin Martin published
Neil Young brings Crazy Horse to central London for an evening of "heart-lifting, spirit-raising Native Americana".
Get the Louder Newsletter
Select the newsletters you’d like to receive. Then, add your email to sign up.