Ian Fortnam

Ian Fortnam

Reviews Editor, Classic Rock

Classic Rock’s Reviews Editor for the last 20 years, Ian stapled his first fanzine in 1977. Since misspending his youth by way of ‘research’ his work has also appeared in such publications as Metal Hammer, Prog, NME, Uncut, Kerrang!, VOX, The Face, The Guardian, Total Guitar, Guitarist, Electronic Sound, Record Collector and across the internet. Permanently buried under mountains of recorded media, ears ringing from a lifetime of gigs, he enjoys nothing more than recreationally throttling a guitar and following a baptism of punk fire has played in bands for 45 years, releasing recordings via Esoteric Antenna and Cleopatra Records.

Latest articles by Ian Fortnam

Cover art for Lou Reed: A Life by Anthony DeCurtis book

Lou Reed: A Life by Anthony DeCurtis book review

By Ian Fortnam published

The waiting’s over... here’s the man

Biographies
Cover art for Sweet - Sensational Sweet album

Sweet - Sensational Sweet album review

By Ian Fortnam published

They could kill you with a wink of their eye

Albums
Cover art for The Pretty Things - Greatest Hits album

The Pretty Things - Greatest Hits album review

By Ian Fortnam published

Underground stalwarts’ 60s encapsulated

Albums
Cover art for The Rolling Stones - On Air album

The Rolling Stones - On Air album review

By Ian Fortnam published

Off-the-leash early-60s radio work from the band that ensnared the hearts of the insolent

Albums
Cover art for Ramones - Rocket To Russia 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

Ramones - Rocket To Russia 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition album review

By Ian Fortnam published

“One-two-three-four…” now goes up to 11

Albums
Cover art for Richard Hell And The Voidoids - Blank Generation album

Richard Hell And The Voidoids - Blank Generation album review

By Ian Fortnam published

He coulda been a contender...

Albums
Cover art for Electric Eye - From The Poisonous Tree album

Electric Eye - From The Poisonous Tree album review

By Ian Fortnam published

The great taste of original sin...

Albums
Bootsy Collins

Bootsy Collins on playing with James Brown, learning from Hendrix, and LSD

By Ian Fortnam published

Interview: Funk master Bootsy Collins on James Brown and Jimi Hendrix, supernature and The One

Interviews
Nik Turner - Life In Space album artwork

Nik Turner - Life In Space album review

By Ian Fortnam published

Not yet rated

Indefatigable ex-Hawkwind front-liner’s search continues

Albums
King Crimson - Live In Chicago album artwork

King Crimson - Live In Chicago album review

By Ian Fortnam published

Not yet rated

Prog exemplars regenerate in style

Albums
Pink Floyd - Delicate Sound Of Thunder album artwork

Pink Floyd - Vinyl Reissues album review

By Ian Fortnam published

Not yet rated

Pink Floyd’s vinyl reissues approach the end of the line

Albums
Cover art for Jeff Lynne’s - ELO Wembley Or Bust

Jeff Lynne’s - ELO Wembley Or Bust album review

By Ian Fortnam published

Visually draining, sonically stunning

Albums
Cover art for The Faces - Ooh La La album

The Faces - Ooh La La album review

By Ian Fortnam published

Rod’s lapsed mods’ glorious wreckage

Albums
Cover art for Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks… Here’s The Sex Pistols album

Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks… Here’s The Sex Pistols album review

By Ian Fortnam published

40th-anniversary edition. Start saving now for the 45th

Albums
Cover art for Alice Cooper - Love It To Death album

Alice Cooper - Love It To Death album review

By Ian Fortnam published

Limited vinyl re-release for pivotal Cooper classic

Albums
Cover art for Quatro, Scott & Powell - QSP album

Quatro, Scott & Powell - QSP album review

By Ian Fortnam published

Glam-rock supergroup show class and deliver the goods

Albums
David Crosby

David Crosby on protests and politics, life and death

By Ian Fortnam published

Former Bryd David Crosby reveals what it's like to be popular with The Pope, and ponders the trouble with Trump

Interviews
Cover art for Transformer - Lou Reed and Mick Rock album

Transformer - Lou Reed and Mick Rock review

By Ian Fortnam published

A connoisseur’s catalogue of cool

Tracks & Singles
Jane Weaver -The Architect album artwork

Jane Weaver -The Architect album review

By Ian Fortnam published

Not yet rated

Hello Jane, gotta Neu motorik?

Albums
Sai Cobab - Sab Se Purani Bab album artwork

Sai Cobab - Sab Se Purani Bab album review

By Ian Fortnam published

Not yet rated

Japanese ragas shrieked toward the avant-garde

Albums
Hawklords - Six album artwork

Hawklords - Six album review

By Ian Fortnam published

Not yet rated

Hawkwind satellite matches mothership

Albums
Focus - The Focus Family Album artwork

Focus - The Focus Family Album review

By Ian Fortnam published

Not yet rated

Looking for a concept work? Look elsewhere

Albums
Cover art for The Professionals - What In The World album

The Professionals - What In The World album review

By Ian Fortnam published

No Steve Jones, but never mind, this is the bollocks

Albums
A portrait of Michael Monroe

Homelessness, hellraising and Hanoi Rocks: Michael Monroe's rollercoaster career

By Ian Fortnam published

Hanoi Rocks' Michael Monroe joins us to look back on a career which has taken him from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows

Interviews
A press shot of ben ward

Orange Goblin’s Ben Ward: "I fell into the crowd and pierced a hole in my arse"

By Ian Fortnam published

Orange Goblin’s Ben Ward on being a pro footballer, a boozy past and being “a horrible bastard” at times

Bands & Artists
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