
Ian Fortnam
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

Eno - Reissues album review
By Ian Fortnam published
Not yet ratedKnob-twiddler’s post-Roxy Music experimental albums brought the future into the present

John Foxx, Harold Budd, Ruben Garcia - album reissues reviews
By Ian Fortnam published
Not yet ratedLandmark ambient works from John Foxx, Harold Budd and Ruben Garcia re-pressed, including Nighthawks/Translucence/Drift Music

The gospel according to John Lydon
By Ian Fortnam published
Never trust the music industry or nuns. Question everything. Religion is pollution. You don’t have to hate your bandmates. These and more help shape the former Sex Pistol’s world view

The Who: I Was There by Richard Houghton review
By Ian Fortnam published
Fans and insiders tell it like it was

The Velvet Underground - Velvet Underground & Nico album review
By Ian Fortnam published
50th-anniversary vinyl edition of alternative rock landmark

Cock Sparrer - Forever album review
By Ian Fortnam published
Street-punk legends further refine an unrefined formula.

Queen In 3-D by Brian May review
By Ian Fortnam published
Lovingly created, visually engaging 3-D-illustrated book is a Brian May autobiography in all but name

David Bowie - Cracked Actor: Live Los Angeles ’74 album review
By Ian Fortnam published
Forget David Live, this is the real 70s deal

Roedelius, Chaplin and Heath - Triptych In Blue album review
By Ian Fortnam published
Not yet ratedAmbient stalwarts Roedelius, Chaplin and Heath live from Brunel’s Goods Shed

Chris Merrick Hughes - Eirenic Life album review
By Ian Fortnam published
Not yet ratedRespected baroque pop architect Chris Merrick Hughes strips back to vault forward

1987: The year hard rock struck back
By Brian Boyd, Malcolm Dome, Dave Everley, Ian Fortnam, Polly Glass, Rob Hughes, Hugh Fielder, Dave Ling, Sian Llewellyn, Luke Morton, Paul Rees, Mick Wall, Henry Yates published
1987 saw classic album releases from Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith, U2, Whitesnake, Anthrax, Heart, Motley Crue, Marillion, The Replacements and more...

Stiff Little Fingers' Jake Burns: We’re like a slightly groovier version of M&S"
By Ian Fortnam published
The Stiff Little Fingers frontman on punk, politics, SLF’s re-formation and how he’d happily go to a Kiss show

Jah Wobble & The Invaders Of The Heart - The Usual Suspects album review
By Ian Fortnam published
Spurs legend’s goal of the season

Rolling Stones - Ol é Ol é Olé: A Trip Across Latin America dvd review
By Ian Fortnam published
On and off the road to Havana

Smashing It Up: A Decade Of Chaos With The Damned by Kieron Tyler review
By Ian Fortnam published
The story behind the custard pies and plastic sunglasses

White Hills - Stop Mute Defeat album review
By Ian Fortnam published
Not yet ratedBig Apple experimentalists take a walk on the dark psych

Steven Severin - 23 Wounds Of Caesar album review
By Ian Fortnam published
Not yet ratedThe evil Banshees do… Severin’s ambient doomscape

Gavin Martin - Talking Musical Revolutions album review
By Ian Fortnam published
The gift of the Gav

Angie Bowie: David was "just another dude trying to make a buck"
By Ian Fortnam published
The former Mrs Bowie on the new Mick Ronson film, plus reinventing David, that Hitler salute, and why his recent sanctification is "just bollocks"

Mr Rotten’s Songbook by John Lydon review
By Ian Fortnam published
Ever get the feeling...More cash from archived chaos

Iggy & The Stooges: One Night At The Whisky, 1970 by Ed Caraeff review
By Ian Fortnam published
Stripped on the Strip

Mick Box on why his journey with Uriah Heep isn't over yet
By Ian Fortnam published
From an East End upbringing, Uriah Heep founder Mick Box went on quite a journey - and it's one that is set to continue...

Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind - Super Natural album review
By Ian Fortnam published
JJ & co. easily bring your blood to boil
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