Jon Hotten

Jon Hotten

Jon Hotten is an English author and journalist. He is best known for the books Muscle: A Writer's Trip Through a Sport with No Boundaries and The Years of the Locust. In June 2015 he published a novel, My Life And The Beautiful Music (Cape), based on his time in LA in the late 80s reporting on the heavy metal scene. He was a contributor to Kerrang! magazine from 1987–92 and currently contributes to Classic Rock. Hotten is the author of the popular cricket blog, The Old Batsman, and since February 2013 is a frequent contributor to The Cordon cricket blog at Cricinfo. His most recent book, Bat, Ball & Field, was published in 2022. 

Articles by: Jon Hotten

Freddie Mercury of Queen performs on stage at Earls Court on June 6th 1977 in London

Freddie Mercury: the life and times of rock’s most outrageous star

By Jon Hotten published

A shy kid from Zanzibar helped propel Queen to superstardom. Classic Rock chronicles the extraordinary story of the Queen singer

The Bizarre Life & Sad Death Of Nikki Sixx’s Doppelganger

By Jon Hotten last updated

In the late 80s, unknown musician Matthew Trippe claimed to have replaced Nikki Sixx in Motley Crue. Now the true story of Trippe’s strange life can finally be told

Metallica: the epic story behind the Black album

By Jon Hotten last updated

30 million people can’t be wrong: how the Black Album transformed Metallica into metal’s biggest band

A photograph of Jethro Tull in the 70s

Every Jethro Tull album, ranked from worst to best

By Jon Hotten published

Jethro Tull's 21 albums have taken in English folk and baroque instrumentation, plus enough thunderous riffs to keep hard rock fans happy

Def Leppard in October 1987

Def Leppard's Hysteria: Every Song Ranked From Worst To Best

By Jon Hotten last updated

We rank every song on Def Leppard's multi-platinum classic Hysteria – in order of greatness

Thrash metal band Slayer in 1986

1986: the inside story of the year that thrash metal exploded

By Jon Hotten last updated

Members of Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax look back on thrash metal's watershed year

Scorpions: Return To Forever (Tour Edition)

By Jon Hotten published

Scorpions Return To Forever (Tour Edition) RCA Last year’s album, repackaged with bonuses galore.

Anvil: Anvil Is Anvil

By Jon Hotten published

‘Yo-ho-ho, we be the scurvy scum... Yo-ho-ho, Yo-ho-ho give us a bottle of rum...’

Guns N' Roses: The real story behind their reunion

By Jon Hotten last updated

Rehearsal no-shows? Lingering bad blood? Fragile egos? A $3 million-per-night pay day? And where's Izzy?

Steve Hackett: Premonitions: The Charisma Recordings 1975-1983

By Jon Hotten published

Former Genesis man gets a lavish retrospective.

Saga: Reissues

By Jon Hotten published

Not yet rated

Canuck proggers kick off reactivated catalogue rejig.

Queensrÿche: Condition Human

By Jon Hotten published

Tateless ’Rÿche re-established.

Saxon: Battering Ram

By Jon Hotten published

Veteran metallers’ 16th offers no surprises but, more importantly, no disappointments.

Lynch Mob: Rebel

By Jon Hotten published

More of the same from ex-Dokken stalwart.

Steven Wilson: Transience

By Jon Hotten published

Prog poster boy’s solo efforts collected on vinyl.

Slayer: Repentless

By Jon Hotten published

Revamped line-up deliver the goods on 11th album.

The Circle: At Your Service Live

By Jon Hotten published

Enjoy a boozy night out with Hagar and his mates.

Van Halen: Tokyo Dome Live In Concert

By Jon Hotten published

The VH brothers and Dave are back, but has the ship really come in for their old fans?

Classic Rock Investigates: Rock Fights Back!

By Jon Hotten published

It's in the charts. It's on the radio. Why your music matters again

Various: Country Rock: Original Album Series

By Jon Hotten published

Not yet rated

Five from the famous alumni.

Rick Springfield: Stripped Down

By Jon Hotten published

A charming CD/DVD retrospective for the polymath.

Yngwie J Malmsteen & Rising Force: Now Your Ships Are Burned: 1984-90

By Jon Hotten published

Veteran metal guitar virtuoso raises a toast to himself.

Steve Vai: Stillness In Motion – Vai Live In LA

By Jon Hotten published

CD/DVD package from the guitar virtuoso.

Soto: Inside The Vertigo

By Jon Hotten published

AOR journeyman goes power metal, civilisation falls, etc.

Mike Porcaro 1955 - 2015

By Jon Hotten published

The life of Toto bass player Mike Porcaro, who has passed away at the age of 59

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