
Kris Needs
Kris Needs is a British journalist and author, known for writings on music from the 1970s onwards. Previously secretary of the Mott The Hoople fan club, he became editor of ZigZag in 1977 and has written biographies of stars including Primal Scream, Joe Strummer and Keith Richards. He's also written for MOJO, Record Collector, Classic Rock, Prog, Electronic Sound, Vive Le Rock and Shindig!
Latest articles by Kris Needs

Enuff Z'Nuff's Brainwashed Generation - a band flying high again
By Kris Needs published
Brainwashed Generation is the fifteenth album from hair-power-pop veterans Enuff Z'Nuff

The Vacant Lots' Interzone: the perfect stun-blast soundtrack for a shattered society
By Kris Needs published
Society-lacerating third album Interzone from Vermont electro-punks The Vacant Lots

Iggy Pop's Bowie Years: the resurgence of the punkfather
By Kris Needs published
Iggy Pop's 1977 twin towers, Bowie-branded and expanded with familiar extras

Sir Lord Baltimore's Complete Recordings: revelatory, and endlessly entertaining
By Kris Needs published
Gloriously untamed proto-metal unearthed on Sir Lord Baltimore's The Complete Recordings: 1970-2006

20 of the most obscure prog albums
By Mike Barnes, Mark Blake, Daryl Easlea, Jerry Ewing, Rob Hughes, Kris Needs, Sid Smith last updated
Prog picks 20 of the most obscure prog albums that you might have nestled at the back of your collection. Some that could even unearth you a small fortune

Suicide: The terrifying world of NYC's outsider punks
By Kris Needs last updated
Blood-splattered duo Suicide were the riot-starting, cop-baiting outsiders of 70s New York punk.

Flesh For Lulu - Flesh For Lulu Expanded Edition album review
By Kris Needs last updated
Old Flesh with new boner

Phil Campbell's Old Lions Still Roar: Lemmy would be proud
By Kris Needs published
Life after Lemmy sees Phil Campbell's mane event realised with star-studded solo album Old Lions Still Roar

Nick Cave’s Ghosteen: turning life-altering grief into other-worldly beauty
By Kris Needs published
Nick Cave’s new album Ghosteen is an astonishing work which sees him transform his grief into a poetic masterpiece

Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul: Summer Of Sorcery album review
By Kris Needs published
Timely defiance from E Street Band legend Little Steven, with new album Summer Of Sorcery

Keith Richards: Talk Is Cheap (30th Anniversary) album review
By Kris Needs published
Rolling Stone Keith Richards' 1988 solo debut gets major expansion job – in real Fender wood!

Steve Miller Band - Complete Albums Volume 1 (1968-1976) review
By Kris Needs published
Not yet ratedSteve Miller’s tale told through first nine albums, now remastered. Available separately too

Wishbone Ash - The Vintage Years 1970 - 1991 box set review
By Kris Needs published
Wishbone Ash blaze, crash-dive and become yacht-rock captains on this monolithic, 30-CD box set

Lure, Burke, Stinson, Kramer - L.A.M.F. Live At The Bowery Electric - review
By Kris Needs published
Back to the Bowery

Imperial State Electric - Anywhere Loud album review
By Kris Needs published
Swedish high-energy rockers live double

Jimi Hendrix - Both Sides Of The Sky album review
By Kris Needs published
Jimi’s 21st-century rebranding climaxes with the final part of a posthumous trilogy

Chris Carter - Chris Carter’s Chemistry Lessons, Volume One album review
By Kris Needs published
Not yet ratedNew electronic milestone blows up the lab

Beautify Junkyards - The Invisible World Of Beautify Junkyards album review
By Kris Needs published
Not yet ratedDeep in the woods glows a masterpiece from Beautify Junkyards

Procol Harum - Still There’ll Be More: An Anthology 67-17 album review
By Kris Needs published
Not yet ratedBirth of prog and its inventors’ trail-blazing evolution

The Byrds - Byrdmaniax album review
By Kris Needs published
Turbulent penultimate flight revisited

Nebula - Reissues album review
By Kris Needs published
Not yet ratedSpaced 1999 stoner landmarks

Renaissance – Live At The BBC review
By Kris Needs published
Not yet ratedProgressive folk pioneers enjoy box set glory.
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