
Paul Brannigan
A music writer since 1993, formerly Editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine (RIP), Paul Brannigan is a Contributing Editor to Louder. Having previously written books on Lemmy, Dave Grohl (the Sunday Times best-seller This Is A Call) and Metallica (Birth School Metallica Death, co-authored with Ian Winwood), his Eddie Van Halen biography (Eruption in the UK, Unchained in the US) emerged in 2021. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo and Q, hung out with Fugazi at Dischord House, flown on Ozzy Osbourne's private jet, played Angus Young's Gibson SG, and interviewed everyone from Aerosmith and Beastie Boys to Young Gods and ZZ Top. Born in the North of Ireland, Brannigan lives in North London and supports The Arsenal. Having worked in various editorial roles across Louder since its inception in 2017, Paul was named Contributing Editor in 2022, and is steering Louder's editorial direction to help further establish it as an all-encompassing alternative music, culture and lifestyle brand.
Latest articles by Paul Brannigan

My Chemical Romance to reissue 2010's Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
By Paul Brannigan published
My Chemical Romance's final album is getting a deluxe edition makeover

Don't hold your breath for a New Order reunion performance at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony
By Paul Brannigan published
Peter Hook makes his feelings on a New Order reunion crystal clear

The night that Led Zeppelin watched Heart play a Led Zeppelin set
By Paul Brannigan published
The Wilson sisters once walked out of a Led Zeppelin gig. But six years later, Led Zeppelin walked in to a Heart gig to find the sisters playing Led Zeppelin songs

The eight songs that fuelled Steve Stevens' rock’n’roll dreams
By Paul Brannigan published
Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens recalls the songs that rocked his world during his formative years

Watch Foo Fighters' five-song Tiny Desk Concert set
By Paul Brannigan published
Dave Grohl returns home to Washington DC to play intimate NPR Music show

How a robbery in New Orleans in 1970 forced David Gilmour to purchase what has become the highest-priced guitar in history
By Paul Brannigan published
"The police hadn't helped us much, but the FBI got to work"

Brian Fallon shares first new solo music in five years
By Paul Brannigan published
Listen here to new Brian Fallon songs Not Bad For New Jersey and Better Before

The story behind the worst Guns N' Roses show ever
By Paul Brannigan published
"It was a huge disaster in front of 65,000 people. We fell apart"

"70s metal was definitely the coolest. AC/DC had some fly records, Sabbath had some cool s**t." Ten Beastie Boys songs featuring samples of classic rock anthems
By Paul Brannigan published
"When hip hop DJs started using those chunky riffs, we started checking out old metal again"

Nicko McBrain announces his autobiography Hello Boys and Girls!
By Paul Brannigan published
Nicko McBrain is ready to share "a thrilling, hilarious and deeply personal" memoir

This Irish trio are the loudest band I've seen in 40 years of gig-going. You'll be hearing more from them, like it or not
By Paul Brannigan published
Bucket: the very, very, very loud sound of the underground, blow minds at their debut London headline show

Heart's Ann Wilson recalls the sexism of the '70s rock scene
By Paul Brannigan published
Ann Wilson speaks out against sexism as her new documentary, Ann Wilson - In My Voice, is screened in the US

Beastie Boy Mike D announces first ever solo headline tour
By Paul Brannigan published
Mike D will kick off his first ever solo headline tour with two nights at a 1,150-capacity London club

Red Hot Chili Peppers sell their recorded music catalogue for over $300 million
By Paul Brannigan published
If you know any members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, now might be a good time to hit them up for a few dollars

Paul McCartney welcomes announcement of the first ever official Beatles fan experience
By Paul Brannigan published
"Wow, it’s like coming home" - Ringo Starr

Billy Corgan announces UK and European dates for A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness
By Paul Brannigan published
"The success of translating Mellon Collie into operatic and classical form has been one of the most satisfying experiences of my life"

How David Bowie confused the world with his deeply unloved hard rock band Tin Machine
By Paul Brannigan published
"He needed to do something which was such a departure it would destroy everything that went before"

Kneecap lose out to Michael Jackson in battle for UK number one
By Paul Brannigan published
North of Ireland rap trio debut at number two with second album FENIAN

How Robert Smith from The Cure became a special guest on the new Rolling Stones album
By Paul Brannigan published
Who had 'Robert Smith to appear on new Rolling Stone album' on their 2026 bingo card? No-one, not even the Rolling Stones

Queen's Brian May unveils Billy Bad-Axe, created to help raise funds for charity
By Paul Brannigan published
"We are reluctantly cancelling my orders for bulbs"

L7 announce North American dates for their farewell tour, The Last Hurrah
By Paul Brannigan published
L7 get set to hit the road one last time

Why Dave Grohl gifted Ian MacKaye a personalised message from The Motor City Madman
By Paul Brannigan published
Foo Fighters frontman reveals how he surprised Ian MacKaye with a bespoke birthday present

Eric Clapton, Brian May, Billy Gibbons, Ronnie Wood guest on posthumous album from the late Steve Cropper
By Paul Brannigan published
Watching The Tide, the forthcoming album from Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour, will feature a host of guitar legends
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