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

Film of the first Western stadium rock show to take place behind the Iron Curtain to screen in cinemas worldwide
By Paul Brannigan Published
The last filmed live performance of the band with Freddie Mercury, Queen Budapest is of huge significance to fans and band members alike

Ministry announce Goodbye Europe farewell tour
By Paul Brannigan Published
"It doesn't matter if you're left or right, we're all dead unless we all unite"

Watch Jack White and Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson cover a Free classic
By Paul Brannigan Published
Black Crowes vocalist and former White Stripes frontman get their blues on in the Windy City

The riotous gig which got the Rolling Stones banned from an English seaside town for 44 years
By Paul Brannigan Published
"Some people in the audience obviously didn’t like us"

Watch Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson perform a Mott The Hoople classic at surprise appearance with Billie Joe Armstrong's covers band
By Paul Brannigan Published
Watch Bruce Dickinson onstage with The Coverups at San Diego Comic-Con

Avenged Sevenfold surprise release bold, futuristic new EP Statica
By Paul Brannigan Published
If you only know Avenged Sevenfold via Hail To The King, prepare to have your mind blown by what they sound like in 2026

Irish punk agitator Meryl Streek salutes fearless risk takers on new single Rags To Riches
By Paul Brannigan Published
Meryl Streek shares second single from forthcoming record, Stories They Don’t Teach You At School

Clown from Slipknot surprise launches new side project O' Day Monster
By Paul Brannigan Published
Check out the video for Un Life, the debut single from M. Shawn Crahan's new musical venture O' Day Monster

Pulp share trailer, and release date, for new film What Do You Do For An Encore?
By Paul Brannigan Published
New Pulp film promises to deliver "a vibrant tribute to a band of brilliant misfits"

Watch Bruce Springsteen, Slash, Dave Grohl, Nancy Wilson, Billy Gibbons and more share memories of LA's most rock 'n' roll hotel in trailer for new documentary
By Paul Brannigan Published
Star-studded documentary promises to lift the lid on the history of LA's legendary rock 'n' roll bolthole, the Sunset Marquis

Black Sabbath trio share reflections on Ozzy Osbourne
By Paul Brannigan Published
"Gone in body, but his legend lives on"

Listen to Halestorm's Lzzy Hale take on a Soundgarden rarity with Chris Cornell tribute project King Ultramega
By Paul Brannigan Published
Chris Cornell tribute project King Ultramega tackle a deep cut from grunge superstars Soundgarden

Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham is a fan of The Smiths, The Strokes, The Pogues and The Wedding Present
By Paul Brannigan Published
"If there's anything I’ve always loved it's soaring guitar bands"

Tom Morello announces creation of the Mary Morello Memorial Project to continue his late mother's activism
By Paul Brannigan Published
"We invite you to engage first hand in CARING, SERVICE & ACTION"

R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck insists that the band will never properly reform
By Paul Brannigan Published
"Everyone has their memories and they’re sacrosanct"

Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham's 1972 Jensen Interceptor III is being sold at auction this weekend
By Paul Brannigan Published
Live out your "I used to be the drummer in Led Zeppelin" fantasies by purchasing John Bonham's 'motor'

The Damned's first US tour was an unforgettable experience
By Paul Brannigan Published
"We’d see Joey Ramone in the street and say hi"

Melissa Auf der Maur announces her first new music in over 15 years
By Paul Brannigan Published
"I'm going to ease myself back into sound"

The story behind Sid & Nancy, the punk rock biopic which annoyed almost everyone
By Paul Brannigan Published
How Gary Oldman, Courtney Love, Iggy Pop, and Guns N' Roses came together for a film about Sid Vicious that the Sex Pistols hated

Liam Gallagher gives his tongue-in-cheeks reasons for not wanting to make a new Oasis album
By Paul Brannigan Published
Could a new Oasis record really turn back time for Cher? Liam Gallagher isn't convinced

Producer Andrew Watt on working with rock legends The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney
By Paul Brannigan Published
Andrew Watt: the man who makes rock legends sound like excited teenagers jamming in a garage

Lars Ulrich on Metallica taking up residency at the "intimidating" Sphere Las Vegas
By Paul Brannigan Published
"We gotta start thinking about scaling the Sphere mountain and conquering that"

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards isn't ruling out future live shows from the British rock 'n' roll icons
By Paul Brannigan Published
As they celebrate their fifteenth UK Number 1 album, The Rolling Stones hint at future live dates
Select the newsletters you’d like to receive. Then, add your email to sign up.

