
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

Billy Idol laughs off John Lydon's criticism of his work with Steve Jones and Paul Cook in Generation Sex
By Paul Brannigan published
Billy Idol is having far too much fun to worry about John Lydon's sniping

When Black Sabbath bow out this summer, this lot will officially be Britain's best stoner/doom/psych band
By Paul Brannigan published
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs sound heavier, dirtier, and nastier than ever before on their excellent new album Death Hilarious. What's not to love?

Pulp announce More, their first new album in 24 years: listen to opening track Spike Island
By Paul Brannigan published
More is the first Pulp album since We Love Life in 2001

"It took a decade to write this book, grappling with the beauty and sorrow of a lifetime." Patti Smith announces new memoir Bread of Angels
By Paul Brannigan published
New York's punk poetess Patti Smith announces fourth memoir, Bread of Angels

Max Cavalera isn't getting sentimental over the end of Sepultura
By Paul Brannigan published
"I don't have nothing to do with what they're doing, with the disbanding of the band."

Dr Who / The Thick Of It star Peter Capaldi on his 1977 punk band, The Dreamboys
By Paul Brannigan published
"At the time I thought I just loved showing off." Peter Was A Punk Rocker

Killing Joke's Jaz Coleman announces new choral work based upon the teachings of The Wickedest Man in the World
By Paul Brannigan published
Jaz Coleman’s choral work will brings to life Aleister Crowley’s Liber AL vel Legis (The Book of the Law), the foundation for Thelema, Crowley’s spiritual philosophy

Blink-182 announce Missionary Impossible tour dates, with a former member's band in support
By Paul Brannigan published
The Mark, Tom and Travis show is hitting the road once more, and Blink-182 fans will recognise the support band's frontman too

“I’ve gone from having the greatest time of my life, to wanting to kill myself.” An audience with Red Hot Chili Peppers on the final night of their One Hot Minute world tour
By Paul Brannigan published
In the summer of 1996, rumours spread that the Red Hot Chili Peppers were going to break up following the conclusion of their One Hot Minute world tour. I was sent to the tour's final show to find out the truth

Blink 182's Mark Hoppus explains why being in a punk rock band is the most fun you can have with your clothes on, and off
By Paul Brannigan published
On publication day for his autobiography, Fahrenheit-182: A Memoir, Blink-182's Mark Hoppus reveals why being in a punk band never gets old

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs hone their dream to be as potent a live band as Download festival favourites Vengaboys
By Paul Brannigan published
Newcastle's finest Pigs x 7 deliver a masterclass in stoner/doom/psych riffathons on the release day for their new album Death Hilarious

Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan on the Metallica song that saved his life
By Paul Brannigan published
"It's like a movie unto itself. What a song!" Billy Corgan on the Metallica classic that meant everything to him as a teenager

"Clem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie." Blondie drummer Clem Burke dead at 70
By Paul Brannigan published
Punk/New Wave legend Clem Burke (Clement Anthony Bozewski) has passed away following a battle with cancer

The day the Sex Pistols met Abba
By Paul Brannigan published
The Sex Pistols were huge fans of Abba. Abba may not have been huge fans of the Sex Pistols

Napalm Death, Thurston Moore, Wayne Kramer, and members of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Rammstein and more to appear on Ramones tribute albums
By Paul Brannigan published
Underground heroes pay tribute to Da Bruddahs, NYC's much-missed punk rock pioneers

Queen would never have performed their iconic set at Live Aid if Bob Geldof had had his way
By Paul Brannigan published
"Freddie smelt blood. He went for the throat."

"This is the best day of my life!" Watch Kelly Clarkson cover Foo Fighters, then help Jack Black make a dream come true in the most joyous and pure TV segment of the week
By Paul Brannigan published
Watch Jack Black melt hearts on the latest edition of The Kelly Clarkson Show

Ritchie Blackmore had a heart attack 18 months ago, and won't be onstage again in Europe any time soon
By Paul Brannigan published
Blackmore appears on Candice Night's forthcoming solo album, Sea Glass

Bruce Springsteen details Tracks II: The Lost Albums, featuring seven records and 82 previously unreleased songs, 74 never-before-heard
By Paul Brannigan published
Bruce Springsteen: “I often read about myself in the 1990s as having some 'lost period'. Not really. I was working the whole time.”

"Our manager gave us each $1000 and put us on the plane, economy class." The story behind Black Sabbath's biggest show ever, the 1974 California Jam
By Paul Brannigan published
On April 6, 1974, Black Sabbath performed for 250,000 rock fans at the first California Jam festival. It was a gig that would live long in the memory for all involved, for reasons both good and bad

John Lydon is getting ever more salty about the success being enjoyed by his former Sex Pistols bandmates
By Paul Brannigan published
For a man who supposedly moved on from the Sex Pistols decades ago, John Lydon isn't half spending a lot of time talking about the Sex Pistols

The Hives announce new Josh Homme/Mike D-assisted album
By Paul Brannigan published
"Every single song a single, every single single a hit, every hit a direct hit in the face of the man."

Neil Young thinks Donald Trump is the worst president in US history, but fears that saying so could have consequences
By Paul Brannigan published
“One country, indivisible, with Liberty and Freedom, for all. Remember that?”

“Contains love songs of every stripe: stressed-out, gooey-eyed, gratuitously horny, blissed out, obsessive and mysterious.” Wet Leg announce second album Moisturizer, share new single Catch These Fists
By Paul Brannigan published
Wet Leg are back, with a “fun and freaky and fabulous” follow-up to their 2022 debut album

Billy Corgan to tour to celebrate the anniversaries of three classic Smashing Pumpkins albums, but not with Smashing Pumpkins
By Paul Brannigan published
What better way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Smashing Pumpkins' Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness than seeing it performed by a band that's not Smashing Pumpkins?
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