
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

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?

"Seeing the audience doing Nazi salutes really wore me down, and Johnny Rotten didn’t say anything." Skunk Anansie's Skin recalls "violent" 1996 tour with the Sex Pistols
By Paul Brannigan published
For Britrock stars Skunk Anansie, joining the Sex Pistols Filthy Lucre reunion tour was one of the worst experiences of their lives

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard announce unique UK and European tour, split between 'rave sets' and orchestral shows
By Paul Brannigan published
Melbourne's psych-prog stars King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard unveil a tour like no other

Tom Morello reveals what we can expect from Black Sabbath's Back To The Beginning spectacular
By Paul Brannigan published
As if we weren't already excited enough for Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's final show

Babymetal announce new album Metal Forth, featuring collaborations with Poppy, Spiritbox, Tom Morello, Polyphia, and more
By Paul Brannigan published
The Fox God has big plans for Babymetal's 15th anniversary year

Nirvana exhibition to open in London this summer
By Paul Brannigan published
Nirvana exhibition to open in London this summer

Sex Pistols' Steve Jones confesses to stealing David Bowie's microphone from a London stage before the final Ziggy Stardust show
By Paul Brannigan published
Before he became the guitarist for the Sex Pistols, Steve Jones was an accomplished thief, as David Bowie was to discover to his cost

Swedish hardcore legends Refused announce last ever UK and European tour
By Paul Brannigan published
"We want to come and sweat and dance with you one last time" says Dennis Lyxzen, as Refused share final tour details

"America is screaming out for a band like the Sex Pistols." Sex Pistols, with Frank Carter, announce first North American tour since 2003
By Paul Brannigan published
America, prepare yourselves for the return of the world's greatest punk band

Ice Nine Kills' singer Spencer Charnas launches Pretty Evil cosmetics range as "war paint for the wicked"
By Paul Brannigan published
"Would I be caught dead in Pretty Evil? Absolutely. And so should you."

Ministry announce summer headline shows in the UK and Europe
By Paul Brannigan published
If you had hoped to see Ministry outside of a festival next summer, you're in luck

"This is a song that I always always go back to, it’s one of my favourites ever.” Watch pop superstar Dua Lipa cover a classic INXS anthem, live in Sydney
By Paul Brannigan published
Dua Lipa maintains her pledge to cover a local hero's song on every stop on her world tour

The Young Gods announce 14th studio album, Appear Disappear, share title track, reveal UK/Europe tour
By Paul Brannigan published
Switzerland's premier post-punk/industrial heroes are back

Watch Bruce Springsteen jam with Flea, Johnny Depp and R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe
By Paul Brannigan published
"If I had sung this song, it would not have been a hit" Springsteen says, before passionate performance of Because The Night at Patti Smith tribute gig in NYC

My Bloody Valentine announce first UK headline tour in over a decade
By Paul Brannigan published
Dublin shoegaze legends My Bloody Valentine will play UK arena shows this coming winter

Watch Ed Sheeran cover Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club on the New York subway while disguised as an emo busker
By Paul Brannigan published
Disguised music superstar + New York subway busking = the work of Jimmy Fallon, once again

"No guitar solos! No belly dancing music!" Metallica's Kirk Hammett looks back on working with Lou Reed
By Paul Brannigan published
"Lulu means so much to me for a number of reasons.", Kirk Hammett states
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