
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

CMAT, Black Country, New Road, Katy J Pearson and more join the bill for The Maccabees' All Points East show
By Paul Brannigan published
Additional supporting cast added to The Maccabees’ All Points East headliner on August 24

Why the teenage John Frusciante walked away from an audition for Frank Zappa's band
By Paul Brannigan published
In another universe, John Frusciante might never have joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers

A.A. Williams reveals UK and Europe tour plans
By Paul Brannigan published
London post-rock luminary A.A. Williams details upcoming shows

Queens of the Stone Age announce international screenings for Alive in the Catacombs film
By Paul Brannigan published
Alive in the Catacombs will be screened in cinemas in 20 countries next month

The nine bands that defined Wide Awake festival 2025
By Briony Edwards, Paul Brannigan published
London's most consistently excellent alternative music festival makes a triumphant return to Brockwell Park with a diverse, eclectic, electric line-up

Korn break down their iconic debut album track by track
By Paul Brannigan published
Korn’s self-titled 1994 debut album changed the face of metal, even if they didn’t know it at the time

Kneecap rapper Mo Chara charged with terror offence
By Paul Brannigan published
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, aka Mo Chara, has been charged in connection with an incident at a London gig last year

"We build dreams." How Tobias Forge and Beyonce's lighting designer Tobias Rylander joined forces to make Ghost's spectacular Skeletour the greatest show on earth
By Paul Brannigan published
Award-winning Light, Scenic and Conceptual designer Tobias Rylander reveals how Ghost's spectacular Skeletour came to life

"Intense. Beautiful. Devastating." Seven bands who defined Desertfest London 2025
By Liz Scarlett published
Desertfest 2025 took over five venues in Camden, north London at the weekend, and crushed our tiny brains into jellied chunks

Neil Young and Pearl Jam defend Bruce Springsteen, call out Donald Trump
By Paul Brannigan published
"This guy is out of control. We need a real president!"

Listen to Rocket, Robbie Williams' "balls-to-the-wall" collaboration with Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi
By Paul Brannigan published
Featuring driving guitars from Tony Iommi, Rocket is the first taste of Robbie Williams' forthcoming album BRITPOP

Enter Shikari to release Live At Wembley album and accompanying live video
By Paul Brannigan published
"Our Wembley show last year was one of my favourite in Shikari’s existence thus far," says Rou Reynolds

LA's hottest young alt. rock/shoegaze band Rocket announce UK and European tour, release new single One Million
By Paul Brannigan published
Rocket line up headline club dates ahead of supporting Smashing Pumpkins at huge UK shows

Ex-Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese shares his 'Top 10 possible reasons Freese got booted from the Foos' list
By Paul Brannigan published

Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan on the punk band he believes has eclipsed the Ramones
By Paul Brannigan published
Billy Corgan shares his respect and admiration for some old friends

Every Foo Fighters album ranked, from worst to best
By Paul Brannigan published
Three decades into a career that's turned Foo Fighters into perhaps the most successful second act in rock history, we guide you through the best albums from Dave Grohl and the gang

"This is broken music for broken people." Suede announce new album Antidepressants
By Paul Brannigan published
Suede: new single, new album incoming, new shows

Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro insists there's "no chance" that the band will ever play together again
By Paul Brannigan published
Will we ever see Jane's Addiction back onstage together? Don't hold your breath

"I saved the world from Saddam Hussein," says Blink-182's Mark Hoppus
By Paul Brannigan published
Without Mark Hoppus' intervention, the world might be an entirely different place

The day Oasis' Liam Gallagher woke up to find British light entertainment legend Alan Partridge in his hotel bed
By Paul Brannigan published
The '90s were a strange and magical time where anything could happen, and often did

"I was on the floor, and he had his boot on my throat. I was like, That's great Elvis, that's great." The surreal story of the night Alice Cooper met Elvis Presley
By Paul Brannigan published
When Alice Cooper received an invitation to meet Elvis Presley, things didn't go as "the cat with the snake" had imagined

"It makes me just want to die!" The Kate Bush song that makes Kate Bush cringe with embarrassment
By Paul Brannigan published
"Some of those early songs, you think, Did I write that?"

Ed Sheeran reveals dirty blues / hard rock collaboration with Dave Grohl and John Mayer
By Paul Brannigan published
Drive, a collaboration between Ed Sheeran, Dave Grohl and John Mayer, will feature on the forthcoming F1 film soundtrack
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