
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

Mastodon add headline shows to their summer tour in the UK and Europe, but there's still no news on who's replacing Brent Hinds
By Paul Brannigan published
Good news for European metal fans

With Frank Carter up front, the Sex Pistols sound like the world's greatest punk band once more
By Paul Brannigan published
The rejuvenated Sex Pistols - or Frank Carter, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock and Paul Cook if we must legally refrain from using that name - deliver a joyous start to this year's Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall gig week

"I was crying reading it." Adolescence star Stephen Graham on his text message from Bruce Springsteen
By Paul Brannigan published
'The Boss' was touched by Stephen Graham's performance in forthcoming biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere

Heart's Nancy Wilson hits out at America's "salacious billionaire culture" and says it's embarrassing to be an American in 2025
By Paul Brannigan published
"There'll be another renaissance in the arts to push back against the oppression of the cranky old rich white guys"

Watch Living Colour's Corey Glover deliver a killer performance of the band's signature anthem Cult Of Personality on The Kelly Clarkson Show
By Paul Brannigan published
A Living Colour classic on daytime TV in America? More of this please

“It was wonderful, boring, horrible, heartbreaking": Life with Shane MacGowan
By Paul Brannigan published
The Pogues' Jem Finer recalls life in the original line-up

Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy announces Silver Shade, his first solo album in 11 years
By Paul Brannigan published
Listen to new Peter Murphy single The Artroom Wonder, featuring Justin Chancellor from Tool

Malevolence announce UK and European headline tour, their "biggest and baddest" shows ever
By Paul Brannigan published
Yorkshire metalcore troupe Malevolence announce "the biggest and baddest Malev show of all time"

How Gojira turned tragedy into music to create a profound masterpiece in Magma
By Paul Brannigan published
A life-changing loss shaped Gojira’s classic 2016 album Magma

10 brilliant new Irish artists you should listen to before next St. Patrick's Day rolls into view
By Paul Brannigan published
The Irish music scene continues to go from strength to strength, and here's further proof

Sex Pistols trio make 'secret' celebratory return to iconic London punk venue 100 Club
By Paul Brannigan published
Billed as 'The SPOTS', punk legends thrill fans old and new at legendary London club that helped birth punk

"Friends of mine were saying, Give up on the dream, it's not happening."
By Paul Brannigan published
And the moral of Tobias Forge's story is: Don't give up on your dreams

"It’s a moody, beautiful song." Watch Fontaines D.C. blend Nirvana and Bring Me The Horizon classics into one beautifully atmospheric, synth-led cover
By Paul Brannigan published
Fontaines D.C. create musical mash-up magic for Australian radio station triple j's popular Like A Version series

The Brian Fallon and Gaslight Anthem albums you should definitely listen to
By Paul Brannigan published
With The Gaslight Anthem and solo Brian Fallon has made some marvellous records, but industry pressures extracted a heavy toll

A cast member from TV drama The Bear has started a hardcore band with Alexisonfire guitarist Wade MacNeil
By Paul Brannigan published
Is the world ready for Neil Fak the punk rocker? All will be revealed when Pig Pen play their debut gig next month

Watch the epic video for Yungblud's new nine minute single Hello Heaven, Hello
By Paul Brannigan published
Yungblud is back, sounding more ambitious than ever on an epic new single nodding towards classic British rock artists

Babymetal announce 24-date North American tour, with Jinjer and Bloodywood among supporting cast
By Paul Brannigan published
Babymetal line up summer shows across North America

Hollywood superstar Cate Blanchett names her favourite rock bands
By Paul Brannigan published
"I love their music, but I became addicted to it when I heard it live"

“It was like being plugged into an electrical socket that has charged me ever since.” Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody on the rock show that made him want to start a band
By Paul Brannigan published
“I haven’t ever felt the battery power of that night wane”

Def Leppard reveal spring / summer tour plans
By Paul Brannigan published
Do you wanna get rocked? Of course you do, silly question really

Yeah Yeah Yeahs announce 25th anniversary tour
By Paul Brannigan published
Yeah Yeah Yeahs reveal Hidden In Pieces tour to celebrate their 25th anniversary

Zakk Wylde says Black Sabbath's farewell show will be "special for everybody", but hopes it won't be Ozzy's last gig
By Paul Brannigan published
Zakk Wylde is excited for Ozzy and Black Sabbath's final bow this summer, but would be up for another Ozzy tour

"It's got the filthiest tenor saxophone solo ever." Blur guitarist Graham Coxon reveals the prog rock song that changed his life
By Paul Brannigan published
Blur guitarist Graham Coxon was a progressive rock fan as a teenager, and one song in particular captured his imagination

"Now this is hilarious!" Rob Zombie reacts to Daily Mail-concocted "outrage" over his "violent" new children's book Z Is For Zombie
By Paul Brannigan published
"Is it problematic to expose children [to this] and glorify characters who are depicted committing murder, torture, sexual assault, body mutilation, necrophilia etc?"
Select the newsletters you’d like to receive. Then, add your email to sign up.