
Paul Elliott
Freelance writer for Classic Rock since 2005, Paul Elliott has worked for leading music titles since 1985, including Sounds, Kerrang!, MOJO and Q. He is the author of several books including the first biography of Guns N’ Roses and the autobiography of bodyguard-to-the-stars Danny Francis. He has written liner notes for classic album reissues by artists such as Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy and Kiss, and currently works as content editor for Total Guitar. He lives in Bath - of which David Coverdale recently said: “How very Roman of you!”
Latest articles by Paul Elliott

The 20 greatest power ballads you won't find on power ballad compilations
By Paul Elliott published
Or, to give this list its full title: The 20 greatest power ballads you’ve probably never heard unless you're an extreme AOR connoisseur

Electric Light Orchestra hit the right formula on A New World Record
By Classic Rock Magazine published
A New World Record added Olympian levels of commercial success to Jeff Lynne's mix of melodic craft and production nous

Rock icon, reality TV star, national treasure: Every Ozzy Osbourne solo album ranked
By Paul Elliott published
A guide to the recorded solo work of the late Prince Of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne

The Heart albums you should definitely own
By Paul Elliott last updated
We look at Heart's journey from bluesy hard rock in the 1970s to chart-busting AOR anthems in the decade that followed

Every song on Queen's Greatest Hits, ranked from worst to best
By Paul Elliott published
Queen's Greatest Hits is the UK’s biggest-selling album of all time, with total worldwide sales of over 25 million copies – but which song is the greatest?

Every Steely Dan album ranked, from worst to best
By Paul Elliott published
Steely Dan brought jazz smarts and lyrical sophistication to rock, conjuring up brainiac music that sold millions - just don't mention 'yacht rock'

Every Motley Crue album ranked from worst to best
By Paul Elliott last updated
Mötley Crüe left behind them a trail of destruction and nine albums – here ranked from worst to best

The Eddie Money albums you should listen to, and one to avoid
By Paul Elliott last updated
Eddie Money was a singer who was never as well known as he should have been, but the ‘patron saint of uncool’ made some cool records

All 20 Ronnie James Dio album ranked, from worst to best
By Paul Elliott published
Ronnie James Dio's albums with Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell and Dio helped define what a hard rock singer can be

Every Kiss album ranked, from worst to best
By Paul Elliott published
The complete set of 29 Kiss albums, ranked from woeful worst to wonderful best

A tribute to Ronnie James Dio: July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010
By Paul Elliott published
Ronnie James Dio: July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010

Dave Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar? A forensic examination of who was Van Halen’s best singer
By Paul Elliott, Jerry Ewing published
Sorry, Gary Cherone…

The unhinged story of Aerosmith’s Draw The Line, the album that sent them crashing off the rails
By Paul Elliott published
Drugs, dysfunction and 1977’s Draw The Line album sent Aerosmith into a tailspin that would take a decade to pull out of

An interview with Rush‘s Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee about the career of ‘rock’s biggest cult band’
By Paul Elliott published
In 2015, Rush’s Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee looked back over the prog icons’ rollercoaster career

The Black Crowes albums you should definitely listen to... and one to avoid
By Paul Elliott published
The Black Crowes may have been born out of time, but their best albums – a fusion of southern rock, gospel, blues and fiery rock'n'roll – are timeless

Debauched prog revivalists to internet pioneers: The Marillion albums you should listen to
By Paul Elliott published
Since picking up the progressive rock baton from Genesis in the 80s, Marillion have recorded one of prog’s most impressive catalogues, and these are their best albums

The epic story of 50 years of Iron Maiden, metal’s ultimate band
By Paul Elliott published
All six current members of Iron Maiden look back on their monumental 50 year journey

The chaotic story of Rush’s early years and their journey from high school stoners to prog icons
By Paul Elliott published
Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson look back their journey from high school stoners to prog icons-in-waiting

Nine albums by Paul Rodgers you should listen to... and one you should ignore
By Paul Elliott published
From Free to Bad Company and beyond, Paul Rodgers' back catalogue is a gold mine, and these are his best albums

Black Sabbath albums ranked, from worst to best
By Paul Elliott published
Some Black Sabbath albums are epoch-defining classics, some are average, some downright embarrassing, and we've ranked them – from woeful worst to brilliant best

Nine albums by the members of Guns N' Roses you should listen to... and one you should ignore
By Paul Elliott published
The members of Guns N' Roses will always be defined by the music made with the band, but that's not all they've done

Gary Moore finds grit but lacks groove on Corridors Of Power
By Classic Rock Magazine published
In which former Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore attempts to forge a new career in the post-NWOBHM rock landscape and also writes some ballads

"All had this feeling that it was something really momentous": Bruce Dickinson looks back on his solo albums and forward to Iron Maiden's big year
By Paul Elliott published
Bruce Dickinson reveals the solo album that should've been better and the song Iron Maiden play while he enjoys a cup of tea
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