
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 50 greatest Guns N’ Roses songs ever, and the stories behind them
By Dave Everley published
Guns N' Roses changed the shape of rock'n'roll when they emerged in the mid-eighties. Here's a half-century of their very best, and the stories behind them.

“It was a feeling of betrayal – they buy your record then come to a concert and whistle and hoot and screech… it all felt quite vulgar”: The time Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson nearly quit music
By Paul Elliott published
The band's rise to fame wasn't without its downsides

"I was still up at seven in the morning, howling away at the top of my voice" - How Lemmy wrote Motorhead by Motörhead
By Paul Elliott published
When Motörhead recorded the definitive version of Motorhead, it was third time lucky: this version would change Lemmy's life

A beginner’s guide to hair metal in 5 essential albums
By Dave Everley published
Glam metal, hair metal – call it what you want. These are five albums that soundtracked the 1980s

Six classic rock bands who "went grunge" and lived to tell the tale
By Geoff Barton published
Grunge swept all aside as it barrelled in from Seattle, and some bands preferred to jump the bandwagon rather than stand in the way and get mown down

A beginner’s guide to Southern Rock in 5 albums
By Classic Rock published
Southern Rock is inextricably tied to the land and character of the American South - and here are five albums that tell its tale

"For a while, it was the worst song on the album…" The story behind Rush's Tom Sawyer
By Paul Elliott published
Inspired by old books and new technology, Tom Sawyer was the song that reinvented prog giants Rush – but it almost never made the album

20 bands whose second album is the best thing they ever did
By Classic Rock published
The bands who defied the sophomore slump to deliver the greatest albums of their career

The Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty albums you should definitely own
By Paul Elliott published
With Creedence Clearwater Revival he turned the Hippie generation on to classic roots and Americana... then John Fogerty went rockin’ all over the world

Celtic Frost’s Tom G Warrior: “They said I sang like Lemmy with the warts inside his mouth”
By Paul Elliott published
From troubled outsider to all-round metal visionary – these are the life and times of Celtic Frost/Triptykon leader Tom G Warrior

The Girlschool albums you should definitely own
By Paul Elliott published
Celebrated as ‘the female Motörhead’, Girlschool became stars of the NWOBHM scene. But what were their best albums?

Kenny Wayne Shepherd: the soundtrack of my life
By Paul Elliott published
Blues giant Kenny Wayne Shepherd picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance, and recalls the life-changing show he went to as a three-year-old

"This is the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and they’re playing my song!" - what happened when Def Leppard went to Abbey Road
By Paul Elliott published
Def Leppard are joined by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on new album Drastic Symphonies. We went to Abbey Road Studios to watch it come together

The post-Led Zeppelin Robert Plant albums you should definitely own
By Paul Elliott published
Robert Plant is of an age when most rock stars have run out of steam or are repeating themselves, but he's still moving forward - and these are his best albums since Led Zeppelin

Rush's Signals celebrates its 40th birthday with an underwhelming party
By Paul Elliott published
Signals signalled the beginning of a whole new phase in Rush's career, but the anniversary edition falls well short

Ace Frehley: the soundtrack of my life
By Paul Elliott published
Former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley picks his favourite songs, albums and musicians, and reveals his least favourite Kiss album

The Queensrÿche albums you should definitely own
By Paul Elliott published
Queensrÿche were pioneers of progressive metal, leaving their mark with a trio of great albums before a bitter, messy split and a subsequent return to action

The Gary Moore albums you should definitely own
By Paul Elliott last updated
With Thin Lizzy, on solo albums and playing jazz rock, Gary Moore proved himself to be one of the greatest guitarists of his generation. These are his best albums

Eagles albums ranked from worst to best
By Paul Elliott last updated
Since forming in 1971, Eagles have produced some of rock’s most timeless and enduring music... and some of its biggest-selling albums

Manic Street Preachers: the rise of the Generation Terrorists
By Paul Elliott published
The Manic Street Preachers’ debut came from nowhere in 1992, confirming the fiery Welsh quartet as the most exciting rock band in Britain

Def Leppard have just had one of their biggest years... but Joe Elliott thinks 2023 may top it
By Paul Elliott published
Joe Elliott on the Stadium Tour, Miley Cyrus, that Album Of The Year award and being loved by former haters

20 killer metal albums turning 10 in 2023
By Paul Travers published
From Bring Me The Horizon’s Sempiternal to Ghost’s Infestissumam, happy birthday to these absolute montsers

The Pat Benatar albums you should definitely own
By Paul Elliott published
One of the most successful solo female rock artists of the 80s, Pat Benatar became a superstar by doing things her way or no way
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