
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

In Praise Of Nickelback's Chad Kroeger
By Paul Elliott last updated
We salute Nickelback's much-maligned frontman, Chad Kroeger

Thin Lizzy's Rock Legends is a stunning tribute to the coolest band there ever was
By Paul Elliott published
Seven-disc box set from rock legends Thin Lizzy with all the hits and 74 – yes, 74 – previously unreleased tracks

Biff Byford: the soundtrack of my life
By Paul Elliott published
Saxon frontman Biff Byford on the special records, artists and gigs of lasting significance

The Top 10 best King Diamond and Mercyful Fate songs
By Paul Elliott last updated
Supernatural screamer King Diamond he has some great songs – here are 10 of the best

The story of the man who signed AC/DC and the greatest comeback in rock'n'roll
By Paul Elliott last updated
When Phil Carson signed AC/DC to Atlantic Records, he might well have made the deal of the century. Here, he talks about their rise to fame and how they rebuilt themselves with Back In Black

How Back In Black brought AC/DC back from the dead
By Paul Elliott published
The death of AC/DC’s frontman Bon Scott looked like it might deal a fatal blow to the band as well. But they got a new singer and made a career-rejuvenating record that became the biggest-selling rock album of all time: Back In Black

You wanted the best, you got the best: How Kiss came Alive!
By Paul Elliott published
As Kiss as they broke out of the clubs of New York City in 1974, it would be a long, hard slog before the rest of America paid attention

Ian Anderson interview: the beginning, middle and end of Jethro Tull
By Paul Elliott published
Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson might have become an average blues guitarist. Instead he became the best one-legged flute player in the world, and for more than 50 years led his band to critical acclaim and huge commercial success

How Ronnie James Dio saved Black Sabbath
By Paul Elliott published
Black Sabbath might have lost Ozzy, but they recruited Dio and make one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time

Neil Peart: The ultimate interview
By Paul Elliott published
In 2017, Classic Rock spoke to Neil Peart and found out there was much more to the Rush Drumming legend than just paradiddles, polyrhythms and labyrinthine lyrics

Joe Elliott and Nikki Sixx interview: competition, chaos and car crashes
By Paul Elliott last updated
Remember the 80s? Amazingly, touring partners Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx and Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott do – and Classic Rock got them to compare notes

Top 10 Best Guns N’ Roses Use Your Illusion Songs
By Paul Elliott last updated
Guns N’ Roses’ Use Your Illusion I and II albums were epic, sprawling and deranged. We've boiled them down to the 10 essential songs from both

Deep Purple: Live In Newcastle 2001 album review
By Paul Elliott published
Made In Australia: the latest Deep Purple album from the Deep Purple live album production line hits the stores

Tony Iommi looks back on the legacy of Black Sabbath's legendary debut album
By Paul Elliott published
Recorded in a rush and inspired by horror films, Sabbath’s debut was panned by critics. Idiots. Here, guitarist Tony Iommi looks back on the album's legacy

How to buy the very best of Manowar
By Paul Elliott published
Heavy metal doesn’t come more gloriously over-the-top than the self-proclaimed kings and defenders of ‘True Metal’ – here we round-up the albums essential to any record collection

Queensrÿche's The Verdict has all their hallmarks of their early classics
By Paul Elliott published
Heavy and progressive, it’s business as usual for Queensrÿche on The Verdict

Guns N’ Roses: the story behind Welcome To The Jungle
By Paul Elliott published
How Guns N’ Roses made Welcome To The Jungle – the song that lit the fuse on the explosion that followed

AC/DC: the top 10 best post-Back In Black songs
By Paul Elliott published
The Brian Johnson era may have kicked off with the unsurpassable Back In Black, but there's plenty of other fodder in his canon

Steve Perry interview: the return of The Voice
By Paul Elliott published
After the kind of success most can only dream about, former Journey singer Steve Perry said it was all over. Then he started believin’ again…

Alice Cooper's Elected: The Story Behind The Song
By Paul Elliott published
Rehashing a psychedelic tune from the days of Alice Cooper (the band), the man himself fashioned an OTT accompaniment to the 1972 presidential election

What happened when Guns N' Roses played their first ever UK gig
By Paul Elliott published
The world domination of Guns N’ Roses began not in LA, but with three chaotic weeks in London in June 1987. They came, they drank, they fought, they conquered
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