Rich Hobson

Writer for Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Louder, Rich has never met a feature he didn't fancy, which is just as well when it comes to covering everything rock, punk and metal for both print and online. Passionate about seeing the spread of metal on a global scale, Rich has spent the last decade seeking out emerging acts from around the world, covering everyone from Alien Weaponry and The Hu to Kaoteon, Nine Treasures and Jinjer, whilst also re-examining rock and metal history with bands like Faith No More, Sepultura and Ozzy Osbourne, alongside legendary events like Rock in Rio and the 1991 Clash Of The Titans tour.

Articles by: Rich Hobson

“I thought they were taking the piss”: Ozzy Osbourne on his first meeting with Metallica

By Rich Hobson published 14 May 22

Ozzy Osbourne looks back on his four-decade friendship with Metallica

Slipknot's Sid Wilson and Kelly Osbourne are expecting a baby

By Rich Hobson published 13 May 22

Kelly Osbourne was "over the moon" to announce the news she is expecting a baby with Sid Wilson via Instagram

Motionless In White, Five Finger Death Punch, The Hu, Spiritbox

The 10 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published 13 May 22

From Five Finger Death Punch to The Hu and Spiritbox, these are the week’s essential new metal tracks. Plus: vote for your favourite!

Judas Priest’s Ian Hill: “KK Downing will be at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame”

By Rich Hobson published 13 May 22

Judas Priest’s Ian Hill talks that Hall Of Fame nomination, recent health scares and the state of the new album

Echobrain: how one band almost killed Metallica

By Rich Hobson published 11 May 22

Metallica ruled the world through the 90s, but the year 2000 almost spelled the end of the band

2022’s best metal albums so far

By Rich Hobson published 7 May 22

From Rammstein to Ghost, these are the best metal albums released so far in 2022

“I’m lucky with my intake of drugs I didn’t end up a glob of sh*t”: how Megadeth made Countdown To Extinction

By Rich Hobson published 6 May 22

How Megadeth's Countdown To Extinction helped a cleaned-up Dave Mustaine realise his superstar ambitions

From Type O Negative covers to HIM: how Ville Valo became king of the goths

By Rich Hobson published 6 May 22

From Type O Negative cover sets to appearances on extreme metal supergroups, Ville Valo's forged a unique path in music

“I’m at peace with myself and Black Sabbath”: the world according to Bill Ward

By Rich Hobson published 5 May 22

From the birth of heavy metal to repairing friendships, this is what life has taught former Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward

The night nu metal bowed down before Metallica

By Rich Hobson published 4 May 22

In 2003, everyone from Linkin Park to Snoop Dogg bowed down before Metallica at the MTV Icon show. The result was one of the most memorable tribute gigs ever

Lzzy Hale on the cover of Metal Hammer 361

10 things we learned from our candid conversation with Halestorm in this month's Metal Hammer

By Rich Hobson published 3 May 22

Lzzy Hale opens up on the demons and anxieties that she had to overcome for Halestorm's Back From The Dead

“I wake up and think, ‘F**k yeah, I get to be Gene Simmons another day’”: the world according to Gene Simmons

By Rich Hobson published 3 May 22

Kiss legend Gene Simmons puts the world to rights on immigration, racism and rock'n'roll history

“By 14 I was doing drugs and stealing booze”: the life and times of stoner icon Matt Pike

By Rich Hobson published 30 April 22

Sleep/High On Fire man Matt Pike talks juvenile delinquency, military school and losing a toe

This might be the sludgiest Black Sabbath cover ever

By Rich Hobson published 28 April 22

Thou and Lingua Ignota teamed up at Roadburn 2022 to unveil a particularly badass Black Sabbath cover

10 obscure but brilliant 2010s bands that deserved more

By Rich Hobson published 28 April 22

The internet might bring us more music than ever, but these 10 bands never got the massive audiences they deserved

"Birth with Rammstein had to be graphic": the inside story of Rammstein's Zeit video

By Rich Hobson published 27 April 22

Director Robert Gwisdek talks us through the making of Rammstein's epic music video for Zeit

Machine Gun Kelly says he is "done with rock" now

By Rich Hobson published 27 April 22

Machine Gun Kelly reflects on his time in the rock world and suggests that his next album will see him return to his hip-hop roots

No pics, no peeing, no chill: inside Tool's Fear Inoculum Tour 2022

By Rich Hobson published 26 April 22

Tool's Fear Inoculum tour arrives in Europe with psychedelic visuals, hypnotic riffs and a setlist to lose your mind over

Amorphis’ Tomi Joutsen: “One time I had to go pick up some human sh*t”

By Rich Hobson published 26 April 22

Amorphis frontman Tomi Joutsen on perfecting your growl, putting in the graft and how getting yours hands dirty never hurt anyone

These are the 20 greatest Download Festival sets ever

By Stephen Hill, Rich Hobson published 21 April 22

Hundreds of bands have played at the UK’s Download festival since its launch in 2003. These are the 20 best sets

Rudolf Schenker: "Scorpions soundtracked the most peaceful revolution on Earth"

By Rich Hobson published 20 April 22

Scorpions guitarist Rudolf Schenker on partying with rock'n'roll royalty, surviving grunge and making rock history

“It changed things culturally”: how Nothing Else Matters turned Metallica into mainstream superstars

By Rich Hobson published 19 April 22

James Hetfield didn’t want his bandmates to hear this epic ballad about his girlfriend. But Nothing Else Matters become the breakthrough Metallica needed

“This is a bridge between HIM and the future”: the resurrection of Ville Valo

By Rich Hobson published 19 April 22

Exclusive: Ville Valo opens up about his new VV project, his upcoming solo debut album and the chances of a HIM reunion

Zakk Wylde: “My doctor said I’d need a liver transplant”

By Rich Hobson published 15 April 22

Black Label Society mainman Zakk Wylde on boozing with Ozzy and Lemmy, hanging out with Elton John and why Dimebag Darrell was “Santa with a pink beard”

A quick word with Voivod: thrash metal, the Cold War, and making a movie

By Rich Hobson published 15 April 22

Approaching their fourth decade, prog thrashers Voivod are still blasting out into the cosmos with 15th album Synchro Anarchy

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