
Scott Rowley
Scott is the Content Director of Music at Future plc, responsible for the editorial strategy of online and print brands like Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, Prog, Guitarist, Guitar World, Guitar Player, Total Guitar etc. He was Editor in Chief of Classic Rock magazine for 10 years and Editor of Total Guitar for 4 years and has contributed to The Big Issue, Esquire and more. Scott wrote chapters for two of legendary sleeve designer Storm Thorgerson's books (For The Love Of Vinyl, 2009, and Gathering Storm, 2015). He regularly appears on Classic Rock’s podcast, The 20 Million Club, and was the writer/researcher on 2017’s Mick Ronson documentary Beside Bowie. Over the years Scott has interviewed artists like Jimmy Page, Slash, Brian May, Poison Ivy (the Cramps), Lemmy, Johnny Depp, Mark Knopfler, Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins), Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads), Robert Smith (The Cure), Robbie Robertson (The Band), Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead), Joe Bonamassa, Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley), J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr), Mick Jones and Paul Simonon (The Clash), Jah Wobble, Billie Joe Armstrong and many more.
Latest articles by Scott Rowley

Black Friday music deals 2024: The door has closed on Black Friday, but you might still find a deal or two if you're quick
By Scott Munro last updated
Black Friday has wrapped up until next year, but there are a handful of deals still kicking around

Old blokes: What is it with them and when will they stop? A sort-of review of the Sex Pistols and Frank Carter at Bush Hall
By Scott Rowley published

How Jane’s Addiction invented the 90s
By Scott Rowley published
Topics covered: Jane's Vs Guns, some of the greatest lyrics ever written, the birth of the "Alternative Nation" and other Gen X angst…

"I just knew I needed to do something that I was in control of": Slash on his star-studded debut solo album
By Scott Rowley published
Slash's band split. He was called a 'sell-out' and 'a cancer'. And through it all he emerged with the first great rock album of the last decade

Karl Wallinger of World Party has died, aged 66
By Scott Rowley published
Karl Wallinger of World Party, a former member of the Waterboys, died on Sunday, confirms publicist

"The whole thing sounds like it was carved out of caramel and boiled in a pot with gunpowder, sunshine and jazz – mad and lovely and addictive": Was The 3 Clubmen EP the best record you missed in 2023?
By Scott Rowley published
XTC's Andy Partridge and friends released an overlooked EP of luminous alt.pop in 2023. But it's not too late to join the club...

"The Bathers are literate, expressive and romantic – which in a tough town like Glasgow is pretty much the most rebellious thing you can be": Sirenesque by The Bathers, the best-kept secret and weirdest anomaly in Scottish music
By Scott Rowley published
Meet the Nick Cave of Kelvingrove: Now in their fourth decade and their seventh studio album, The Bathers might just have made the album of the year…

“I’m not interested in my own angst. I like a good story. Violence. A bit of sex, a bit of drinking, a bit of drugs, y’knoworramean?” A tribute to Shane MacGowan, the genius lyricist who thought the music was more important than the words
By Scott Rowley published
As the music of the 80s became more polished, synthesised and over-produced, The Pogues took it back to its rudiments. And at the heart of it was Shane MacGowan and his lyrics: funny, romantic, full of characters and stories

Cyber Monday headphones deals 2023: Our pick of the headphone sales that are still rolling on
By Scott Munro last updated
The big annual shopping extravaganza should be over, but we've found you can still get a great pair of headphones at low prices - but you better be quick

Cyber Monday speaker deals 2023: These savings on smart speakers, Bluetooth speakers, hi-fi speakers and more are still available
By Chris Barnes last updated
The volume on the Cyber Monday speaker sales shows no signs of dropping - here's our pick of this year's essential deals that are still live

Cyber Monday alcohol deals 2023: These boozy bargains are still available
By Scott Munro last updated
The big sales weekend might be over, but that hasn't stopped the corks from popping on some amazing deals. Here's our favourite discounted pours

I just bought this tiny Bluetooth amp for less than £50 in the Black Friday sale and it’s already changed the way I listen to music
By Scott Rowley published
Put your smart speaker in the bin. This tiny Bluetooth amp will blow your mind and your speakers for just £50

Black Friday alcohol deals 2023: Don't panic! The big booze deals are still going strong
By Scott Munro last updated
Last orders have been called on this year's Black Friday, but the bar doors have swung open again today for even more perfect pours

Black Friday headphones deals 2023: The biggest and best deals that are alive and kicking
By Chris Barnes last updated
There's brilliant Black Friday bargains on headphones in all shapes and sizes - from over-ears to noise cancelling earbuds and more

Black Friday speaker deals 2023: Crank up the volume because these speaker deals are still live
By Chris Barnes last updated
Before we wave goodbye to Black Friday completely, there are still a load of amazing deals to grab before the sales door slams shut

If I didn’t already have one, I would buy the Positive Grid Spark Go this Black Friday. Yeah, it’s a serious bit of kit – but it’s also perfect for beginners and rubbish guitarists like me
By Scott Rowley published
It’s one of 2023’s hottest guitar products and with 30% off, it’s the perfect time to give the Positive Grid Spark Go a try, whether you're a beginner or a part-timer

Looking for a vinyl bargain this Black Friday? Let me help you part with the best £12 you’ll ever spend on vinyl: Silver Sun’s debut album
By Scott Rowley published
Like the Beach Boys boozing with Big Star, or Rush getting beaten up by the Ramones: The one album that you should take a chance on this Black Friday is Silver Sun’s debut album at 45% off

30 musicians on the album that changed their life as a kid
By Classic Rock published
Members of Kiss, Black Sabbath, Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard, Rage Against The Machine and more reveal the albums that set them on the path to rock stardom

“Right Here, Right Now captured the optimism of the Berlin wall coming down. We’re at the other end of the spectrum now”: How Prince’s Sign O’ The Times inspired Jesus Jones’ biggest hit
By Scott Rowley published
Inspired by Prince and the fall of the Berlin wall, Jesus Jones’ optimistic hit Right Here Right Now was born out of depression and powered by dodgy samples

How the CIA inspired Firestarter, why Axl Rose hates JD Salinger, David Bowie’s Orwell musical and why Jimmy Savile was the first ever club DJ: The books and stories that influenced classic songs
By Scott Rowley published
How books by Hemingway, Stephen King, the Marquis De Sade etc influenced Metallica, Nirvana, Iron Maiden, Kate Bush, The Prodigy, The Jam, David Bowie and more

"If they liked you, they’d smack you. And if they didn’t like you, you were dead!" Ian Hunter on hanging out with Bowie, working with Taylor Hawkins and playing for the London Mafia
By Scott Rowley last updated
Back with an all-star cast on an amazing new album, Ian Hunter on working with Jeff Beck and Taylor Hawkins, punk rock, Alex Harvey, David Bowie, and sex and drugs in the 70s

Music photographer Mick Hutson has died, aged 58
By Scott Rowley published
Hanging out of helicopters, stopping the New York traffic, sweet-talking kidnappers: a celebration of Mick Hutson, music photographer

“I couldn’t breathe!”: Duff McKagan’s new song was written in the middle of a panic attack – and got him through it
By Scott Rowley published
Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan releases a new solo EP and reveals his long-term struggles with panic attacks and depression – and how Slash supported him from the beginning
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