
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

Clutch: "our early shows back in DC were pretty knuckle headed"
By Scott Rowley last updated
Neil Fallon on books, horror, their place in the metal scene, and how rock’n’roll was once considered to be an imminent threat to Western civilisation

Fleetwood Mac guitarist Danny Kirwan dies, aged 68
By Scott Rowley last updated
Mick Fleetwood pays tribute to guitarist who "was a huge force in our early years".

"And then things got weird..." Johnny Depp on how music saved his life
By Scott Rowley published
Back in 2016, Johnny Depp spoke to us about how music got him through an abusive childhood, why he has no memories of puberty, and why we should all take more risks

Riots and Rollercoasters: How My Bloody Valentine stole the Jesus & Mary Chain’s thunder
By Scott Rowley last updated
30 years ago this week, the Rollercoaster tour hit the UK, featuring Dinosaur Jr, My Bloody Valentine and Blur. The Jesus & Mary Chain were never as relevant again

Where were you when David Bowie died?
By Scott Rowley last updated
A think piece. Topics covered include: How we knew Bowie was dying, turning into a wolf and some very dubious maths...

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to look at Lemmy’s thoughts on religion
By Scott Rowley published
Motorhead man Lemmy had some strong opinions about the church – and some very good reasons for his views too

Lemmy: "Might as well die of something you like than be 120 and bored"
By Scott Rowley last updated
Mr Ian Kilmister on sex, drugs, rock'n'roll... and everything in between

How Gerry Rafferty and Billy Connolly made old ladies faint on the streets of Glasgow
By Scott Rowley published
The Baker Street hitmaker and the comedy legend had a prank that would make eyes roll

The indie vs rock battle at the heart of the Manic Street Preachers' Generation Terrorists
By Scott Rowley last updated
They said they’d make one album, sell 16 million copies and split up. What really happened was far more dramatic. Inside the unique cultural, musical and political forces that made the Manics the smartest band of the 90s

The record that stopped the world: the outrage and the comedy behind Body Count’s Cop Killer
By Scott Rowley last updated
On its release in March 1992, Body Count’s Cop Killer turned Ice-T into America’s most notorious figure. 30 years later, it’s more relevant than ever

We asked Lemmy for his advice on drugs. Your mum would probably approve of his answer
By Scott Rowley published
He gobbled LSD and was a known speedfreak but Lemmy's advice on taking drugs might just be more thoughtful and cautious than you'd expect

Lemmy’s golden rule of drinking is wisdom to live by
By Scott Rowley published
In the 80s The Damned's Captain Sensible was collared by Lemmy Kilmister who wanted to have a word about his drinking. The advice he gave him is a rule for life

Meat Loaf dead, aged 74
By Scott Rowley last updated
Meat Loaf, one of the most successful rock singers of all time, has died, his agent has confirmed

Lemmy: the Classic Rock interview
By Scott Rowley last updated
Back in 2014, Classic Rock boarded Motorhead's Motorboat and sat down with the legendary Lemmy. This is the full interview

Legendary music writer Peter Makowski has died, aged 65
By Scott Rowley last updated
Makowski, one of the UK's first heavy rock writers, wrote for Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, Sounds and more

The 40 best albums of 1969, the year rock got real
By Max Bell, Ian Fortnam, Hugh Fielder, Sid Smith, Tommy Udo, Scott Rowley last updated
1969 heralded the end of the 60s and the birth of real rock. Here we look at some of the gilt-edged albums from a pivotal year in rock history

Should Steven Tyler's private life change how we feel about Walk This Way?
By Scott Rowley last updated
Is Aerosmith's Walk This Way a sex-positive anthem about pleasing women, or a sleazy song from a reprehensible time?

Introducing The 20 Minute Club: short podcasts on classic singles
By Scott Rowley last updated
NEW! Classic Rock's podcast The 20 Million Club now has a little sister pod, with the first episode on the "yuppie sex music" that is Genesis' In Too Deep

"Venues are the skeleton of live music. Without them, there is no us": Mother Vulture on the road back to live
By Scott Rowley published
Video The pandemic put live music on hold. We caught up with one of Britain's most exciting live bands to find out what it's like to get back on the road

ZZ Top's Dusty Hill has died, aged 72
By Scott Rowley last updated
"You will be missed greatly, amigo," say the band as they pay tribute to their bassist of 50 years

10 goth albums you should definitely own
By Scott Rowley published
Gothic rock grew like mould on the corpse of punk, and these are the best goth albums. Release the bats!

Mick Ronson: a short history of his greatest moments
By Scott Rowley last updated
From building David Bowie to backing Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and more, these are Mick Ronson's greatest moments

The Clash Albums Ranked From Worst To Best – The Ultimate Guide
By Scott Rowley last updated
Want to know the best albums by The Clash? And the worst? Here is the ultimate guide…
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