
Simon Young
Born in 1976 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Simon Young has been a music journalist for over twenty-six years. His fanzine, Hit A Guy With Glasses, enjoyed a one-issue run before he secured a job at Kerrang! in 1999. His writing has also appeared in Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, Prog, and Planet Rock. His first book, So Much For The 30 Year Plan: Therapy? — The Authorised Biography is available via Jawbone Press.
Latest articles by Simon Young

A nu metal hero says he's fully invested in religion after lengthy battle with addiction
By Simon Young published
Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix has revealed his sobriety journey has been strengthened by his faith

Fishbone had the world at their feet. Then their guitarist joined a religious cult
By Simon Young published
This is the most unhinged chapter in Fishbone's decades-long career of funk-metal mayhem

"I could feel the power behind me and it was like being in front of a locomotive." The Swedish metal icons whose biggest hit was so confusing even Metallica's Kirk Hammett struggled to keep up
By Simon Young published
It's safe to day that even the most patient music teacher struggle to explain the polyrhythms that provide the backbone of this Meshuggah classic

The BRIT Awards are to honour Ozzy Osbourne's contribution to music
By Simon Young published
The ceremony will take place in Manchester on February 28

“I think I have 11 counts of breaking and entering on my criminal record": How Nickelback's nostalgic Photograph spawned a flood of memes and the unwanted attention from a soon-to-be-impeached American President
By Simon Young published
This 2005 Nickelback hit single just won't go away, so you may as well read about it

"When it ended, I asked, “Do you hate it?” How an old rap-rock demo, a Chris Farley skit and an all-star jam helped turn one Canadian pop-punk band into megastars
By Simon Young published
Deryck Whibley said Sum 41's breakthrough hit was kicking around for 18 months

How an irate producer and 'Chris Rock' convinced Beastie Boys to finish what would be their biggest-ever song
By Simon Young published
Listen all of y'all, it's a Sabotage story behind the song

How living in a rat-infested squat helped turn Green Day into one of the world's biggest bands
By Simon Young published
While West Oakland in the late 80s sounded like a sketchy place to live, it inspired a pop punk classic

How Queens of the Stone Age got a metal legend to sing on a single US radio would not touch
By Simon Young published
Feel Good Hit of the Summer was a commercial flop but became an instant, messy classic

How pockets of mindless violence inspired the most important 63 seconds of punk ever
By Simon Young published
Even 45 years after its release, this 1981 single remains depressingly relevant today

Lamb Of God rage back with ferocious new track Into Oblivion
By Simon Young published
Lamb of God's first album in four years will be released in March

"Quite simply, one of the very best British bands of the past three decades." Every Biffy Clyro album ranked from worst to best
By Simon Young published
'Mon the Biff!

Metallica released their first music video 35 years ago. This is how it ruined my life.
By Simon Young published
A Metal Hammer writer looks back on the scarring effects of the video for Metallica’s One, which debuted on January 22, 1989

The Jesus Lizard: “We’re still the same four guys, but not as handsome as we used to be”
By Simon Young published
The Jesus Lizard are back, and David Yow has things on his mind

"Minor Threat were like The Beatles. I saw Ian MacKaye write Straight Edge on his mother's piano": Henry Rollins on Black Flag, Minor Threat, The Stooges, Green Day, Beyoncé and the meaning of punk
By Simon Young published
Former SOA, Black Flag, Rollins Band frontman Henry Rollins knows a thing or three about punk rock, so pay attention please

Every Helmet album ranked from the worst to the best
By Simon Young published
New York's Helmet have been kicking up a racket since 1989. We assess, rate and rank their catalogue to identify which noise-rock album is their defining work

The 10 best Rocket From The Crypt songs from 1995
By Simon Young last updated
Two fistfuls of pure sonic magic released by Speedo's San Diego greasers at their untouchable peak

"My success with women increased when I had Geddy Lee hair": The 10 best Rush songs ever, according to the Trailer Park Boys
By Simon Young published
Bubbles, Ricky and Julian a.k.a. Canada's second-best trio the Trailer Park Boys, pick their 10 favourite Rush songs

In 1997 John Lydon's drummer sued him for lost wages and assault: it was a case only Judge Judy could resolve
By Simon Young published
Judge Judy: 25 seasons, 6280 episodes, one former Sex Pistol

The 11 best songs recorded by Jawbox
By Simon Young last updated
The definitive playlist for one of Dischord's definitive '90s bands

10 times stand-up comedians made brilliant references to heavy metal
By Simon Young published
From Slayer to Napalm Death, we didn't see some of these hilarious references coming

Here's a collection of classic album covers made out of Lego
By Simon Young published
Music fan and artist Adnan Lotia has reinterpreted legendary sleeves including Metallica, Motörhead and Black Sabbath using the iconic plastic bricks

Oli Sykes is animated as a vampire as Bring Me The Horizon team up with Corpse on video for CODE MISTAKE
By Simon Young published
Bring Me The Horizon's surprise collaboration with YouTuber Corpse is a gruesome watch
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