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 parody of a Darkthrone record featuring a surfboard

Is black metal without distortion just surf rock? Yes, and this guitarist proves it

By Simon Young last updated 20 June 22

YouTuber Kevin Balke has exposed the truth about black metal that was right in front of us all along

Bands & Artists

Nikki Sixx says Tommy Lee is a "f**king animal" after performing with broken ribs

By Simon Young published 17 June 22

Motley Crue's drummer stepped down after five songs during the opening night of their Stadium Tour

Bands & Artists

Napalm Death appear on the children's BBC show What's That Noise? presented by Craig Charles

Napalm Death once appeared on a children's BBC TV show in 1989, just after a cartoon about cats

By Simon Young published 15 June 22

Watch the band's interview with Red Dwarf star Craig Charles on this archived slice of grindcore heaven

Concerts & Shows

Rob Zombie on set with the cast of The Munsters

Watch the teaser trailer for Rob Zombie's new movie, The Munsters

By Simon Young published 8 June 22

They did the mosh, they did the Munsters mosh...

Bands & Artists

Heilung announce details of new album, Drif

By Simon Young last updated 4 June 22

Denmark's pagan-folk mystics Heilung return with third studio album and reveal 2023 dates

Albums

Lzzy Hale pictured with her new red Gibson Explorerbird guitar

Halestorm's Lzzy Hale serves up new signature Gibson guitar in cooking new video

By Simon Young last updated 1 June 22

Gibson have shared details of their latest guitar collaboration with Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale by way of a wholesome cooking show.

Music Videos

Every Rollins Band album ranked from worst to best

By Simon Young published 18 May 22

Post-Black Flag, Henry Rollins became the master of his own destiny, and produced a formidable body of work

Albums

Every The Jesus Lizard album ranked from worst to best

By Simon Young published 11 May 22

Across 10 years, The Jesus Lizard made six wonderfully gnarly noise-rock albums: here's their caustic catalogue ranked

Albums

Every Fugazi album ranked from worst to best

By Simon Young published 24 March 22

The collected works of Fugazi, America's punk rock conscience, ranked from worst to best

Albums

The 10 best Rammstein memes

By Simon Young last updated 16 September 20

Caution: these Rammstein memes are hot

Culture

Chino Moreno’s 5 favourite Deftones cover versions

By Simon Young last updated 28 August 20

Deftones have paid tribute to countless classic song. Chino Moreno picks five of the best

Interviews

Remembering Manic Street Preachers' guitarist Richey Edwards

By Simon Young published 1 February 19

Therapy? frontman Andy Cairns remembers Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards, who went missing on February 1, 1995

Interviews

It's talk like a pirate day, so here are some pirate-themed bangers, ye landlubbers

The 10 best songs inspired by Talk Like A Pirate Day

By Simon Young published 19 September 18

Avast ye scurvy landlubbers! It's talk like a pirate day. Arrrr! And so on.

Tracks & Singles

Here's a bunch of cats losing their minds to heavy metal

By Simon Young published 8 August 18

Cats: cute, cuddly and compelled by the power of the riff

Culture

A Perfect Union Of Contrary Things cover art

A Perfect Union Of Contrary Things - Sarah Jensen & Maynard James Keenan review

By Simon Young published 7 February 17

Not yet rated

Tool’s enigmatic frontman only partially revealed – of course

Albums

The 10 greatest AC/DC memes

By Simon Young published 15 November 16

You shook meme all night long

Tracks & Singles

Donald Trump has been elected as President of the United States of America

Donald Trump wins the US Presidential Race: The Rock World Reacts

By Simon Young published 9 November 16

Republican nominee Donald Trump has beaten Democrat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the USA's 45th President. Here's how the rock world reacted...

Bands & Artists

The 10 best Marilyn Manson memes

By Simon Young published 1 November 16

Sweet memes are made of this

Bands & Artists

The cover art for Kiss' album Lick It Up

Video Breakdown: Kiss – Lick It Up

By Simon Young published 29 October 16

A blow-by-blow account of Kiss’ homage to the humble tongue

Music Videos

Louder Than Bombs: What Really Happened When Zack de la Rocha Quit RATM?

By Simon Young published 18 October 16

Protests at the MTV Awards, riots in the street, inter-band fighting, their singer's sudden departure, what was going on with Rage Against The Machine, America's most explosive band?

Interviews