Tom Poak

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Writer

Tom Poak has written for the Hull Daily Mail, Esquire, The Big Issue, Total Guitar, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and more. In a writing career that has spanned decades, he has interviewed Brian May, Brian Cant, and cadged a light off Brian Molko. He has stood on a glacier with Thunder, in a forest by a fjord with Ozzy and Slash, and on the roof of the Houses of Parliament with Thin Lizzy's Scott Gorham (until some nice men with guns came and told them to get down). He has drank with Shane MacGowan, mortally offended Lightning Seed Ian Broudie and been asked if he was homeless by Echo & The Bunnymen’s Ian McCulloch.

Latest articles by Tom Poak

Watch: That time AC/DC filmed TWO videos in a day and took over the streets of Melbourne

By Tom Poak Published 23 February 22

Watch the two classic promos for It's A Long Way to the Top that helped put AC/DC on the map

Bands & Artists

"Like Mark Lanegan covering the Velvet Underground": the album that's captured the lonesome sounds of lockdown...

By Tom Poak Published 24 September 20

Michael J Sheehy's new album was recorded alone and quietly – the result is a profound and touching response to these dark times

Albums

Could this tribute to Slayer be the feelgood hit of the summer?

By Tom Poak Published 17 August 20

The Dirty Nil's Doom Boy is the van-smashing, romance-starting metal anthem you need right now

Bands & Artists

This blues rock version of Gnarls Barkley's Crazy will make Joe Bonamassa consider a career change

By Tom Poak Last updated 6 August 20

A bluesy cover that's good enough to make Slash jealous and raise the ghost of Gary Moore

Bands & Artists

The new video by Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse is a trippy vision of lockdown bliss

By Tom Poak Published 5 August 20

TRIPPY! Bored? Let this slice of smooth-country-jazz-reggae and a promo filled with dolphins, buffalo and acid-fried wonder lift your spirits

TRIPPY!

Be prepared: platforms like Spotify, Facebook and YouTube might be about to try and ‘make you happy’

By Tom Poak Last updated 17 March 20

Should Spotify or Apple Music just play “happy music” in times of crisis?

Tracks & Singles

Why you should never ever use your Smartphone at a gig (and, OK, when you can)

By Tom Poak Last updated 7 February 20

A Perfect Circle apparently ejected 60 fans from a recent show for filming the show on their smartphones. Here's the official phones-at-shows rulebook

Concerts & Shows

Six reasons to love Lenny Kravitz

By Tom Poak Published 13 March 19

As Lenny Kravitz prepares to tour the UK and Europe, we doff our caps to one of rock music’s most flexible and forward-thinking megastars…

Bands & Artists

The Walking Dead: From Splatterfest to Snoozefest

By Tom Poak Published 29 November 16

Jumping the zombie shark: why the zombie apocalypse has become so boring and some ideas to rescue it

Music Festivals

Installation image for You Say You Want a Revolution? Records and Rebels 1966 - 70 10 MB Photo

1966-70 Was The Greatest Time For Music And These Records Prove It

By Tom Poak Published 15 September 16

The V&A’s new exhibition on the 60s features 200 records from John Peel's personal collection throughout that illustrate why the output of 66-70 will never be surpassed.

Bands & Artists