Paul Brannigan

Paul Brannigan

Contributing Editor, Louder

A music writer since 1993, formerly Editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine (RIP), Paul Brannigan is a Contributing Editor to Louder. Having previously written books on Lemmy, Dave Grohl (the Sunday Times best-seller This Is A Call) and Metallica (Birth School Metallica Death, co-authored with Ian Winwood), his Eddie Van Halen biography (Eruption in the UK, Unchained in the US) emerged in 2021. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo and Q, hung out with Fugazi at Dischord House, flown on Ozzy Osbourne's private jet, played Angus Young's Gibson SG, and interviewed everyone from Aerosmith and Beastie Boys to Young Gods and ZZ Top. Born in the North of Ireland, Brannigan lives in North London and supports The Arsenal. Having worked in various editorial roles across Louder since its inception in 2017, Paul was named Contributing Editor in 2022, and is steering Louder's editorial direction to help further establish it as an all-encompassing alternative music, culture and lifestyle brand.

Articles by: Paul Brannigan

Elton John and Brandi Carlile

Listen to new Elton John and Brandi Carlile duet Never Too Late, inspired by, and written for, the forthcoming Elton John documentary of the same name

By Paul Brannigan published

Produced by Andrew Watt (Ozzy Osbourne, The Rolling Stones, Pearl Jam), Never Too Late arrives in advance of next month's Disney+ documentary, co-directed by David Furnish, Elton John's husband

Prince's guitar

If anyone fancies giving us £50,000 so we can buy Prince's beautiful bespoke guitar, we'd be most grateful. Thanks in advance, friends

By Paul Brannigan published

A stunning guitar owned and played by Prince is among the highlights of the Marvels of Modern Music collection currently up for auction

Benefits

"We wanted to create something almost joyous in its disgust at the world." Benefits share new single Relentless, featuring The Libertines' Pete Doherty, announce new album Constant Noise, UK tour plans

By Paul Brannigan published

Watch the video for new Benefits single Relentless, featuring Pete Doherty of The Libertines

MCR

My Chemical Romance announce stadium tour to play their classic album The Black Parade in full, with Alice Cooper, Devo, Evanescence, Pixies among special guests

By Paul Brannigan published

Emo overlords MCR reveal plans for 2025 stadium tour, with video teaser referencing "a great Dictator" and "THE CONCRETE AGE”

John Lydon

“I couldn’t just stay on my sofa and not tour, tempting though that obviously is.” Public Image Ltd announce 23-date This Is Not The Last Tour tour

By Paul Brannigan published

John Lydon will be touring the UK and Ireland with PiL in 2025

Rick Wakeman and the Queen Mother

"I'm just very grateful that I'd had a bowel movement before I arrived!" Rick Wakeman on his unexpected audience with Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother as a teenager, and how she trolled him in public years later

By Paul Brannigan published

Prog rock legend Rick Wakeman reveals two entertaining conversations with English royalty

Weezer

“You think we’d go across the pond for one show only? No way!!” Weezer reveal European headline shows and festival appearances booked around previously-announced UK show supporting Deftones

By Paul Brannigan published

Weezer are coming to the UK and Europe in summer 2025

Gig For Gaza 2024

Paul Weller, Primal Scream, Kneecap and more to play Gig For Gaza charity fundraiser in London

By Paul Brannigan published

“An opportunity to enjoy a night of powerful music, and make a tangible difference in the lives of people facing unimaginable hardship”

The Bronx, Nov 1, 2024

Relax everyone, we can officially confirm that The Bronx are still the best punk rock band in the world

By Paul Brannigan published

A piss-up in a brewery with The Bronx? This was never going to be anything but A Lovely Time

Oasis in 2024

"Even on our bad day we’ll still wipe the floor with majority of bands out there." Liam Gallagher promises that Oasis will be returning with all guns blazing in 2025

By Paul Brannigan published

Oasis won't be playing around on their reunion tour, Liam Gallagher insists

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

"Detroit reflects on the worst manifestations of male jealousy and resentment." Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs share new single Detroit, reveal 2025 UK and Europe tour plans

By Paul Brannigan published

Pigs x 7 are back with a thunderous new single, and tour dates for spring 2025

Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo to play huge London show, headlining BST Hyde Park, with The Last Dinner Party, Girl In Red and more

By Paul Brannigan published

Olivia Rodrigo extends Guts world tour into summer 2025, with her biggest-ever UK show

Scarlet Page's portraits of Lemmy and Jimmy Page

"I don't only shoot famous people, but it's fun working with cranky old rock stars": Photographer Scarlet Page on her portraits of Lemmy, David Bowie, Dave Grohl, Chris Cornell and more

By Paul Brannigan published

Scarlet Page has shot portraits of some of our greatest rock stars, and she's got stories about all of them

Kneecap onstage in Cardiff, Oct 1, 2024

Kneecap to headline Wide Awake festival 2025, with English Teacher, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Sprints, CMAT among first wave of bands confirmed

By Paul Brannigan published

London's best independent music festival confirms 2025 headliner and stellar supporting cast

Jerry Cantrell publicity photo

"There are always fears and doubts lurking, because you're opening yourself up in a completely raw way": Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell on his new album and its guests, songwriting, AI, algorithm bots and AIC's legacy

By Paul Brannigan published

Jerry Cantrell's new solo album I Want Blood features members of Guns N' Roses, Metallica and Faith No More

Slipknot 2000

"We were nobodies but in that moment, it felt like we had a shot." How Slipknot overcame jealousy, substance abuse and trauma to become metal's most important band

By Paul Brannigan published

25 years on from their self-titled debut, Slipknot look back at the years that helped them define 21st Century metal

Ozzy Osbourne press shot 1986

"I’m so glad I still live in a world where Ozzy walks the Earth." The greatest Ozzy Osbourne songs as picked by members of Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Halestorm and more

By Rich Hobson published

To celebrate Ozzy Osbourne's solo induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, we asked some of metal's biggest stars for the ultimate Ozzy playlist

Heavy Metal Truants Monster Rock Auction

“This is a chance to own a piece of history!” Fancy owning a window pane from Iron Maiden's Ed Force One plane? Check out the Heavy Metal Truants' latest charity auction, but be quick, as it closes before midnight

By Paul Brannigan published

Get your bids in NOW for a chance to own ultra-rare collector's items from Iron Maiden, AC/DC, The Cure, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and more - and help support four amazing charities - in the Heavy Metal Truants' Monster Rock Auction, closing tonight, October 16

Jim Reid and Ian Curtis

“Jaws dropped when they came on. It was so intense.” The Jesus And Mary Chain's Jim Reid on the life-changing impact of Joy Division

By Paul Brannigan published

Joy Division opened up for Buzzcocks in Glasgow in October 1979. Jim Reid from The Jesus And Mary Chain was there, and the gig changed his life

Matlock and Bowie

"Well, you're a flash c***!" Sex Pistols legend Glen Matlock recalls a night-time drive around New York City perched on David Bowie's knee

By Paul Brannigan published

A short story about David Bowie, Glen Matlock, Iggy Pop and a Pablo Picasso painting

Robert Smith, 2024

“Again, a bit of doom and gloom.” Robert Smith selects one song from every Cure album which reflects the mood of their new record Songs of a Lost World, and reveals which Cure album is his least favourite

By Paul Brannigan published

The Cure's Robert Smith picks a 13-track playlist to get fans in the mood for his band's new album, Songs of a Lost World

Jerry Cantrell

Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell announces North American headline tour

By Paul Brannigan published

With I Want Blood, his new solo album, set for release later this week, Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell reveals his early 2025 tour plans

Sum 41's Deryck Whibley

“Greig Nori, if you think I’m a liar, there’s only one way to settle this. Under oath, in front of a judge.” Deryck Whibley posts emotional video to call out former manager who denies allegations that he sexually abused and groomed Sum 41's frontman

By Paul Brannigan published

Sum 41's Deryck Whibley is angry that his former mentor and manager Greig Nori is calling him a liar over allegations made in Whibley's memoir Walking Disaster. Watch his emotional video

James Hetfield and Emily Armstrong

Metallica and Linkin Park to headline Sick New World 2025, with Evanescence, Queens Of The Stone Age, Gojira, AFI, Mastodon, Sisters of Mercy, Kittie, Arch Enemy, Testament and more on insanely stacked bill

By Paul Brannigan published

The line-up for Sick New World 2025 has been revealed, and it's ridiculously great, tbh

Ozzy Osbourne, Alex and Eddie Van Halen

“If it had come to fruition, it would have been phenomenal.” Eddie and Alex Van Halen wanted Ozzy Osbourne to front a new-look Van Halen, and Ozzy would have joined if his family's MTV show hadn't got in the way

By Paul Brannigan published

Alex Van Halen reveals that Ozzy Osbourne was in the frame to front a new look Van Halen at the start of the millennium, and Ozzy says that he was up for it