
Paul Elliott
Paul Elliott has worked for leading music titles since 1985, including Sounds, Kerrang!, MOJO and Q. He is the author of several books including the first biography of Guns N’ Roses and the autobiography of bodyguard-to-the-stars Danny Francis.
Latest articles by Paul Elliott

“If you don't like what the answer is going to be, don't ask!”: Steve Harris on the secret to Iron Maiden’s success
By Paul Elliott published
Plus: how he recently left a Maiden fan in tears

“It was the height of our popularity. And of course, when you’ve peaked there’s nowhere to go but down”: How the ‘Worst Band In The World’ had their revenge with the noisiest No.1 album of all time
By Paul Elliott published
The band's motto: Everything Louder Than Everything Else

“Bowie gave them the song but Mick wrote the intro — the lick of all licks”: Joe Elliott's tribute to Mick Ralphs
By Paul Elliott published
"He should be remembered for his contribution to some of the greatest rock music ever made"

“Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground”: Mott The Hoople and Bad Company guitarist Mick Ralphs has died
By Paul Elliott published
He played on All The Young Dudes and other rock classics

“The smashing glass, the police sirens — it’s telling a story with sound”: In a Beatles house, a metal classic was born
By Paul Elliott published
Featuring pool cues, cutlery and other assorted effects

Adrian Smith on how Steve Harris is the secret behind Iron Maiden’s triple-guitar attack
By Jonathan Horsley published
When your principal songwriter and driving force is directing traffic on bass, is it any wonder the guitars took a different path in search of brave new worlds to explore?

“You can still be bad boys but there has to be an element of vulnerability": How producer Bob Ezrin elevated Kiss
By Paul Elliott published
"It was such a big departure for them," Ezrin says

“Now the deck is heavily stacked against old farts like myself!”: The classic rock singer exiled by his old band
By Paul Elliott published

“12 million sales is pretty big!”: Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson on the classic album with the “bloody awful” cover
By Paul Elliott published
And no - it's not a concept album!

“The recording of Appetite For Destruction cost $365,000”: Guns N’ Roses’ former manager on the band's classic debut
By Paul Elliott published
“Axl sounded like he had overdosed on helium at certain points”

“You’re used to Ozzy running around, but he won’t be doing that”: Tony Iommi's "fear” ahead of Ozzy’s farewell show
By Paul Elliott published
The guitarist insists that this is "absolutely the end" for Ozzy and for Sabbath

“He said, ‘Your upstrokes are weak!’ I’m like, ‘You effin’ what?’”: Iron Maiden's Adrian Smith never stops learning
By Paul Elliott published
"I've never really been big on practicing," he confesses

Your chance to win Kurt Cobain's plectrum — used during Nirvana’s legendary Unplugged show
By Paul Elliott published
Visitors to the new London exhibition can enter the prize draw

“It wasn’t just my decision to fire Ozzy”: Tony Iommi says Ozzy Osbourne had to go to make Black Sabbath great again
By Paul Elliott published
And he met the band's next singer through Ozzy's future wife Sharon!

“When I'm listening to Dear Prudence, you’re aware of what the bass is doing”: Gene Simmons salutes Paul McCartney
By Paul Elliott published
His other favourites include Motown legend James Jamerson and — surprise — Ronnie Wood

“This is the new rock ’n’ roll Metallica. The riffs are greasier, bluesier, dirtier”: How Metallica changed on Load
By Paul Elliott published
"Nobody knew where this record was going to end up when we started it"

“I did wonder how much longer the band would last”: Iron Maiden guitarist Dave Murray on 50 years of highs and lows
By Paul Elliott published
“Maiden songs take you on a journey,” he says

“Whole Lotta Love was clearly the track that everybody would go to”: A classic interview with Jimmy Page
By Paul Elliott, Chris Bird published
The Zeppelin legend spoke to Total Guitar's Chris Bird in 2020

Chris Bird, MusicRadar Lessons Editor and former Total Guitar Editor has died, aged 48
By Will Groves, Paul Elliott, Scott Rowley published
Gifted guitar tutor rose through the editorial ranks

“I looked around and everybody was just down”: Bruce Dickinson recalls his audition for Iron Maiden
By Paul Elliott published

“It’s a unique sound, the divinity of my vocal cords”: How Perry Farrell defined alternative rock with Jane’s Addiction
By Paul Elliott published
The album Nothing's Shocking was the antidote to hair metal

“It's The Beatles — but they're pretending to be another band? It breaks all the rules”: Gene Simmons on Sgt. Pepper
By Paul Elliott published
"It was almost music hall stuff," he says

“We would have absolutely lied through our teeth if there wasn't a full song”: How a TV jingle turned into a pop classic
By Paul Elliott published
The strange tale of The Carpenters' We've Only Just Begun
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