Will Simpson

Will Simpson

News and features writer

Will Simpson is a freelance music expert whose work has appeared in Classic Rock, Classic Pop, Guitarist and Total Guitar magazine. He is the author of 'Freedom Through Football: Inside Britain's Most Intrepid Sports Club' and his second book 'An American Cricket Odyssey' is due out in 2025

Articles by: Will Simpson

RZA playing the piano

"I hope people use it to score their own lives, to transform a drive to the grocery store or sharing a meal with loved ones into something magical”: Wu Tang’s RZA has high hopes for his hip-hop ballet

By Will Simpson published

The coming of age story arrives in late August

Two young children playing xylophone

“Music making is fast becoming elitist. Sadly only those who can afford to make music out of the classroom can have music lessons in the UK”: Music For All calls on new government to improve access to music

By Will Simpson published

The charity launches its Music Makers’ Charter

Mercury Music prize 2024 nominees Corinne Bailey-Rae, Charlie XCX and Beth Gibbon

“Really great surprise to be part of the 12 Mercury albums of the year, something I never expected”: Beth Gibbons, Corinne Bailey Rae, Last Dinner Party all nominated for the Mercury Prize

By Will Simpson published

Female artists dominate the 2024 list

Ozzy Osbourne in Aston Villa kit

“The biggest frontman to ever come out of Birmingham”: Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler launch Aston Villa’s new kit

By Will Simpson published

Plus the bassist talks about his long battle with depression

Jacob Collier

“I recommend people try to make the worst song in the world”: Jacob Collier offers unusual creative advice

By Will Simpson last updated

It relieves the pressure of trying to be brilliant, apparently

Jack Gibson of Exodus

“We don't sell records. If we don't go out and sell t-shirts, we don't make money. I'm a t-shirt salesman. I'm not a musician”: Jack Gibson says there is ‘no music business’ any more

By Will Simpson published

Exodus bassist is jaded and he’s not afraid to show it

Paul McCartney in the studio

"I pulled it down quickly and I just looked at Paul and said, ‘What was that all about?!’" Beatles engineer Ken Scott reveals the reason behind Helter Skelter’s strange ending

By Will Simpson published

"Follow the money", he says recalling McCartney's odd studio direction

Spinal tap cast

“It was a threesome, and they were all in love... and, unfortunately, Godzilla crushed the other two, so it didn’t work”: Rob Reiner teases a release date for Spinal Tap II

By Will Simpson published

There are cameos for McCartney, Elton, Chad Smith and Lars Ulrich

Jack White in 2022

“The guy on the tills put this in my bag too… I asked and thought maybe it was his demo or something but he didn’t seem to have a clue, saying he’d just been told by ‘management’ to give it out to customers”: Jack White gives away his new album

By Will Simpson published

But only to customers at Third Man stores last Friday

Krist Novoselic

Come As You Are: Novoselic plays with Nirvana tribute act

By Will Simpson published

Plus he has more shows pencilled in for his Bon Fide Band

DJ Archie

"One day I was in the kitchen and heard music so I went upstairs and he had turned the equipment on and was playing music and mixing between 2 tracks – he was only 2 years and 10 months old”: Meet DJ Archie, the world’s youngest pro DJ

By Will Simpson published

Young Archie has just played Tomorrowland

AlphaTheta Serato

“We could not exclude a real chance that the merger would result in a substantial lessening of competition for DJ software, resulting in price rises and/or a lower quality offering”: AlphaTheta takeover of Serato is blocked

By Will Simpson published

New Zealand Commerce Commission argue DJs would lose out

Deep Purple, 2023

“I’ve played Smoke On The Water with some heavy metal drummers and not one of them has played it right. Ian lets the music do its work. He’s probably the most important member of the band”: Ian Gillan bigs up Deep Purple colleague Paice

By Will Simpson published

Plus Roger Glover recalls an old confrontation with Yes

Adele at the Euro 2024 final

“I want a big break after this and I think I want to do other creative things just for a little while”: Adele announces her own indefinite hiatus

By Will Simpson published

No new plans for record-breaking singer

Westlife performing in 2024

AI + Westlife: A vision of the future?

By Will Simpson published

Be afraid, be very afraid...

Ayres Sasaki

Brazilian rock singer Ayres Sasaki dies after freak electrocution accident

By Will Simpson published

Police are investigating incident at hotel in Salinopolis

Blur at Coachella 2024

“At Coachella, it’s taken you 14 hours to get there, and then you’re playing to people who don’t give a shit”: Graham Coxon is philosophical about Blur’s Coachella debacle

By Will Simpson published

Plus Damon Albarn comes down against banning phones at gigs

ZZ Top's 17-string bass

“I found it late at night while surfing on one of those Chinese websites. I couldn't believe they were making something like that”: How ZZ Top acquired their 17-string bass

By Will Simpson published

And now poor Francis Elwood has to play it at every show

In the studio with Caribou

“It makes me really happy to hear other peoples’ takes on my tracks”: Your invitation to remix Caribou

By Will Simpson published

Dan Snaith has uploaded the stems to his latest track

Spector Basses

"Ok, here we go...": Spector launches new range of Euro basses

By Will Simpson published

New LX and CSTs are here

Keanu Reeves, Tony Hawk

“Music was just a huge part of skating, especially in the formative years of the ‘70s and ‘80s”: Keanu Reeves and Tony Hawk talk about the skating/music crossover

By Will Simpson published

Actor and Dogstar bassist is a guest on the skate legend’s podcast

Deep Purple 2024

The Beethoven-inspired throwaway that become the most famous riff of all time: “We didn’t make a big deal out of it and it wasn’t being considered as a track for the album”

By Will Simpson published

Now Deep Purple return to Montreux... with added smoke

Bob Dylan and The Band, 1974

"The return of the single most important figure in rock music since Elvis": Before The Flood - Bob Dylan's nostalgia trip that became the future

By Will Simpson published

guitar New box set sees release of sets from 27 dates of 1974 tour

Cypress Hill

“It’s funny because it’s true”: (B) Real life imitates art

By Will Simpson published

It’s Cypress Hill v LSO, as predicted by the Simpsons in 1996

Eric Gales and Slash

“He doesn’t make it sound like he's trying”: Eric Gales and Slash play Hendrix on the S.E.R.P.E.N.T tour

By Will Simpson published

Younger man just nudges it with incredible solo

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