Beth Simpson

Beth Simpson

News and features writer

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

Latest articles by Beth Simpson

Alex Van Halen knighted in the Netherlands for his part in “remarkable chapter in rock music”

By Beth Simpson Published

Drummer received the award in the town of Nijmegen

Drummers
“He was a stone cold assassin!” The Neil Peart documentary trailer in up now on Youtube

By Beth Simpson Published

Chad Smith, Copeland, Danny Carey and more pay tribute in No One’s Disciple

Drummers
“She had an unmistakable vocal tone and phrasing”: Blues jazz singer Cassandra Wilson has died, aged 70

By Beth Simpson Published

Manager says the double Grammy winner passed peacefully at home

Singers & Songwriters
“An incompetent blackmailer”: Alanis Morissette to sue “terrible” ex tour manager

By Beth Simpson Published

Lawsuit alleges drug trafficking, extortion and the booking of a $70,000 hotel room

Singers & Songwriters
“It works in different music styles”: Anika Nilles and TAMA collaborate on a signature snare

By Beth Simpson Published

AN1465 has a modern sound with a vintage look

Snare Drums
“Many people would love to make music, they just need an invitation”: UK's biggest music-making weekend returns

By Beth Simpson Published

You can even register your own event now

Music & Tech Events
Olivia Rodrigo at Daisy Chain Fields Festival 2026 held at Great Park on August 29, 2026 in Irvine, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
“I am still in a bit of disbelief": Olivia Rodrigo reflects on the success of Daisy Chain Fields

By Beth Simpson Published

Event with all-female bill took place in Irvine, California on Saturday

Artists
Sam Smith and Tom Petty
"That's why I was annoyed”: Sam Smith reflects on their 2015 songwriting dispute with Tom Petty

By Beth Simpson Published

Smith says they’re now a fan of Petty’s music, and regrets not writing back to him

Artists
“I thought it was a terrible name”: How Queen almost became Build Your Own Boat

By Beth Simpson Published

Name was Brian May’s idea, says Freddie Mercury’s ex, Mary Austin

Singers & Songwriters
Duane Keith Davis found guilty of the murder of Tupac Shakur

By Beth Simpson Published

Crips leader confessed to the killing in a 2019 memoir

Singers & Songwriters
Doja Cat and Ella Langley
"I just don't like it": Doja Cat offers a refreshingly honest take on Ella Langley's Choosin' Texas

By Beth Simpson Published

“The song's not bad. It's literally not bad. The music isn't bad. I just don't like it"

Artists
Jay-Z and Rick Rubin
Jay-Z and Rick Rubin to team up for new documentary series

By Beth Simpson Published

JAŸ-Z In 8 to start streaming in September

Artists
Shirley Manson and Olivia Rodrigo
“I told her it was very unusual”: How Olivia Rodrigo brought the personal touch to her own festival

By Beth Simpson Published

Event with all-female bill is on this Sunday

Gigs & Festivals
Stage Tour
Extreme, the Rolling Stones, The Cure, Paramore, Weezer and Radiohead are all heading to Stage Tour

By Beth Simpson Published

It'll be released on 10 December

Guitars
AMAGANSETT, NEW YORK - AUGUST 26: John Mayer performs live for SiriusXM at The Stephen Talkhouse on August 26, 2026 in Amagansett, New York. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
John Mayer honours Dolly Parton with a tender electric guitar cover of I Will Always Love You

By Beth Simpson Published

Harry Styles and Kesha also pay tribute during live shows

Gigs & Festivals
Alex Warren and John Mayer
Alex Warren busts out his air guitar as he reveals the touching reason why John Mayer is on his new album

By Beth Simpson Published

Singer has posted clip of himself miming Mayer’s guitar part

Singers & Songwriters
Members of the British rock band The Beatles, Paul McCartney (left) and John Lennon (1940 - 1980), sing into a microphone as they play their instruments at the taping of a segment for 'Toast of the Town,' the CBS variety program hosted by Ed Sullivan, New York, August 14, 1965. The segment aired as part of Sullivan's 19th season opener on September 12, 1965. (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)
Day Tripper without the guitar riff? Hear rare recording of Lennon and McCartney writing a classic

By Beth Simpson Published

Fluffed lyrics and laughter are included, though

Artists
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 08: Dolly Parton performs onstage during MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Dolly Parton at Los Angeles Convention Center on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and Jack White join the tributes to the late great Dolly Parton

By Beth Simpson Published

Singer-songwriter and cultural icon died yesterday, aged 80

Singers & Songwriters
Freddie Mercury auction
A Yamaha C3 grand piano and AKG C414 EB mic used by Freddie Mercury are heading for auction

By Beth Simpson Published

Reinhold Mack, a former engineer at Munich’s Musicland studios, is selling up

Artists
Oasis
“I don’t think Liam realised or the first week”: How the first Oasis rehearsals in 15 years were filmed secretly

By Beth Simpson Published

Documentary hits cinemas on 9 September

Gigs & Festivals
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 02: Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Paul Stanley of KISS perform during the final show of KISS: End of the Road World Tour at Madison Square Garden on December 02, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Gene Simmons confirms why Kiss can never play live again without permission

By Beth Simpson Published

Band sold their catalogue and publishing to Swedish firm Pophouse in 2024

Bands
Amy WInehouse
Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black to get the 20th anniversary deluxe reissue treatment

By Beth Simpson Published

Album went 15 times platinum in the UK alone

Artists
US singer and songwriter Paul Simon (L) performs with bass guitarist Bakithi Kumalo on the Auditorum Stravinski stage during the 42nd Montreux Jazz Festival on July 9, 2008 in Montreux. The festival runs from July 4 to July 19. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
How Paul Simon courted controversy and channelled a midlife crisis to create his biggest '80s hit

By Beth Simpson Published

Graceland, the album it came from, was released 40 years ago today

Artists
UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 01: Oscar Peterson performs on a television show filmed in London, England in March 1984. (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns)
AI models can identify jazz pianists based on their recordings and reveal their "musical fingerprints"

By Beth Simpson Published

Research could be used to suggest possible authors of unattributed works, say its authors

Tech
MADRID, SPAIN - JULY 20: Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top performs on stage during Noches del Botanico music festival at Real Jardin Botanico Alfonso XIII on July 20, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Mariano Regidor/Getty Images)
"Some of you probably know there’s a new man in town”: ZZ Top return days after Frank Beard’s death

By Beth Simpson Published

Michael Monahan is behind the kit on their current US tour

Gigs & Festivals
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