
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. He has written liner notes for classic album reissues by artists such as Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy and Kiss. He lives in Bath - of which David Coverdale recently said: “How very Roman of you!”
Latest articles by Paul Elliott

“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

“Gilmour’s Strat went for four million”: The man with the $1billion guitar collection
By Paul Elliott published
The late Jim Irsay also had Kurt Cobain’s famous Mustang

“Don’t get precious about your songs. We’re going to tear them apart”: Producer Mutt Lange’s first words to Def Leppard
By Paul Elliott published
How Leppard's 'sixth member' took them to a new level

“Eddie says, ‘Let’s go back to the ’80s, so put down your phones!”: Iron Maiden ask fans to limit phone use at shows
By Paul Elliott published
“We would very much like you to be ‘in the moment’,” says manager Rod Smallwood

“In his prime, he was the super frontman of all time”: The rock superstar hailed by Gene Simmons as the GOAT
By Paul Elliott published
And no - he ain't talkin' 'bout himself!

“He went into this trance state as he played”: A close encounter with the genius of Eddie Van Halen
By Paul Elliott published
The insider's view of how EVH reinvented himself on the 5150 album

“Paul’s basslines are iconic, not technically challenging”: How McCartney’s sidekick Brian Ray juggles bass and guitar
By Paul Elliott published
"Even if you’re not a bass player, you know these parts"

“We threw strings at the track and it exploded”: How a pop anthem turned into a wedding song favourite
By Paul Elliott published
“The first idea I had was in the bath," the singer says

“If you’re a singer, you’re totally reliant on your body”: Why Iron Maiden had to change singers to reach the next level
By Paul Elliott published
Guitarist Adrian Smith remembers a pivotal moment in Maiden’s history
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