Paul Stenning

Last updated

Paul Stenning
Paul Stenning author.jpg
Stenning in Mauritius, 2019
BornPaul David Stenning
(1976-06-12) 12 June 1976 (age 48)
Brighton, East Sussex, England
OccupationWriter
Education Urmston Grammar
Period1990s–present
Genres
  • Biography
  • poetry
  • criticism
Children1

Paul David Stenning (born 12 June 1976) is an English author and ghostwriter. He has written twenty-nine books, of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and biography. The best-known of his books is The Robert Pattinson Album, a biography of Robert Pattinson, first published in 2009 and appearing in seven languages since then. [1]

Contents

Early life

Stenning was born in Brighton in East Sussex. [2] [3] His family moved to Manchester when he was eight years old. [4] Stenning attended Urmston Grammar School amongst others, including Bury Church of England High School.

Take That and early career

Stenning wrote poetry through his late teens and submitted his first poem in late 1999, which was published as part of an anthology titled Magical Memories, a year later. [5]

During this time he worked for Take That as assistant to their financial advisor Simon Orange, the brother of Jason Orange. During his time working at the office in Cheadle he had an accident where he fell through a roof inside the building and was almost electrocuted. [6]

He also worked as a DJ, often playing sets before live concerts, particularly before shows at the Manchester Apollo. [7]

Periodical Journalism

Stenning has said music was his first love and he wrote music reviews for fun during his teens. [4] In the mid-1990s he submitted reviews to Metal Hammer where he soon became a regular contributor. Other music magazines he wrote for included Rolling Stone , Record Collector , Metal Maniacs , Decibel , BraveWords , Terrorizer and Alternative Press . He has also written for FHM , Front and, after moving to Cyprus in 2008, the Cyprus Weekly. He continues to contribute to Record Collector most recently interviewing Fish and writing on Gamble Rogers. [8] [9] Stenning contributed a piece to The Independent newspaper on the anniversary of Michael Hutchence's passing. [10]

Ghostwriter and author

Stenning's first book was on Guns N' Roses, an unofficial biography that was later cited as the most accurate book on the band by guitarist Slash. [11] [12]

He also wrote unofficial biographies of Iron Maiden, Metallica, My Chemical Romance, Rage Against the Machine and AC/DC. Stenning describes Tommy Vance and especially the Friday Rock Show as big influences on his early career. He dedicated his biographies of Iron Maiden and Slash to Vance. [13] [14]

He has conducted hundreds of interviews including Meat Loaf, Pete Best, Alice Cooper, Steve Guttenberg, Kathy Sledge, Peter Steele, John Myatt and Linda Hamilton. Stenning's interviews often run over the allotted time allowed. He spoke to Peter Steele and Leslie Easterbrook for almost 3 hours despite an interview restriction of an hour. Easterbrook told Stenning he asks "great questions". [5] [12] [15] In 2006, Stenning interviewed Steven Adler live onstage at The Cavern Club in Liverpool. [11] [16]

After working on a biography of Robert Pattinson, Stenning focused on areas beyond music. Since 2009 he has worked primarily as a ghostwriter, working with Patty Schnyder, Jason Newsted, Frank Abagnale, Tomáš Berdych, Steven Adler, Adam Dubin, [17] U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted Fugitives Jody K Thompson [12] and British champion wrestler Ray Robinson. [18] [19]

In 2013 Stenning released Success – By Those Who've Made It, which featured Mario Andretti, Jörgen Elofsson, Ching He Huang, Cherie Lunghi, Roy 'Chubby' Brown, Greg Merson, Susan Polgar, Phil Gallagher aka Mister Maker and Penelope Spheeris. [20] Anne Wafula Strike was the last personal biography featured in the book, which Stenning explained was because her story was the most powerful and the greatest example of success. [21] [22] After the book was released, Stenning gave talks on success at corporate events, festivals and schools. [23]

Stenning's books have been released in multiple languages with several titles in Bulgarian, Polish and Portuguese. [24]

Since 2018 he has been the official poet for the tourist board of Guinea-Bissau. [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30]

Stenning is the host of The Minder Podcast, launched in 2021. [31] He also chaired a roundtable discussion for the Dragonfly podcast regarding the murder of Brett Cantor. [32]

Personal life

Stenning has a wife and daughter. He travels around the world to ghostwrite and is based in the United States and Cyprus. [33]

Stenning has been a campaigner for animal rights since his teens and is a vegetarian. [34] He is a fan of the Baltimore Orioles, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers. [35]

Bibliography

As official biographer or co-writer

As writer

Related Research Articles

<i>Metallica</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Metallica

Metallica is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on August 12, 1991, by Elektra Records. Recording sessions took place at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles over an eight-month span that frequently found Metallica at odds with their new producer Bob Rock. The album marked a change in the band's music from the thrash metal style of their previous four albums to a slower, heavier, and more refined sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metallica</span> American heavy metal band

Metallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrumentals and aggressive musicianship made them one of the founding "big four" bands of thrash metal, alongside Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer. Metallica's current lineup comprises founding members and primary songwriters Hetfield and Ulrich, longtime lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo. Guitarist Dave Mustaine, who formed Megadeth after being fired from Metallica, and bassists Ron McGovney, Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted are former members of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iron Maiden</span> English heavy metal band

Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most of the band's history has consisted of Harris, lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson, drummer Nicko McBrain, and guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers. As pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal movement, Iron Maiden released a series of UK and US Platinum and Gold albums, including 1980's debut album, 1981's Killers, and 1982's The Number of the Beast – its first album with Dickinson, who in 1981 replaced Paul Di'Anno as lead singer. The addition of Dickinson was a turning point in their career, establishing them as one of heavy metal's most important bands. The Number of the Beast is among the most popular heavy metal albums of all time, having sold almost 20 million copies worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penelope Spheeris</span> American film director and producer

Penelope Spheeris is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. She has directed both documentary and scripted films. Her best-known works include the trilogy titled The Decline of Western Civilization, each covering an aspect of Los Angeles underground culture, and Wayne's World, her highest-grossing film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Abagnale</span> American security consultant and former fraudster (born 1948)

Frank William Abagnale Jr. is an American security consultant, author, and convicted felon who committed frauds that mainly targeted individuals and small businesses. He later gained notoriety in the late 1970s by claiming a diverse range of workplace frauds, many of which have since been placed in doubt by one author. In 1980, Abagnale co-wrote his autobiography, Catch Me If You Can, which built a narrative around these claimed frauds. The book inspired the film of the same name directed by Steven Spielberg in 2002, in which Abagnale was portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. He has also written four other books. Abagnale runs Abagnale and Associates, a consulting firm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Newsted</span> American bassist (born 1963)

Jason Curtis Newsted is an American musician, best known as the bassist of heavy metal band Metallica from 1986 to 2001. He performed with thrash metal band Flotsam and Jetsam for the first five years of his career before joining Metallica in October 1986 to succeed Cliff Burton, who died the month prior. Newsted performed on the albums ...And Justice for All (1988), Metallica (1991), Load (1996), Reload (1997) and Garage Inc. (1998). He left the group in January 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Hetfield</span> American musician (born 1963)

James Alan Hetfield is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, co-founder, and a primary songwriter of heavy metal band Metallica. He is mainly known for his intricate rhythm playing, but occasionally performs lead guitar duties and solos both live and in studio. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering an advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler. Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards and released 11 studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays, and 24 singles. Hetfield is often regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal rhythm guitar players of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velvet Revolver</span> American hard rock supergroup

Velvet Revolver was an American hard rock supergroup consisting of Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, alongside Dave Kushner formerly of punk band Wasted Youth, and Scott Weiland formerly of Stone Temple Pilots. The band formed in 2002 and was active until 2008, when Weiland was fired from the band and subsequently rejoined Stone Temple Pilots.

<i>Iron Maiden</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden is the debut studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 11 April 1980 by EMI Records in the UK and Harvest and Capitol Records in the US. The North American version included the song "Sanctuary", released in the UK as a non-album single. In 1998, along with the rest of the band's pre-1995 releases, Iron Maiden was remastered with "Sanctuary" added in all territories. However, 2014 vinyl reissues, 2015 digital releases and 2018 CD reissues use the original track listing across the globe. It is the band's only album to feature guitarist Dennis Stratton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Sorum</span> American drummer

Matthew William Sorum is an American drummer. He is best known as both a former member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he recorded three studio albums, and as a member of the supergroup Velvet Revolver. Sorum is currently on tour with Billy Gibbons, with whom he also records, is a member of the touring project Kings of Chaos, and is a former member of both The Cult and Y Kant Tori Read. Sorum was also a member of Guns N' Roses side projects, Slash's Snakepit and Neurotic Outsiders, and has released two solo albums, Hollywood Zen (2004) and Stratosphere (2014). He was the touring drummer for the supergroup Hollywood Vampires from 2015 to 2017. His latest project is Deadland Ritual, featuring Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler, Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens, and Apocalyptica vocalist Franky Perez.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilby Clarke</span> American guitarist

Gilbert J. Clarke is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is known for having a three-year tenure as the rhythm guitarist of Guns N' Roses, replacing Izzy Stradlin in 1991 during the Use Your Illusion Tour, and also featured on "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993). Following this, Clarke went on to forge a solo career as well playing guitar with Slash's Snakepit, Kat Men, Heart, Nancy Sinatra, Kathy Valentine, MC5 and forming his own group Rock Star Supernova with members of Metallica and Mötley Crüe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leslie Easterbrook</span> American actress

Leslie Easterbrook is an American actress and producer. She played Sgt./Lt./Capt. Debbie Callahan in the Police Academy films and Rhonda Lee on the television series Laverne & Shirley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monsters of Rock</span> Former heavy metal music festival

Monsters of Rock was a hard rock and heavy metal music festival. It was originally held annually in Castle Donington, England, from 1980 to 1996, taking place every year except 1989 and 1993. It later branched into other locations such as the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the United States, and Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Inez</span> American bassist

Michael Allen Inez is an American rock musician and bassist. Since 1993, Inez has been the bassist of the American rock band Alice in Chains. He is also recognized for his work with Ozzy Osbourne from 1989 to 1993. Inez also has connections with Slash's Snakepit, Black Label Society, Spys4Darwin, and Heart. Inez has earned seven Grammy Award nominations as a member of Alice in Chains.

Ross William Halfin is a British rock music photographer. Since the late 1970s he has worked for some of the biggest acts in rock and heavy metal, including Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, The Who, Kiss, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Def Leppard and many others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lonn Friend</span> American journalist and author (born 1956)

Lonn Friend is an American journalist and author. Friend is best known for his work in the late 1980s and '90s as editor of RIP Magazine. Friend began his career in 1982, as associate editor of Hustler Magazine, the flagship journal of Larry Flynt Publications (LFP). After rising to senior editor at Hustler, he transitioned to Executive Editor of Chic Magazine, and then to RIP in the Spring of 1987. RIP was the first non-pornographic publication produced by LFP. Friend documented his experiences with the heroes of heavy metal in his 2006 memoir, Life on Planet Rock, and released his follow-up, Sweet Demotion, in 2011. He is currently the host of Energize: The Lonn Friend Podcast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Tichy</span> American drummer

Brian Tichy is an American musician, best known as having been the drummer for Whitesnake, Billy Idol, Foreigner, Sass Jordan, and Ozzy Osbourne. He was the drummer of Whitesnake from 2010 to 2013. His surname means silent in Czech, Slovak and other Slavic languages. In 2015, he became a full-time member of Operation: Mindcrime and The Dead Daisies.

Heavy: The Story of Metal is a four-part documentary special that aired on VH1 from May 22 to 25, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Pattinson</span> English actor (born 1986)

Robert Douglas Thomas Pattinson is an English actor. Known for starring in both major studio productions and independent films, Pattinson is among the world's highest-paid actors. In 2010, Time included him in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world, and he was also featured in the Forbes Celebrity 100. Born and raised in Barnes, London, England, Pattinson started acting at age fifteen in a London theatre club. He made early screen appearances in supporting roles, including in Vanity Fair (2004), and played Cedric Diggory in the fantasy film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005).

Anne Wafula Strike MBE is a Harlow-based British Paralympic wheelchair racer.

References

  1. ↑ Formats and Editions of The Robert Pattinson album [WorldCat.org]. OCLC   428777221.
  2. ↑ Stenning, Paul (24 November 2013). Success – By Those Who've Made It. Pg.230. In Flight Books. ISBN   978-1628475869.
  3. ↑ "Paul Stenning".[ permanent dead link ]
  4. 1 2 Brett Davison Interview, BBC, July 2005. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01g28s9
  5. 1 2 "Live Preston & Fylde magazine", March 2014
  6. ↑ BBC Radio Lancashire 15 August 2020
  7. ↑ BBC Radio 5 Live interview with Dawn Dunlop, December 2015
  8. ↑ "June 2021 Issue - Record Collector Magazine".
  9. ↑ "Under the Radar - Record Collector Magazine".
  10. ↑ "Elegantly Wasted: Behind the scenes with Michael Hutchence" . Independent.co.uk . 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
  11. 1 2 Devolution magazine interview https://devolutionmagazine.co.uk/ Issue 20, 2009.
  12. 1 2 3 "The ghost writer".
  13. ↑ Iron Maiden: 30 Years of the Beast (2006). ISBN   978-1842403617.
  14. ↑ Slash: Surviving Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver And Rock's Snakepit (2007). ISBN   978-1786064196.
  15. ↑ "U.K. Journalist: Music Will Be Lesser Without PETER STEELE's Impact". 15 April 2010.
  16. ↑ The Cavern Club: The Rise of The Beatles and Merseybeat, Spencer Leigh
  17. ↑ "Press – Adam Dubin". adamdubin.com.
  18. ↑ "Wrestler hoping life story will be great hit". Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  19. ↑ "Marty helps Ray's book to be a forearm smash". oldham-chronicle.co.uk.
  20. ↑ "News – Page 2". jorgenelofsson.com.
  21. ↑ "Ambassadors | Access Rating - Disabled Access Reviews". 30 August 2020.
  22. ↑ Stenning, Paul (24 November 2013). Success – By Those Who've Made It. Pg. 203–207. In Flight Books. ISBN   978-1628475869.
  23. ↑ Live Preston & Fylde http://www.live-magazines.co.uk/regions/preston-fylde/ magazine interview 2014, Pg. 118 Arts & Culture.
  24. ↑ "Paul Stenning". id.oclc.org. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  25. ↑ "Rios and Lagoons". January 2014.
  26. ↑ "BIJAGÓS ISLANDS - Guinea Bissau Ecotourism". 10 November 2013.
  27. ↑ "Beaches". January 2014.
  28. ↑ "Forests". January 2014.
  29. ↑ "Folk - Handicrafts". January 2014.
  30. ↑ "Historic Places". January 2014.
  31. ↑ "The Minder Podcast". IMDb .
  32. ↑ "Episodes | Dragonfly Podcast". dragonflypodcast.com.
  33. ↑ "Stenning - SCRIBIOMEMO".
  34. ↑ The Cyprus Weekly, 20 May issue, 2016
  35. ↑ "Paul Stenning - StoryTerrace".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.