As music journalism's foremost chronicler of underground movements, Robb combines a historian's rigor with a participant's passion. His current focus areas through Louder Than War and book projects include:
"The best music writing happens when your shoes stick to the venue floor." - John Robb, 2024 Louder Than War manifesto
John Robb's four-decade career embodies the evolution of alternative music journalism. Beginning as a bassist in the seminal post-punk band The Membranes, Robb transitioned into writing during punk's late-1970s explosion. His early fanzine Rox laid groundwork for what would become a signature style: gritty, firsthand accounts of underground scenes.
This 2025 memoir-analysis hybrid traces alternative rock's DNA through Robb's frontline experiences. Combining new interviews with historical context, it reveals how punk's DIY ethos birthed successive waves of musical innovation. The work stands out for its intergenerational dialogue, featuring conversations with figures from Sex Pistols' collaborators to contemporary experimental artists.
Robb's 2025 Substack essay applies music subculture analysis to political movements, examining how networked organizations disrupt traditional power structures. The piece demonstrates his ability to connect cultural patterns across domains, using case studies from Iraqi insurgencies to digital activism.
Robb's 1987 live review captures the Stone Roses at their transformative peak. His prose vibrates with the energy of the Hacienda era while presciently identifying the band's potential to redefine British guitar music.
Robb prioritizes stories about self-sustaining music communities rather than industry-driven trends. Successful pitches might explore DIY venue networks, cassette tape revivals, or genre-blending regional scenes. His 2021 documentary on Alan McGee exemplifies interest in figures who bridge artistic and infrastructural roles.
He actively documents endangered musical histories through oral histories and archival work. Pitches should emphasize primary sources - recently discovered demo tapes, interviews with overlooked pioneers, or analyses of pre-digital distribution networks. Reference his 2019 book Death To Trad Rock as a model.
Robb's recent work examines how music cultures interact with technology, politics, and economics. Pitches might explore blockchain in artist compensation, climate change's impact on festival logistics, or sonic responses to urban development. His Substack piece on networked organizations demonstrates this systems-thinking approach.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Music, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
