Austin Scaggs

Austin William Scaggs, born on 2 August 1978 in San Francisco, is an American music critic and a contributing editor for Rolling Stone magazine who has also written for Men's Journal. He is the son of the musician Boz Scaggs. He read Rolling Stone as a child but never planned to go into music journalism; at 19 he moved to New York City to play guitar in a band and began interning at the magazine, then picked up small assignments and, after two years, travel assignments. Four years into the job he was given the Random Notes section, which had been his favourite as a child. He has interviewed prominent musicians including Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger and Ray Charles, and since 2001 he has helped plan annual tribute nights to various artists in New York City and Nashville.