Former Hot Press journalist and publisher Barry McIlheney has passed away

Team Hot Press is deeply saddened by the news that one of our early and very valued contributors, Barry McIlheney, has passed away aged just 65.

If memory serves us right, his first HP commission was reviewing Status Quo at the Antrim Forum. After which, there really was no turning back...

His death was announced by his brother Colin who says: "It is with a very heavy heart that I have to share the news that my brother Barry died unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of yesterday morning, Monday 26th May at his home in Spain. This has come as a terrible shock to our family and especially to Lola, Frankie and Mary. We all loved Barry very much and I shared a close bond with him which is evident in the photo of us together recently at one of his favourite restaurants (Barry is on the right). He will be very much missed by us all."

Born in Belfast, Barry moved down south during the 1970s to study at Trinity whilst also playing with hometown punk band Shock Treatment, and from there headed to London where his byline regularly appeared in Melody Maker. During his tenure in King's Reach Tower, he was a tireless champion of The Pogues and infamously fell foul of Kevin Rowlands who didn't appreciate one of his features.

Appointed editor of Smash Hits in 1986, he oversaw the doubling of the title's circulation to 800,000 and then did a similarly stellar job as the man in charge at the film magazine, Empire.

Both of these were published by EMAP who in 1984 handed Barry a Managing Director role. After launching Heat magazine in 1999 and also steering the likes of Q and Mojo in the right direction, he became CEO of EMAP Elan whose other titles included Elle, Red and The Face.

From there, he presided over the 2008 relaunch of the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport and from 2009 ran his own media consultancy, returned to frontline journalistic duties with The Word and became CEO of the Professional Publishers Association.

In 2018 Barry was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Magazines Ireland and also hosted a publishing seminar in Dublin where much wisdom was imparted. In 2024, Shock Treatment reconvened and recorded an album, Exclusive Photos, that recaptured all of that old punk magic.

Here's some of the reaction to the sad news...

Barry McIlheney, the founding editor of Empire Magazine, has sadly died at the age of 65.

Writer, editor, publisher, broadcaster, and Shock Treatment punk rocker McIlheney served as Empire editor from 1989-1992. We will miss him greatly.

Read our tribute:… pic.twitter.com/0d8him1Tkl

— Empire (@empiremagazine) May 27, 2025

The IEF is shocked and saddened at the sudden loss of one of our great supporters Barry McIlheney.
Barry hosted many events for us in London and was always willing to introduce people to the work of the Fund. pic.twitter.com/JZzrwdNW5D

— Integrated Education Fund (@IEFNI) May 27, 2025

My friend Barry McIlheney has died. A great writer..editor and even greater friend. Opened my eyes to a world of poetry and melody. You will be missed

— @theblowmonkeys.bsky.social (@theblowmonkeys) May 27, 2025

So sorry to learn that our good friend Barry McIlheney has died suddenly

An absolute titan of the publishing world and not a bad singer either

Condolences to his family and many many friends

💔 https://t.co/lq8B1orQyf

— Silent Running (@SilentRunningUK) May 27, 2025