Features

Richard Oakes on the making of Suede’s 1996 Brit-pop classic Coming Up

By Andrew Daly published 5 May 26

Guitarist Richard Oakes arrived in the band as Bernard Butler's replacement – a relative rookie. Suede were supposedly cooked. And yet in songs like Trash and Beautiful Ones, they had something special indeed

How fast-rising blues ace Laura Chavez found her voice on guitar

By Damon Orion published 5 May 26

On her solo debut, the longtime backup musician proves she’s got far more than the blues in her bag

38 bassists appeared on Bob Dylan albums before Tony Garnier came onboard. In the 37 years since, no others have

By Chris Jisi published 4 May 26

With a career backing artists like Bob Dylan, Dr. John, Chuck Berry, and Tom Waits, Tony Garnier is a walking textbook of bass history

Marshall Crenshaw on his Karen Carpenter tribute, why collecting is "infantile" and how he was made in Detroit

By Joe Bosso published 4 May 26

From the Hellhole collects deep cuts and EP tracks from the ’10s and it presents a unique insight into an artist who believes FM ruined radio – and who would do as many takes as it took

Joe Perry tells all about that “too cool” electric you saw on MTV when Walk This Way came on

By Andrew Daly published 4 May 26

The Aerosmith guitarist's mid-’80s X-100 Blade Runner is so cool it makes you wonder why Guild doesn't bring it back

Gary Shea’s never-say-never approach to Alcatrazz, New England… and maybe even Vinnie Vincent

By Andrew Daly published 4 May 26

The left-handed bassist discusses the pitfalls of being with Kiss’ management, selling his Ampeg gear to Malmsteen’s band, and releasing a record that shows what might have been with Vincent

When Bakithi Kumalo got the call to audition for Paul Simon’s 1986 multi-platinum album

By E.E. Bradman published 3 May 26

Kumalo had been helping out a local mechanic when he was invited to Ovation Studios in downtown Johannesburg

Josh Hager on the deceptive genius of the late Devo guitarist Bob Casale

By Andrew Daly published 3 May 26

With his custom yellow Fender in hand, Hager is playing the new wave classics as best he can – and having a good time while doing it

What’s cookin’ on the Skillet pedalboards? Korey Cooper and Seth Morrison reveal all

By Andrew Daly published 2 May 26

Or how Skillet kept growing and the ’board kept growing until the Boss MIDI switcher assumed executive function on Cooper and Morrison's live rig

Jason Walker on touring with fellow Beatles freak Gene Simmons

By Andrew Daly published 2 May 26

His professional career started at 14, but it was a chance booking in Las Vegas that really changed the Gibson fan’s life