Steve Howe is not predisposed to retreat, particularly not in the morning. One of rock music’s most respected and prolific guitar heroes — and a cornerstone of two enduringly iconic classic-rock bands — Howe has eased up just a bit on his overtime, with an eye on getting back to his solo career.

Consider a world where Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and the Eagles were all regular visitors to your house. A world where George Harrison was "Uncle George" who lived next door, and one where Mama Cass Elliott was your babysitter. Now consider guitarist Gunnar Nelson and his brother Matthew, because that's the world they grew up in. The sons of the legendary Ricky Nelson were privy to music royalty nearly every single day of their childhood.

Guitar Center’s Blues Masters competition, launched recently through a partnership with guitarist Joe Bonamassa, is offering 10 musicians the chance to perform in Los Angeles backed by Bonamassa’s band. It also will provide one until-now-undiscovered blues guitarist with an opportunity for development and exposure under the tutelage of one of the biggest names in blues rock.

He is held in the highest regard by Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, was close friends with Jimi Hendrix, and his mid-Sixties recordings with the Yardbirds invented the sound for heavy metal guitar. But what Guitar World readers really want to know is ...