Mike McCready

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Fender's Mike McCready Stratocaster

“Playability is where this guitar shines. This Strat is a player”: Fender Mike McCready Stratocaster review

By Daryl Robertson published

With its Road Worn finish and easy neck, the Pearl Jam guitarist's new signature Strat feels like it's had a few decades under its belt, and is just warming up

(from left) Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mike McCready and Jimi Hendrix

“I loved Hendrix – he was my first guitar hero... But seeing Stevie Ray Vaughan was transcendent. He made me understand Hendrix better”: Mike McCready says SRV helped him make sense of this Hendrix technique

By Matt Parker published

“When he [Vaughan] did Voodoo Child, it was so bad-ass," McCready says. “He changed how I wanted to play, and if you listen to Even Flow, you can hear me trying to emulate his stuff”

Mike McCready of Pearl Jam and Slash perform Paradise City onstage with Guns N' Roses in Seattle

“Two of rock’s elite guitar soloists go lick for lick”: Watch Slash and Mike McCready trade leads on Paradise City as the Pearl Jam guitarist joins Guns N’ Roses onstage

By Matt Parker published

McCready dropped in on the LA legend’s Seattle show for a barn-storming cameo

Mike McCready with his new Fender Signature Stratocaster

“My original ’60 Stratocaster will always sound the best. This one is right next to the best”: Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready on why he’s playing his more affordable signature guitar live, covering Eruption and embracing digital amps

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Now onto his second signature Fender, grunge’s answer to Stevie Ray Vaughan reflects on his greatest Stratocaster moment, how Eddie Van Halen and Chris Cornell inspired his guitar playing, and why you should be excited for the next Pearl Jam album – oh, and his rock opera about the Seattle scene

Mike McCready of Pearl Jam performs onstage at Pearl Jam Performs Live At The Apollo Theater For SiriusXM's Small Stage Series on September 10, 2022 in New York City.

“They’re some of the best amps I’ve ever played”: Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready on why he made the switch to Fender’s digital Tone Master amps

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The self-confessed tube lover changed up his backline for Pearl Jam’s 2022 US tour – but it wasn’t a decision he took lightly

Mike McCready of Pearl Jam performs onstage at Madison Square Garden on September 11, 2022 in New York City.

“Andrew Watt pushed us as hard as we could be pushed”: Pearl Jam’s energetic new album is “just about finished” – but Mike McCready is also working on a rock opera about the Seattle music scene

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The lead guitarist shares the first details of his ambitious new musical that honors Chris Cornell and other Seattle legends – and why he used Andrew Watt’s gear rather than his own for the rock veterans’ forthcoming record

Fender Mike McCready Stratocaster

“I’m honored to deliver a more approachable guitar to the next generation of players”: Fender makes Mike McCready’s iconic 1960 Stratocaster accessible to the masses with new signature model

By Matt Owen published

The Pearl Jam legend’s second signature Strat is vastly more affordable than its $15,000 Custom Shop sibling, but still carries all the hallmarks of McCready’s fabled 1960 workhorse

Mike McCready and Jeff Ament of Temple Of The Dog perform at The Forum on November 14, 2016 in Inglewood, California.

“So that harmonic, I'm kind of ripping The Firm's Radioactive”: How Jeff Ament discovered a slide harmonic on Pearl Jam’s Even Flow

By Nick Wells published

“I remember accidentally hitting harmonics and sliding on it, so I just started experimenting”

Dumble Special Overdrive, serial number 22

A lost Dumble Overdrive Special that's been called “possibly the greatest amplifier ever made“ has resurfaced after 40 years

By Jackson Maxwell published

Formerly owned by producer/guitarist Dennis Herring – known for his work with Bonnie Raitt and Buddy Guy – the amp now belongs to Jason Isbell

Jason Isbell (left) and Mike McCready

Watch Mike McCready share solo duties with Jason Isbell in epic guitar duel – on a 1960 Fender Stratocaster he borrowed from Isbell

By Matt Owen published

The performance of This Ain't It doubled as a fine vintage guitar display, with Isbell himself playing both a '50s Fender Telecaster and a 1961 Gibson SG

Stone Gossard performs live with Painted Shield, playing a Fender Custom Shop Mike McCready 1960 Stratocaster

Stone Gossard spotted playing Pearl Jam bandmate Mike McCready’s signature Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster onstage

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The $15,000 guitar appeared to be one of the Seattle rhythm king’s main squeezes at side-project Painted Shield’s debut shows

[L-R] St. Vincent and Nile Rodgers

St. Vincent and Nile Rodgers are working together in the studio

By Sam Roche published

Calling St. Vincent the “real deal”, the funk guitar legend says he's “trying not to lose his mind” at the thought of working with her

Mike McCready

Learn the rhythm and soloing styles of Pearl Jam's Mike McCready

By Martin Cooper published

A fusion of classic rock with elements of funk, Pearl Jam's sound is unique and slippery, and this lesson in McCready's style offers a stern test of your rhythm and pentatonic phrasing

WEMBLEY ARENA Photo of Mike McCREADY and PEARL JAM, Mike McCready performing live onstage

Mike McCready breaks down the gear and inspiration behind 15 landmark Pearl Jam tracks

By Jeff Gilbert published

In this classic 1995 interview, the Seattle great details how the tricks he “stole directly from Ace Frehley, Angus Young and Keith Richards” wound up on choice Pearl Jam and Temple of the Dog cuts

Nancy Wilson and Mike McCready

Watch Nancy Wilson and Mike McCready tear it up in raucous live cover of Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll

By Matt Parker published

The Pearl Jam man dropped in as a guest at the Heart legend’s recent Seattle show – and even borrowed her iconic Fender Telecaster

Mike McCready of Pearl Jam performs onstage at The Forum on May 07, 2022 in Inglewood, California.

Watch Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready pay tribute to Eddie Van Halen with Eruption cover

By Michael Astley-Brown published

McCready tackles the track’s iconic whammy bar dives and two-hand tapping on a vintage Strat

Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard, Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready perform live in May 2022

Pearl Jam break out digital amps and rare Gibson guitars on US tour

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Mike McCready is now rocking Fender Tone Master combos, while Stone Gossard and Eddie Vedder have been wielding obscure Gibson models

Ozzy Osbourne performs with Black Sabbath at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater on August 17, 2016 in Wantagh, New York

Ozzy Osbourne has completed his guest star-packed new album

By Jackson Maxwell published

The Prince of Darkness revealed on social media that he had delivered the completed album to his label, Epic

Mike McCready, Ozzy Osbourne and Josh Homme

Josh Homme and Mike McCready will appear on the new Ozzy Osbourne record, according to Chad Smith

By Matt Parker published

The Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer also revealed that Ozzy's team tried (and failed) to get Jimmy Page onboard

Mike McCready of Pearl Jam performs onstage during the 2021 Ohana Music Festival on October 2, 2021 in Dana Point, California.

Mike McCready confirms a more affordable version of his signature Fender Stratocaster is in the works

By Michael Astley-Brown published

A non-Custom Shop McCready Strat is on the cards – as is a new Pearl Jam album