Features

Eric Johnson tells us why vintage is not always best (even if he regrets selling his ’54 Strat)

By David Mead published 25 May 26

The guitar-tone guru reflects on the instruments that have passed through his hands, and offers some advice for anyone shopping for a new guitar

How Jason Falkner went from St. Vincent and Beck to a last-minute tour with Foo Fighters

By Andrew Daly published 25 May 26

When the veteran guitarist filled in for Pat Smear, he had to learn 23 songs in four days

Meet Spencer Mackenzie, the Canadian blues-rock maestro covering Rory Gallagher and learning when to unleash his “ginormous” lead tone

By Amit Sharma published 25 May 26

Mackenzie says he’s learning all the time to control the dynamic between sweet and acoustic and "rip-your-face-off" drive sounds – and you can hear it on new album, Empty Chairs

“I woke up to Eric and George playing ukuleles at the foot of my bed”: The first time session pro George Terry met a Beatle

By Matt Owen published 25 May 26

Terry was Clapton's guitarist in the 1970s, and through Slowhand he was able to meet a particularly famous face

The first time Rickey Medlocke played Lynyrd Skynyrd’s iconic Free Bird guitar solo

By Matt Owen published 25 May 26

Medlocke rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd as their new guitar player in the early 1990s, and one of his main responsibilities ever since has been to tackle Allen Collins’ legendary lead effort

Bruce Watson on the birth of Big Country, Stuart Adamson’s legacy and the secret to bagpipe guitar

By Scott Rowley published 24 May 26

Bruce Watson shares the guitar story of the Scottish rock stalwarts, the "Itch and Itch" amps so crucial to his tone, and how “Scotland’s answer to Jimi Hendrix” was the heart of Big Country's sound

How John Paul Jones became Led Zeppelin’s ultimate wingman

By Nick Wells published 24 May 26

Armed with years of experience as a session bassist and arranger – having worked with the Yardbirds, Jeff Beck and the Rolling Stones – John Paul Jones could do it all

Joe Bonamassa tells the story of the strangest guitar deal he ever did

By Matt Parker published 24 May 26

The Bolin ’Burst is famed for its association with Deep Purple guitarist Tommy Bolin – but its route to Bonamassa was considerably less direct

Roger Glover’s path to bass greatness with Deep Purple

By Chris Jisi published 23 May 26

Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, Deep Purple formed the holy trinity of hard rock that would ultimately induce heavy metal

The rise and fall of Dag Nasty – and the making of a melodic hardcore classic

By Gregory Adams published 23 May 26

Brian Baker took a gamble. He used his college fund to buy a van, hit the road and pursued a life making hardcore punk, and with Can I Say, he had a different vision for its sound