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Kirk Hammett didn’t play rhythm guitar on Metallica's first five albums. That all changed with 1996’s controversial Load
In an attempt to explore new musical directions, Hammett was summoned to share rhythm guitar duties with James Hetfield, helping to kickstart a new phase for Metallica
Alex Lifeson’s 20 greatest guitar moments in Rush
From fever-dream epics to blistering solos, weird harmonizer effects and 12-string chime, here are Lerxst’s finest hours with the iconic Canadian prog trio
Why Converge’s Kurt Ballou uses digital amp modelers live (even if he disappoints gearheads)
When it’s time to board the tour bus, there’s only one piece of gear Ballou needs for his tones
Kirk Hammett tumbles off stage as Metallica pay tribute to Thin Lizzy in Ireland
The band’s first of two nights in Dublin saw Hammett embark on some unplanned choreography during a thrash classic
Nuno Bettencourt names the Extreme track that changed his life overnight
Bettencourt and his bandmates fought hard for the song that would eventually become Extreme's most enduring hit
Wolfgang Van Halen opens up on his Van Halen cover anxiety at Taylor Hawkins tribute concert
The show, he says, was “do-or-die”
How a late-night drinking session with Lars Ulrich almost ruined Robert Trujillo’s Metallica audition
Robert Trujillo was announced as Metallica's new bassist on February 24, 2003, following a two-day try-out for the metal giants
Johnny Marr to sell nearly 100 pieces of gear at auction – including some prized Smiths-era guitars
Guitars that have featured on some of the Smiths’ biggest songs, and moonlighted in Oasis, are up for grabs
The accident that led Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard to play an obscure Fender model
The alt-rock statesman's relationship with the Bullet, a beginner-friendly model, began with a gift that he thought at the time was an act of pure, unprompted generosity. He didn't quite know the whole story...
