Damian Fanelli
Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor, and his non-Pulitzer-Prize-winning stories have appeared in Guitar Aficionado, Vintage Guitar, Total Guitar and countless other publications. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton and Ty Tabor chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums (one of which appears in the 2015 Disney film 'Tomorrowland' starring George Clooney and Britt Robertson). He's now in two NYC-area bands and plays Teles with four-way switches, B-benders and snazzy aftermarket pickups.
Latest articles by Damian Fanelli
April 2024 Guitar World lesson videos
By Damian Fanelli published
The one where Joe Bonamassa shows you how to play like an East Coast blues legend!
Green Day, Ace Frehley and George Harrison's last Beatles guitar – only in the new Guitar World
By Damian Fanelli published
Plus! Code Orange, Johnny Marr, Chelsea Wolfe, Eddie Martinez, Marty Friedman, Adam Jones and the sad tale of Ted Nugent's original Gibson Byrdland
March 2024 Guitar World lesson videos
By Damian Fanelli published
The one where Joe Bonamassa grabs a Strat and shows you how to play I Want to Shout About It!
A new in-depth look at Eric Clapton in the '60s, '70s and '80s – only in the new Guitar World
By Damian Fanelli published
Featuring brand-new Slowhand-centric interviews with Steve Lukather, Eddie Kramer, Albert Lee, Phil Palmer, Chuck Kirkpatrick, Danny Flowers, Albhy Galuten, Joe Bonamassa and more
Game-changers, taste-makers and trend-setters: here are 2023's guitarists of the year
By Guitar World Staff published
We tip our hats to the players that made 2023 such a defining year in guitar history – and whose achievements we'll be talking about in years to come
February 2024 Guitar World lesson videos
By Damian Fanelli published
Featuring Joe Bonamassa and his 1962/63 Gibson Les Paul/SG with Bigsby!
Wolfgang Van Halen, the year's best gear and 2023's guitarists of the year – only in the new Guitar World
By Damian Fanelli published
Plus! The year's biggest and wildest guitar news, a transcription of Jeff Beck's final masterpiece, Dethklok, Buzzcocks, Paul Stanley's son and more!
January 2024 Guitar World lesson videos
By Damian Fanelli published
Featuring Joe Bonamassa and his 1969 Fender Strat
“There it was, John’s voice, crystal clear. It’s quite emotional. And we all play on it – it’s a genuine Beatles recording”: The final Beatles song, Now and Then, has been released at last – but is it any good?
By Jackson Maxwell published
Built from a John Lennon demo, Now and Then features newly recorded contributions from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, with additional guitar work from the late George Harrison
Why Jimi Hendrix matters now more than ever – only in the new Guitar World
By Damian Fanelli published
Plus! The Rolling Stones, the amazing Mr. Jimmy, Baroness, Trevor Rabin, Steve Lukather, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Mateus Asato, the Velvet Underground's John Cale & more
Holiday 2023 Guitar World lesson videos
By Damian Fanelli published
Featuring Joe Bonamassa and his 1964 Gibson Firebird, plus an exclusive new Jimi Hendrix lesson by Andy Aledort
Joe Perry and Brad Whitford dissect Aerosmith's wild 50-year ride – only in the new Guitar World
By Damian Fanelli published
GW and Warren Haynes choose the late Robbie Robertson's essential tracks, plus K.K. Downing, the Mars Volta, the Hives, King Gizzard and more
December 2023 Guitar World lesson videos
By Damian Fanelli published
Featuring Joe Bonamassa's new video dedicated to the 1958 Gibson Flying V he calls "Famous Amos"!
The total '90s immersion experience you didn't know you needed – only in the new Guitar World
By Damian Fanelli published
Featuring fresh input from Kim Thayil, Dave Mustaine, Vernon Reid, Marc Ford, Marty Friedman, K.K. Downing, Andy Bell, Steve Stevens, Art Alexakis and more, more, more!
November 2023 Guitar World lesson videos
By Damian Fanelli published
Featuring Joe Bonamassa's new video about Tommy Bolin's 1960 Les Paul Standard and more
“He completely floored me. I hadn’t been so gung-ho about a guitar player since Jeff Beck”: How David Bowie helped launch Stevie Ray Vaughan’s career – and why their joint tour was canceled at the last minute
By Damian Fanelli published
Bowie’s Let’s Dance album introduced the future blues icon to the world. The pair were slated to perform together in support of the record, but SRV never got on the tour bus…
Steve Hackett called him “probably the most proficient tapper out there”: Watch underrated tapping genius Stanley Jordan apply his masterful technique to Stairway to Heaven – on two guitars at once
By Jackson Maxwell published
The visionary virtuoso put a jazzy and classical spin on a technique most often associated with hard-rock, and applied it to a bold reimagining of the Led Zeppelin classic
Nikki Sixx, John 5 and the ongoing Mötley Crüe brouhaha – only in the new Guitar World
By Damian Fanelli published
Plus! Buddy Guy, Nita Strauss, Oingo Boingo, In Flames, Drug Church, Dirty Honey, bluegrass shredders and a new Pink Floyd-style arrangement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata
October 2023 Guitar World lesson videos
By Damian Fanelli published
Featuring a new batch of videos by Joe Bonamassa, Andy Timmons, Josh Smith and more
Sophie Lloyd on the pros and cons of being 2023's reigning shred queen – only in the new Guitar World
By Damian Fanelli published
Also featuring new interviews with Vito Bratta, Warren Haynes and Jake Kiszka, plus Sevendust, Opeth, Dirty Honey, and a review of the new Boss SDE-3000 EVH Dual Digital Delay
September 2023 Guitar World lesson videos
By Damian Fanelli published
Featuring an exclusive Do or Die lesson starring Sophie Lloyd, plus a new batch of videos by Joe Bonamassa, Andy Timmons, Josh Smith and more
The Rise of Nuno Bettencourt, fully transcribed – only in the new Guitar World
By Damian Fanelli published
Plus! Win a Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA guitar!
August 2023 Guitar World lesson videos
By Damian Fanelli published
Plus! Win a Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA guitar!
Inside Zakk Wylde's heartfelt celebration of Pantera's Dimebag Darrell – only in the new Guitar World
By Damian Fanelli published
Plus! Neil Giraldo, the history of Aria Guitars, why Joe Bonamassa loves '54 Strats, Jesus Piece, Ally Venable, the life and times of Zal Yanovsky, a fuzz fiesta and more
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