Damian Fanelli

Damian Fanelli

Editor-in-Chief, Guitar World

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

The Beatles
The guitar gear behind the Beatles' Let It Be sessions

By Damian Fanelli Last updated

The instruments beloved of John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison

Artists
Willie Dixon with his upright bass and a Fender guitar in the backyard of Muddy Waters' house in Westmont, Illinois on June 21, 1981
11 essential Willie Dixon covers

By Damian Fanelli Published

These covers – by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, the Rolling Stones, Buddy Guy, Cream, and more – show the influence of this hugely important figure in blues and rock history

Music Releases
null
Watch and listen to John Entwistle's isolated bass on The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again

By Damian Fanelli Last updated

The Who's John Entwistle died 21 years ago. Listen to this thunderous example of his talent…

Music Releases
Randy Rhoads
Randy Rhoads’ greatest guitar solos

By Nick Bowcott Published

We asked you and a string of guitar superstars such as Zakk Wylde, Kirk Hammett and Dave Mustaine to pick Randy's finest lead guitar moments, and the results are in...

Guitarists
John Frusciante tribute image
28 players name their favorite John Frusciante guitar moments

By Guitar World Staff Published

Steve Vai, Nita Strauss, Samantha Fish, Cory Wong and more weigh in on the RCHP guitarist's six-string highlights, from RHCP stadium-shakers to his solo instrumentals

Guitarists
August 2022
The ultimate '80s tribute, starring White Lion's Vito Bratta, Scorpions, Def Leppard and more – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli Published

Plus! The best '80s solos, riffs, albums and movies as chosen by Steve Stevens, Vernon Reid, Lita Ford, Steve Lukather, Reb Beach, Warren DeMartini, Adam Jones and more, more, more!

Music Releases
july 2022
Randy Rhoads: the ultimate 40th anniversary tribute – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli Published

Also in this issue: Ghost, the amazing history of Ibanez guitars, Joe Bonamassa's rut-busters, Fender's Meteora HH reviewed and more

Music Releases
Man playing Fender Telecaster electric guitar
Vote for the hottest guitarist in the world right now

By Damian Fanelli Published

Get out there and vote, people!

Guitarists
june 2022
The ultimate John Frusciante interview and an exclusive Alex Lifeson double feature – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli Published

Also in this issue: Body Count's Ice-T and Ernie C, Big Thief, Big Wreck, an exclusive Joe Bonamassa lesson and more

Music Releases
may 2022
30 instrumental masters, starring Tosin Abasi and Joe Satriani – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli Published

Also in this issue: Animals As Leaders, the world's first official look at Line 6's new DL4 MkII, John McLaughlin, Eddie Phillips, Volbeat, Khemmis, Squeeze and more

Music Releases
April 2022
Guitar shopping with Slash, Glenn Tipton unleashed, Robert Fripp's best and more – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli Published

Also in this issue: At the Gates, an overdrive-pedal overload, PRS Guitars' new SE Silver Sky, those dashing new Maestro pedals and more

Music Releases
March 2022
From Steve Vai to Cobra Kai, plus an exclusive Frank Zappa flashback – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli Published

Also in this issue: Alex Lifeson, Gov't Mule, B.B. King's tone secrets, Joe Bonamassa's new column and more

Music Releases
February 2022
Joe Bonamassa, Eric Gales and 2021's best new gear, albums, solos and riffs – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli Published

Also in this issue: 2021's biggest guitar news, Dead Kennedys tone secrets, Jimmie Vaughan, the lost sibling of Kirk Hammett's "Greeny" Les Paul and more

Music Releases
The Beatles
The Beatles' 50 greatest guitar songs

By Christopher Scapelliti, Damian Fanelli, Jimmy Brown Published

Charting George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney's very best six-string moments from the Fab Four's sprawling catalog

Music Releases
January 2022
Zakk Wylde's career in 12 songs, Mastodon's masterpiece and Steve Howe – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli Published

Also in this issue: Black Label Society, Tom Morello, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, John 5, Bad Religion's Brian Baker and more

Music Releases
Holiday 2021
The Edge revisits the trials, tribulations, tones and inspirations behind two classic U2 albums – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli Published

Also in this issue: Iron Maiden, K.K. Downing, Jerry Cantrell, Carlos Santana, Poison Ivy, Dr. Nico and more

Music Releases
December 2021
An exclusive John Petrucci lesson, plus tabs of Lennon and Harrison's greatest post-Beatles pairing – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli Published

Also in this issue: Mark Tremonti, Derek Trucks, Yngwie Malmsteen, the Black Crowes, new acoustics and more

Music Releases
November 2021
Hetfield and Hammett revisit Metallica's Black Album, plus the true origins of Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstein – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli Published

Also in this issue: Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Dirty Honey, Danko Jones, Ernie Isley, mighty mini pedals and more

Music Releases
October 2021
John Mayer: pink PRS guitars and the joys of channeling ’80s Eric Clapton – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli Published

Also in this issue: Billy Gibbons, Rise Against, Kiko Loureiro, the return of Kramer Guitars and Joe Bonamassa transcribed!

Music Releases
David Wilcox
Is this the best slide guitar freak-out you've never heard?

By Damian Fanelli Published

Every slide player needs to hear David Wilcox's masterful blues, That Hypnotizin’ Boogie

Guitarists
Guitar World's greatest magazine covers
The greatest Guitar World magazine covers of all time… revealed!

By Michael Astley-Brown, Jeff Kitts, Damian Fanelli Published

#GuitarWorld40: Here’s what you voted the best Guitar World covers ever

Magazines
null
Watch an 18-year-old Dimebag Darrell shred a jaw-dropping 7-minute guitar solo in 1984

By Damian Fanelli Published

A teenage Dimebag works his way through an early Pantera solo with his trusty Dean ML

Guitarists
(L-R) Buddy Guy and Jimi Hendrix
Watch this unearthed clip of Buddy Guy and Jimi Hendrix jamming in 1968

By Damian Fanelli Published

The rare footage of the loose but mesmerizing jam session was posted to the American Blues Scene YouTube channel

Guitarists
null
10 of the best slide guitar songs

By Damian Fanelli Published

From Derek Trucks to Elmore James, these slide tracks are essential listening

Music Releases
null
Paul McCartney's 6 best guitar solos with The Beatles

By Damian Fanelli Published

Though he was technically their bassist, Paul McCartney was responsible for many fine six-string moments in The Beatles catalog

Guitarists
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives