Janelle Borg
Janelle is a staff writer at GuitarWorld.com. After a long stint in classical music, Janelle discovered the joys of playing guitar in dingy venues at the age of 13 and has never looked back. Janelle has written extensively about the intersection of music and technology, and how this is shaping the future of the music industry. She also had the pleasure of interviewing Dream Wife, K.Flay, Yīn Yīn, and Black Honey, among others. When she's not writing, you'll find her creating layers of delicious audio lasagna with her art-rock/psych-punk band ĠENN.
Latest articles by Janelle Borg
Ernie Isley on growing up with Jimi Hendrix and witnessing his fast-developing guitar playing in his living room
By Janelle Borg published
Hendrix lived with the Isley family from the spring of '63 through Thanksgiving of '65 – a period that was pivotal in shaping young Ernie Isley's musical taste
Jimmy Page reveals his favorite amp, which did “flippin’ everything” throughout his career
By Janelle Borg published
Page’s affinity for his modded Marshall head stood the test of time – so much so that his boutique Sundragon amps are inspired by its unique tone
Hollywood's go-to guitarist, Andrew Synowiec, on how he ended up playing on a Who record
By Janelle Borg published
The seasoned session guitarist received a last-minute call to step in and play a guitar part in a style not typically associated with The Who and Pete Townshend
The Breeders’ Kim Deal details Olivia Rodrigo’s love of guitars after opening her mammoth GUTS tour
By Janelle Borg published
Rodrigo's tour has been chock-full of guitar moments that pay homage to the female rock icons who came before her, while also paving her own way
Rick Springfield on the vintage Fender Stratocaster he feels “terrible” about buying
By Janelle Borg published
As a bona fide guitar collector, Springfield owns many storied guitars – including his trusty Gibson SG, on which he wrote his career-making hit
How Jason Narducy went from playing bass in a cult punk band to covering R.E.M. with Hollywood veteran Michael Shannon
By Janelle Borg published
Narducy describes the “mind-blowing” moment of meeting Peter Buck and picking his brain about how he plays some key R.E.M. classics
Ozzy Osbourne bassist Bob Daisley on taking a chance on Randy Rhoads – despite label pushback
By Janelle Borg published
Daisley remembers playing with Rhoads for the first time and knowing right away that the dynamic was special
Alex Van Halen reveals the real reason David Lee Roth quit Van Halen
By Janelle Borg published
In his recently-released book, Brothers, the Van Halen drummer talks about the push-and-pull dynamic between Roth and the two brothers, and what eventually led to the singer's departure following the 1984 Tour
When Oasis needed a new guitarist, Johnny Marr was ready to fill in alongside Noel Gallagher
By Janelle Borg published
Marr and the Gallagher brothers go way back, with The Smiths guitarist famously lending Noel one of his prized guitars after an early Oasis gig
Universal Audio packs classic Mesa/Boogie Rectifier sounds into stompbox form with its Knuckles '92 Dual Rec Amplifier pedal
By Janelle Borg published
With six classic microphone and cabinet configurations, and the original amp's green, orange, and red channel voicings, the new UAFX pedal aims to supply the authentic high-gain tones of punk, rock, and metal
Grace Bowers continues her winning streak with a wah-laden rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner at an NFL game
By Janelle Borg published
Over the past week, Bowers opened for The Roots, played with the house band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and made a surprise appearance at a Marcus King show
Paul Jackson Jr. on working with Michael Jackson – from his Jackson 5 era to Thriller, Beat It and beyond
By Janelle Borg published
Jackson Jr. reveals which guitar parts he played on Beat It – which also features the work of Steve Lukather and Eddie Van Halen
Peter Frampton and Keith Urban bust out the talk box for dueling solos at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony
By Janelle Borg published
After being introduced by The Who's Roger Daltrey, Frampton performed Baby (Somethin’s Happenin) and was later joined by Urban for a blistering rendition of the iconic Do You Feel Like We Do
Mikael Åkerfeldt explains why a Fender Telecaster was the only guitar he used on Opeth’s new album
By Janelle Borg published
Åkerfeldt had secretly used a Tele when he recorded the soundtrack to Netflix's 2022 miniseries Clark, but never wielded one with Opeth before recording The Last Will and Testament
Eric Clapton, Trey Anastasio, Bob Weir, Van Morrison, Mike Campbell, Lucinda Williams celebrate Robbie Robertson at epic Martin Scorsese-curated tribute
By Janelle Borg published
The nearly five-hour tribute concert took place on October 17 at Los Angeles' Kia Forum and included tracks from The Band and Robertson's post-Band career
Orianthi showcases her latest PRS custom build as she soundtracks the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show with two rock classics
By Janelle Borg published
The guitarist delivered solo-fueled renditions of I Love Rock 'N' Roll and Are You Gonna Go My Way as she accompanied some of the world's most high-profile supermodels down the catwalk
“The best news I have heard all year”: Rory Gallagher’s prized 1961 Strat to be donated to the National Museum of Ireland
By Janelle Borg published
Joe Bonamassa, who threw his weight behind the movement to keep the guitar in Ireland, publicly expressed his approval of the decision
Nikki Sixx reflects on Mötley Crüe's decision to oust Mick Mars
By Janelle Borg published
Initial statements that Mars decided to retire due to ongoing health issues were refuted by the guitarist, saying he was forced out and immediately replaced by John 5
Marcus King and Grace Bowers team up for a surprise solo-fueled rendition of a Kris Kristofferson classic on stage in New York
By Janelle Borg published
Bowers and King joined forces to pay tribute to the late country icon with a cover of Me & Bobby McGee
The Last Dinner Party's Emily Roberts moonlighted as Brian May in a Queen tribute band – now the guitar legend is endorsing her band
By Janelle Borg published
The Queen legend attended The Last Dinner Party's London show at the Eventim Apollo, praising their “good ol' dose of Rock Tonic”
The Doors’ Robby Krieger ditches his Gibson SG for a cardboard Telecaster to deliver his own take on a blues classic
By Janelle Borg published
Krieger debuts what looks like Cardboard Sessions' first-ever cardboard-built Tele, and trades solos with his son Waylon, who joins him on a matching cardboard Strat
“The paint was starting to come away in chips – he was almost crying”: How Rory Gallagher's 1961 Strat got its now-iconic relic’d finish
By Janelle Borg published
Gallagher's brother, Dónal, recalls the time Rory noticed that the paint on his beloved guitar was chipping away
Alex Van Halen reveals the real reason why the Van Halen tribute didn’t happen – and the advice Brian May gave him about the tour
By Janelle Borg published
Van Halen says that David Lee Roth's refusal to pay tribute to Eddie during the proposed tour was the straw that “broke the camel's back”
Former Primal Scream guitarist Barrie Cadogan reacts to playing Rory Gallagher's golden-era Gibsons
By Janelle Borg published
Cadogan notes how Gallagher managed to create such a distinct sound, even with relatively simple gear, as he tries out the legend's 1963 Gibson Melody Maker
Never-before-heard Jimi Hendrix demos are up for auction – and expected to sell for $260,000
By Janelle Borg published
The rare tape includes demos of key tracks from The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s sophomore album, Axis: Bold as Love – alongside other documents like dry-cleaning bills and tour itineraries
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