Janelle Borg

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.

Articles by: Janelle Borg

Duff McKagan and Slash of Guns N' Roses at the Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, July 19, 1988

“He was living in his mom’s basement because he’s like 18. And he starts playing guitar… and then he brings out his snake”: Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan on the moment he met Slash (and his plus one)

By Janelle Borg published

Duff McKagan recalls a teenage Slash bringing along an unexpected guest to their first-ever meeting

Left-Gene Simmons of Kiss performs on stage during a concert at the Rod Laver Arena on August 20, 2022 in Melbourne Australia; Right-Jimmy Page performs onstage during the 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on November 03, 2023 in New York City

“He came up to me after the show and said, ‘Mate, you can give John Entwistle a run for his money’”: Gene Simmons recalls the moment Jimmy Page complimented his bass playing – and turned out to be a KISS fan

By Janelle Borg published

The KISS bassist on that time he nearly passed out after Jimmy Page praised his bass playing

Left-Serj Tankian of System of a Down performs at the Banc of California Stadium on February 04, 2022 in Los Angeles, California; Right - Buckethead performs in support of his "Happy Birthday MJ 23" release at Ace of Spades on July 3, 2016 in Sacramento, California

“He’d call me at four in the morning and leave a 15-minute guitar solo on my voicemail”: Serj Tankian on his collaborations with the enigmatic Buckethead – and the time they played a high school battle of the bands together

By Janelle Borg published

From taxidermy-inspired music videos to playing a high school battle of the bands as fully grown adults, the System of a Down frontman recalls his artistic camaraderie with Buckethead

Ritchie Blackmore performs onstage at the Velodrom in Berlin, Germany on April 18, 2018

“I like to have a blast plugging into my Engl amp – even if it's just to wake up the neighbors”: Ritchie Blackmore swapped rock for Renaissance music – but says he’s still not above cranking a tube amp once in awhile

By Janelle Borg published

The former Deep Purple guitarist says he's still disenchanted with rock, but not with his Engl amp

Sophie Lloyd performs onstage at the 2023 Sports Illustrated Super Bowl Party at Talking Stick Resort early on February 12, 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona

“I was not expecting that much demand!”: Sophie Lloyd announces her highly-anticipated first headline show – and sells it out in five minutes

By Janelle Borg published

After touring the world with Machine Gun Kelly, the fast-rising guitar star celebrates her debut album with a special London headline

Joe Bonamassa and Orianthi live on stage playing guitar

“Joe Bonamassa's gonna come out right now and shred it up”: It’s PRS vs Gibson, as Orianthi and Bonamassa give their studio collaboration First Time Blues a masterful live outing

By Janelle Borg published

In a solo-laden show at the Whisky A-Go-Go, the two virtuosos traded licks – also tackling B.B. King’s Never Make Your Move

close up shots of DiMarzio bass pickups

“An improvement in both dynamics and string-to-string balance”: DiMarzio and Billy Sheehan have reinvented the P-Bass pickup with a new patent

By Janelle Borg published

The new DiMarzio design reimagines P-Bass pickup covers, promising improvements in both playability and performance

Joe Bonamassa performs on Day 8 of 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at Fair Grounds Race Course on May 05, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana

“A brand-new Marshall and an Epiphone, if you dial it in right, can sound like a sunburst Les Paul through a vintage Bluesbreaker”: Joe Bonamassa explains why great tones are “much cheaper than people realize”

By Janelle Borg published

The blues ace and vintage guitar collector says you don't need expensive gear to get classic tones

L-Tony Iommi performs with Black Sabbath onstage at Madison Square Garden on February 25, 2016 in New York City;R-Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen performs at Music Midtown at Piedmont Park on September 19, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia

“That was a riff that I really liked, and that was Eddie Van Halen’s favorite”: Tony Iommi reveals the Black Sabbath riff EVH was always asking him to play

By Janelle Borg published

Eddie Van Halen compared his favorite Tony Iommi riff to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony

Musician Rusty Anderson (L) and Paul McCartney perform during Desert Trip at The Empire Polo Club on October 15, 2016 in Indio, California

“I was in shock for the first few days – I never thought I'd meet a Beatle, much less play with one”: Rusty Anderson on how he became Paul McCartney's guitarist

By Janelle Borg published

Rusty Anderson recalls the moment he met Paul McCartney – and recorded with him on the same day

Guitarist Robin Trower performs at Royal Oak Music Theater on April 7, 2018 in Royal Oak, Michigan

“I have struggled with this decision but realize I cannot continue touring at this time”: Robin Trower cancels North American tour due to health concerns

By Janelle Borg published

While the guitar legend was forced to cancel his upcoming tour due to imminent major surgery, he's hopeful that he will return to the stage in the future

Eddie Van Halen and Leslie West perform live

“I said, ‘The winner is…’ and pulled a piece of paper out of my pocket – and said, ‘Edward… uh… Van Halen!’” Unseen footage of Eddie Van Halen and Leslie West's onstage jams and backstage hangs has been unearthed

By Janelle Borg published

In 2002, Eddie Van Halen joined Mountain on and offstage – and cameras were there to capture the moment

Left-Michael Anthony of Sammy Hagar and The Circle performs at The Fillmore on October 23, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan; Right-Drummer Alex Van Halen of Van Halen performs on stage at Sleep Train Amphitheatre on September 30, 2015 in Chula Vista, California

“It's the end of anything that that could have been tribute-wise”: Michael Anthony gives his thoughts on Alex Van Halen selling all his gear

By Janelle Borg published

Michael Anthony gives his thoughts on Alex Van Halen selling all his gear

oe Talbot, Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan of IDLES perform live on stage at O2 Academy Brixton on January 16, 2022 in London, England

“We didn’t really tune our guitars. We’d tune to the track. He’s like, ‘No, listen to what you’re playing’”: IDLES explain why Radiohead’s producer banned them from using guitar tuners

By Janelle Borg published

IDLES enlisted Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich to push their sonic palette via tape loops and not tuning their guitars

Emily Roberts of The Last Dinner Party performs on the Woodsies stage during day 4 of Glastonbury Festival 2023 Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 24, 2023 in Glastonbury, England

“I spent an entire summer solidly trying to get inside Brian’s playing, hearing all the little details”: The Last Dinner Party’s Emily Roberts on how a Brian May tribute gig radically changed her guitar playing

By Janelle Borg published

Before The Last Dinner Party, Emily Roberts took the role of Brian May in a Queen tribute band

Press photo of Pixies in 2024

“It’s a very zombie, rock ‘n’ roll horror movie setting”: Pixies release first music with new bassist

By Janelle Borg published

AA-side single You’re So Impatient / Que Sera, Sera goes from punk-infused to dark folk tale in the span of five minutes

Solar Guitars AB2.6CAR and AB2.6C MKII

“Enhanced features at more affordable prices”: Solar Guitars brings premium metal guitar specs to new $599 lineup

By Janelle Borg published

With the addition of locking tuners, Solar's latest models position themselves as “pro instruments at a killer price”

Slash performs with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators at OVO Arena Wembley on April 05, 2024 in London, England

“My intention when I buy them is to use them... You’ve got David Gilmour’s Black Strat. Are you gonna take it down to the local pub and jam?” Slash on why he won’t spend money on famous guitars

By Janelle Borg published

And whether we can expect a Slash guitar auction anytime soon…

Stio ft Taylor Guitars next to each other

“I made a dedicated spot for a Taylor guitar within each store and encouraged people to play by offering discounts of 5% off for one song”: The Taylor GS Mini just got a surprise makeover – from a mountain lifestyle brand

By Janelle Borg published

Taylor Guitars' collaboration with Stio puts an artistic, mountain lifestyle-inspired twist on the popular Taylor model

L-Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols performs in their first North American concert at The Great Southeast Music Hall on January 5, 1978 in Atlanta, Georgia; R- Steve Jones' Gibson Les Paul

“Malcolm was managing the Dolls for a while. I guess they owed him money and gave it to him as payment”: This Sex Pistols and New York Dolls-owned Gibson just sold for $390,000 at auction

By Janelle Borg published

The Dolls' ex-manager allegedly took the guitar as payment for his management services, later giving it to The Sex Pistols' Steve Jones

Ibrahim Ag Alhabib performs onstage with Tinariwen at the Glastonbury Festival on June 24, 2023

“A diabolically overdriven outburst of riffing… there can be no more fitting sendoff to this uncompromising sonic innovator”: May 2024 Guitar World editors’ picks

By Michael Astley-Brown published

From acoustic wizards to bedroom pop mainstays, prog-metal masters and fallen heroes – here are our standout guitar tracks from the past 31 days

L-John Martyn performing on stage at the 1974 Rock Proms at Olympia London on July 5 1974; R- John Martyn's 1954 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top

“He stopped using the Strats and from then on played a Gibson Les Paul. These were retired, stolen, sold off”: Folk and blues guitar icon John Martyn's guitar gear is up for auction – including two 1954 Gibson Les Paul Goldtops

By Janelle Borg published

The John Martyn-synonymous Echoplex is also part of the auction

Spanish musician Paco de Lucia (born Francisco Sanchez Gomez, 1947 - 2014) plays guitar during the World Music Institute 'Flamenco Festival New York 2004' concert at the Beacon Theater, New York, New York, February 27, 2004

“Two prodigies born in the same house with such enormous talent can only happen once every 100,000 years”: Lost recordings from flamenco virtuoso Paco de Lucía have been discovered – after spending 60 years stored in a meat can

By Janelle Borg published

The 21 new tracks highlight guitar virtuoso Paco de Lucía's extraordinary talent at just 11 years old

Meowdulator pedal – and cats

“It’s weird. It’s glitchy. Sometimes it’s its own animal. But it is a little kitty cat”: Meet the Meowdulator, a pedal that makes your guitar sound like a cat (yes, really)

By Janelle Borg published

The world's first guitar cat synthesizer pedal has three meow controllers and eight unique voicings, ranging from Staccato Kitten to Acid Kitty Synth

L-Bob Dylan plays a Fender Telecaster electric guitar as he performs on stage at the Westchester County Center on February 5, 1966 in White Plains, New York;R-Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson's 1965 Fender Telecaster

“When Bob Dylan really did go electric, nearly 60 years ago, this Fender Telecaster was one of his most crucial weapons”: Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson's 1965 Fender Telecaster fetches a whopping $650,000 at auction

By Janelle Borg published

The 1965 Fender Telecaster was used by both Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson throughout their careers, and played on stage by Eric Clapton