Articles by: Jeff Kitts

Guitar World

As a teenager, Jeff Kitts began his career in the mid ’80s as editor of an underground heavy metal fanzine in the bedroom of his parents’ house. From there he went on to write for countless rock and metal magazines around the world – including Circus, Hit Parader, Metal Maniacs, Rock Power and others – and in 1992 began working as an assistant editor at Guitar World. During his 27 years at Guitar World, Jeff served in multiple editorial capacities, including managing editor and executive editor before finally departing as editorial director in 2018. Jeff has authored several books and continues to write for Guitar World and other publications and teaches English full time in New Jersey. His first (and still favorite) guitar was a black Ibanez RG550.

Articles by: Jeff Kitts

K.K. Downing (left) and Glenn Tipton perform live onstage with Judas Priest on June 11, 1984 in Chicago

K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton dissect 17 of Judas Priest's loudest, fastest and toughest tracks

By Jeff Kitts published 25 October 22

In this classic GW interview, one of rock's all-time greatest guitar duos discuss Judas Priest's greatest hits, including the song they see as the band's Stairway to Heaven

Singer/guitarist Chris Cornell (right) and guitarist Kim Thayil of Soundgarden pose for a portrait on December 1, 1993 in New York City, New York.

Chris Cornell and Kim Thayil dissect Soundgarden's masterpiece, Superunknown

By Jeff Kitts published 18 May 22

In this classic 2014 interview, Cornell and Thayil break down the tones, tunings and ambition behind the album that made Soundgarden one of alternative rock's biggest bands

Austin Meade on tracking against the clock, nerding out with pedals, and why his PRS Mira is the best of both worlds

By Jeff Kitts published 13 December 21

The Texas blues-rocker’s new album, Black Sheep, is soulful, swampy and psychedelic, and took just nine days to make

Black Veil Brides' Jake Pitts and Jinxx on silver linings, defying the haters, and the digital guitar gear revolution

By Jeff Kitts published 19 July 21

Returning with The Phantom Tomorrow, the Brides are finding joy in persistence, and putting cutting-edge modeling tech and plugins to good use

Evile's Ol Drake on resisting progress, out-Hetfielding Hetfield, and the gory taste of thrash

By Jeff Kitts last updated 14 July 21

Returning with Hell Unleashed, the British thrash champs' lead guitarist turned lead vocalist walks us through the brutal transition

Harakiri for the Sky's Matthias Sollak talks amplifier worship, pandemic blues and picking up the black metal torch from Bathory

By Jeff Kitts published 2 June 21

With their fifth album, Mære, the Austrian metallers hope new music will wipe out the bleak nothingness of 2020

Damon Johnson on hard-rock heroes, the joy of independence and feeling like Bono when playing shows at his fans' houses

By Jeff Kitts published 31 May 21

On new album Battle Lessons, the former Black Star Riders, Alice Cooper and Thin Lizzy guitarist is a true force of nature

Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher of Royal Blood perform live on the Main Stage during day one of Reading Festival 2019 at Richfield Avenue on August 23, 2019 in Reading, England.

Royal Blood's Mike Kerr: "I wanted to have full access to my playing on this record – and part of that was laying off the booze"

By Jeff Kitts published 21 April 21

As the British riff merchants release monster third record, Typhoons, the duo's bass-toting frontman details the band's sonic – and personal – evolution

The life and times of Alexi Laiho, the Wildchild who revolutionized demonic shred

By Jeff Kitts published 23 March 21

Guitar World pays tribute to the Children of Bodom guitarist who changed the face of metal in the 1990s and 2000s

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath performs on stage at British Summer Time Festival at Hyde Park on July 4, 2014 in London, United Kingdom.

Tony Iommi names the best (and worst) Black Sabbath albums

By Jeff Kitts published 19 February 21

The heart and soul of Black Sabbath offers his own thoughts on the highs and lows of the band's vast discography

40 guitarists who changed our world since 1980

By Jeff Kitts, Guitar World Staff published 9 December 20

The players who revolutionized guitar technique and tone over the past 40 years

Dimebag Darrell reveals his 12 favorite metal tracks in this classic 1993 Guitar World interview

By Jeff Kitts published 8 December 20

The legendary Pantera guitarist shares the top heavy-hitting tunes every guitarist should know

Guitar World has a long history of uniting guitar legends – as evidenced in these classic covers

By Jeff Kitts published 28 October 20

#GuitarWorld40: We look back at some iconic – and surprising – cover pairings

What were Guitar World's first-ever tab transcriptions?

By Jeff Kitts published 9 October 20

#GuitarWorld40: May 1988 marked the debut of tab in Guitar World

The story of the Fender Splatocaster, the surreal Custom Shop creation born from a Guitar World competition

By Jeff Kitts published 30 September 20

#GuitarWorld40: This aluminum, fluid-filled Stratocaster design became one of the most difficult Custom Shop builds ever

#GuitarWorld40: celebrating 40 years of the world's biggest guitar magazine

By Jeff Kitts last updated 17 November 20

Taking you behind the star-studded thrills, six-string skills and a few classic spills...

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

By Michael Astley-Brown, Jeff Kitts, Damian Fanelli published 23 September 20

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

Guitar World covers depicting artists most frequently featured

The 4 artists who have appeared on Guitar World's cover more than any other

By Jeff Kitts published 15 September 20

#GuitarWorld40: the guitarists that made their mark again and again

The birth of Guitar World: looking back at the very first issue

By Jeff Kitts published 10 September 20

#GuitarWorld40: how it all began for the world’s biggest guitar brand

Wishbone Ash's Andy Powell: “Profiling amps keep you from killing the music by spending hours trying to get the definitive guitar sound“

By Jeff Kitts published 7 September 20

As British prog-rock perennials Wishbone Ash return, Andy Powell talks tech, social media and being a "guitar nut"

Testament's Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson on creating turbulent music for turbulent times

By Jeff Kitts published 26 August 20

The Testament guitarists on their gear philosophies, the evolution of their sound, and why Chuck Billy remains their toughest critic

Lamb of God's Mark Morton and Willie Adler on creative kinship, staying power, and trading heavyweight riffs

By Jeff Kitts published 18 June 20

One of the most formidable guitar tandems in metal unpack the story of their explosive new album, Lamb of God

Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge

Alter Bridge: "All I want to do is learn new guitar lines on Instagram and get inspired by other players - it’s like I’m 21 years old again"

By Jeff Kitts published 22 April 20

Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti discuss solo projects, dealing with such a large creative output and their latest album Walk The Sky

Austin Meade: "Heavier songs give us more opportunities to create guitar tradeoffs"

By Jeff Kitts published 9 March 20

He’s just a good ol’ boy from Texas with a flair for heartfelt Americana rock and a killer mustache, trying to make a name for himself

The 50 best Iron Maiden songs of all time

By Brad Angle, Richard Bienstock, Jeff Kitts published 28 January 20

Troopers, Killers, Damned Children, and Ancient Mariners! Guitar World proudly presents the 50 greatest Maiden tracks

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