Joe Matera

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Joe Matera is an Australian guitarist and music journalist who has spent the past two decades interviewing a who's who of the rock and metal world and written for Guitar World, Total Guitar, Rolling Stone, Goldmine, Sound On Sound, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and many others. He is also a recording and performing musician and solo artist who has toured Europe on a regular basis and released several well-received albums including instrumental guitar rock outings through various European labels. Roxy Music's Phil Manzanera has called him, "... a great guitarist who knows what an electric guitar should sound like and plays a fluid pleasing style of rock." He's the author of Backstage Pass: The Grit and the Glamour.

Latest articles by Joe Matera

“Butch Vig told us that when Nirvana were working on Nevermind, they were A–B-ing my guitar and trying to replicate that sound”: The Smithereens' Jim Babjak looks back

By Joe Matera Published 27 February 23

The power-pop guitar hero talks embarrassing moments onstage, what makes the perfect guitar solo and what it’s like to have influenced Kurt Cobain

Guitarists

Rich Williams performs with Kansas at Comic-Con International 2017 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 23, 2017 in San Diego, California

Kansas' Rich Williams: "Strats are a mystery to me. I’d watch guys like Eric Johnson play a Strat and get such a beautiful sound, yet when I pick it up, it just sounds horrible!"

By Joe Matera Published 20 February 23

The prog-rock guitar titan discusses putting PRS pickups in his Dean Cadillac, what he learned from Steve Morse, and why Kansas made him get rid of his ES-335

Guitarists

Photo of Peter BUCK and REM, Peter Buck performing on stage

R.E.M.’s Peter Buck: “My first gig was horrible. The only thing I can remember is playing the Batman theme, and I’m not sure we even played the third chord”

By Joe Matera Published 4 January 23

The alt-rock icon talks the perils of touring without guitar tuners, sculpting bridges instead of solos and why writing songs is the best way to get better

Guitarists

Phil Manzanera: “When I lived in Venezuela, a British boy showed me how to play R&B like Chuck Berry and that was it. I was converted to rock ’n’ roll”

By Joe Matera Published 7 December 22

The longtime Roxy Music guitarist talks obscure gear, early gigs and embarrassing onstage moments

Guitarists

Guitarist Al Di Meola performs on stage at The Magnolia on September 24, 2019 in El Cajon, California.

Al Di Meola: "I see a lot of young players online with such super-phenomenal technique – but very rarely do I see it in the framework of a composition"

By Joe Matera Last updated 12 October 22

The fusion guitar master shares his thoughts on the next generation of players, maintaining speed on the fretboard, and what makes his '59 Gibson Les Paul the best-sounding guitar he's ever played

Guitarists

Goo Goo Dolls’ John Rzeznik on taking the plunge on vintage guitars, longevity, and why he will never be a social media star

By Joe Matera Published 12 August 22

The Buffalo, NY, rock stalwarts return with Chaos in Bloom, a record produced by Rzeznik, featuring some truly epicurean tones. Here, the guitarist tells us how it all came together

Guitarists

Beabadoobee onstage in the sunshine at Finsbury Park, London

Beabadoobee talks alternate tunings, “weird, strange” recording techniques, and the subconscious influence of ‘90s grunge and alt-rock

By Joe Matera Published 12 August 22

The self-taught Gen Z guitar hero returns with the brilliant sophomore album, Beatopia, and explains how fresh tunings spring forth fresh musical ideas

Artists

10 questions for Yngwie Malmsteen: “I’m an extremist in everything I do. More is more in everything”

By Joe Matera Published 8 August 22

The shred king talks regrets, first gigs and explains why he never has a bad show

Artists

Yngwie Malmsteen performs at the Marshall: 50 years of Loud event at Wembley Arena on September 22, 2012 in London

Yngwie Malmsteen: "You can’t 'build' speed – you play it until you have it perfect. There are no shortcuts and no tricks"

By Joe Matera Published 30 June 22

In this 2010 edition of Dear Guitar Hero, the neoclassical shred great explains why the Strat is the Stradivarius of electric guitars, how he actually uses those Marshall stacks, and the biggest misconception people have about his playing

Guitarists

Johnny Rotten (left) and Steve Jones perform live onstage with the Sex Pistols at Dunstable's Queensway Hall in 1976

Steve Jones on joining the Sex Pistols: "The only spot open in the band was guitarist, so I had to do that or f**k off"

By Joe Matera Published 16 June 22

In this archival GW chat, the punk guitar ace discusses the Pistols' origins, and his first Les Paul

Bands

John Rzeznik reveals the experimental guitar tuning secrets behind Goo Goo Dolls’ classic hits

By Joe Matera Published 25 February 22

The frontman details his approach to creating sonically distinct guitar parts, and shares the real tunings behind Iris, Big Machine, Let Love In and many more

Guitars

Steve Hackett: "My first professional gig with Genesis was a complete disaster. I forgot every single note I was supposed to play"

By Joe Matera Published 16 June 21

Inquirer: The former Genesis and GTR six-stringer talks nightmare gigs, his favorite piece of gear and new acoustic album

Guitarists

The history of instrumental rock

By Joe Matera Published 2 July 20

We look back at 60 years of the electric guitar-driven instrumental, from Link Wray and the Shadows to Dick Dale, Joe Satriani, Polyphia, Roopam Garg and beyond...

Artists

Def Leppard: "Steve Clark was a very unique player - he didn't get enough credit for the stuff he was doing"

By Joe Matera Published 25 June 20

Joe Elliott and Phil Collen look back at the band's first two albums - On Through The Night and High ‘N’ Dry - and the impact of guitarists Pete Willis and Steve Clark

Artists