John Stix

Latest articles by John Stix

Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen
Randy Rhoads on the struggle to become his own player and avoid the Eddie Van Halen comparisons

By Phil Weller Published

From the Archive He was regularly compared to Eddie Van Halen, but Randy Rhoads struggled with the height of his hype

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From the Archive
Bob Weir performs onstage with Dead & Company at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 6, 2023
Bob Weir's 6 principles of rhythm guitar

By John Stix Published

Often overlooked in guitar circles when compared to Grateful Dead bandmate Jerry Garcia, Weir was a brilliant rhythm player who blended jazz, folk, country, blues, and rockabilly influences into a style that any guitarist would do well to study

Artist Lessons
Ozzy Osbourne (left) and Randy Rhoads perform at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York on August 14, 1981
Why some of the guitar parts on Ozzy Osbourne's Diary of a Madman made Randy Rhoads “cringe”

By Jackson Maxwell Published

Ever humble, the late guitar legend told GW in a 1982 interview that he felt many of his contributions to the album “lack feeling”

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Guitarists
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Eddie Van Halen discusses his early influences and groundbreaking technique in his first Guitar World interview from 1981

By John Stix Published

For his very first cover, the late guitar god sat down with Guitar World to detail his fresh approach to the instrument – and what he made of being called "the world's greatest guitarist"

Artists
[L-R] Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads
Randy Rhoads: "I started tuning up and Ozzy said, 'You've got the gig.' I didn't even get to play!"

By John Stix Published

The late guitar legend talks learning through teaching and his early days with Ozzy Osbourne in this classic Guitar World interview from 1982

Artists