
Jonathan Horsley
Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to publications including Guitar World, MusicRadar and Total Guitar. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.
Latest articles by Jonathan Horsley

David Byrne on what happened when Talking Heads met Lou Reed
By Jonathan Horsley published
Byrne says Reed wanted to sign Talking Heads to a management-production deal but they backed out because they thought they were too green

Joe Perry joined by STP and Black Crowes stars as solo project returns but he isn't ruling out one more Aerosmith show
By Jonathan Horsley published
As the all-star Joe Perry Project takes to the stage featuring Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes and Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots, he shares some thoughts on what’s next for Aerosmith

Stephen Carpenter’s ESP Horizon Custom from the Back to School video has been valued at $55,000
By Jonathan Horsley published
The S-style – which was used on Around the Fur – has been verified by Carpenter himself

Jason Momoa orders super-gnarly replica of James Hetfield’s iconic white Elektra OGV
By Jonathan Horsley published
Momoa's downstroke game better be on point because Krupi Guitars went to town on recreating the guitar that made Metallica

Zakk Wylde on how his iconic “Grail” Les Paul Custom got its bullseye finish – and gave him his signature style
By Jonathan Horsley published
Wylde says it was love at first sight with the Grail, but worried that people might see him as a Randy Rhoads clone, it needed a new look

Noel Gallagher shares pics of his Oasis reunion live rig – and we are definitely maybe interested
By Jonathan Horsley published
There are a biblical amount of boost options on Gallagher's board, but it is his SIB Echodrive that we'd swap our lasagna for

Paul Reed Smith on that time Kramer called him to help them make a guitar for Eddie Van Halen
By Jonathan Horsley published
Smith was asked what he would have made if Van Halen had ever asked for a PRS guitar – but it turned out to be something of a trick question

Every guitar featured in the trailer for Spinal Tap II, from St. Vincent’s Music Man to Joe Satriani’s Ibanez JS-3
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Spinal Tap II trailer is finally here – and this is what Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins and Derek Smalls will be playing in the movie

“When it came out, going by the comments on our social media, people were like, ‘What is this?’” How The 1975’s Adam Hann took a “jokey heavy riff” and turned it into the band’s first proper rock song
By Jonathan Horsley published
Hann looks back on the making of The 1975's sleazy, greasy protest anthem, People

Boss's RT-2 Rotary Ensemble offers vintage Leslie mojo in a compact pedal with a super cool display
By Jonathan Horsley published
The RT-2 is a pedalboard-friendly gateway to that heady Leslie vibe, featuring three modes, a drive control, switchable speeds and more

“The brains of older musicians stay finely tuned thanks to years of training”: Scientists say long-term musical training helps stop age-related decline – so keep on playing your guitar
By Jonathan Horsley published
A newly published study finds that playing an instrument pays off in later years
![Zia Cyan shreds on Instagram [left]. Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine riffs onstage at Norway's Tons Of Rock Festival 2025](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TDZpXhNEANsNq94k87kRE9.jpg)
Instagram guitarist posts Megadeth cover – and Dave Mustaine shows up in the comments with some riff advice
By Jonathan Horsley published
Zia Cyan's cover of Angry Again was met with approval from Mustaine, who revealed it's actually easier than how she was playing it

Keith Urban offers first look at his Tele-inspired PRS signature model
By Jonathan Horsley published
Urban saw John Mayer with his Dead Spec Silver Sky and set about designing a guitar that he too could use for a whole set – and it has an f-hole shaped after his tattoo

Have the origins of air guitar been found? Unearthed footage contests Joe Cocker at Woodstock theory
By Jonathan Horsley published
A 1968 promo clip of English psych-rockers Rupert’s People suggests Hampstead Heath in London – not Woodstock – was the birthplace of air guitar

Alice Cooper’s new guitarist on why Glen Buxton is a seriously underrated guitar hero
By Jonathan Horsley published
The Alice Cooper Band’s Gyasi Heus argues that Buxton’s guitar is the essential ingredient in those classic Coop recordings – and the legend Bob Ezrin agrees

Best compressor pedals 2025: control your tone with the must-have utility pedal
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
With great options from Boss, Keeley, MXR, and more, there has never been a better time to add a comp pedal to your 'board
![[L-R] Eric Gales, Buddy Guy and Little Jimmy King: Gales has just announced a tribute LP to Little Jimmy King, aka Manuel Gales, covering his late brother's songs, and the first single features Buddy Guy.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5NgZoZgPfo6Gek5fuThzP8.jpg)
Eric Gales taps Buddy Guy to pay tribute to his older brother – a forgotten hero of blues guitar
By Jonathan Horsley published
A Tribute to LJK celebrates the life and legacy of Gales' brother, Manuel Gales, aka Little Jimmy King, and features guest spots from Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith, and Christone "Kingfish" Ingram

Fender expands its presence in Asia with Fender Music Korea – is a retail store coming next?
By Jonathan Horsley published
Headed up by Jack Kim, FMK will exclusively distribute Fender, Squier, Jackson, Charvel, EVH and Gretsch guitars in Korea. CEO Andy Mooney says move strengthens the Big F’s global presence
![Peter Green wears a short-sleeved shirt and plays a gray Stratocaster [left] while Carlos Santana plays his PRS signature model, wears shades and is really feeling his solo onstage.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SfUV6MR5GDcXb9SvBGriYR.jpg)
Remembering Peter Green and Carlos Santana’s supernatural jam at the 1998 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Awards
By Jonathan Horsley published
Green wrote the tune. Santana made it his own. But on the night the music biz came together to honor Santana and his band, they shared the song, giving a performance for the ages
![Joe Satriani [left] fistbumps Steve Vai onstage as the pair perform together onstage with their Ibanez signature guitars](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bhz6U9AcPqgD7rUUDdUWFf.jpg)
Joe Satriani reveals how Satch/Vai’s onstage chemistry works – and why sometimes some songs are best left to Steve Vai
By Jonathan Horsley published
Satch says playing with Steve Vai is an opportunity to expand each other's material, but says maintaining one clear voice for melodies and solos is key

Best baritone guitars 2025: pick up the slack with these long scale guitars
By Matt McCracken last updated
Get low with my expert pick of the best baritone guitars from PRS, Gretsch, Chapman, Jackson, and loads more

Best guitar wireless systems 2025: set your playing free, from the rehearsal room to the stage
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
Fed up with cumbersome cables? Here's my pick of the best wireless guitar systems for every budget

Taylor unveils custom replica of the acoustic Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey play in The Last of Us
By Jonathan Horsley published
If this the apocalypse is all high-end Taylor acoustics with V-Class bracing, maybe it won't be so bad after all
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