Latest articles by Matt Owen
Pepper Keenan recalls the moment he knew he’d failed his audition to be Metallica’s bassist
Keenan was one of many hopefuls to try out for the Metallica gig as James Hetfield and co looked to find Jason Newsted's replacement
All the guitar gear that caught my eye this week – including Line 6’s most hotly anticipated Helix update
Eye-popping new drops from Harley Benton and EVH, the revival of the beloved Thunderbird bass, and a potential Strymon killer headline this week's gear roundup
EarthQuaker Devices Towers review
The latest entry into EarthQuaker Device's range of revolutionary ambience machines will make you rethink your relationship with reverb
Paul Gilbert’s completely unplanned Jimi Hendrix tribute set for first-ever digital release
After a collab with Albert Collins fell through at the last minute, Gilbert had just hours to come up with an alternative set
Paul McCartney announces new Andrew Watt-produced album inspired by an unfamiliar guitar chord
Lead single, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, is out now
Sepultura founders Max and Iggor Cavalera have turned down the offer to perform at the band’s final show
Sepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser says both were approached but declined the invitation
Guitarists furious after footage of baggage handler carelessly throwing guitars on the ground goes viral
A clip posted to TikTok currently has more than four million views – and it's sparked outrage
The world’s first cardboard acoustic electric has been made – and it was crafted by the man who built guitars for Josh Homme and Steven Tyler
The meticulously assembled archtop is the latest addition to the ever-growing line of guitars made from cardboard
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi on what it was like to play Jerry Garcia’s $11 million Tiger guitar
Trucks took the Tiger to the stage hours after it sold at the historic Jim Irsay Collection auction
Keith Richards shares his response to the Sunset Strip shredders of the 1980s
Richards never had any interest in becoming a lead player – and the early innovators of the shred movement did not change his mind
All the guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – including the answer to all your modeler tone woes
Fresh new drops from Taylor, Fender, Gibson, Eastwood and more...
The 16 most expensive guitars of all time
Fenders owned by Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan, Martins belonging to Kurt Cobain and David Gilmour, and one independently made axe headline the list of most profitable guitars sold at auction
Joe Satriani put Nuno Bettencourt’s name forward for the failed EVH tribute tour with Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth
Before embarking on the Best of All Worlds tour with Sammy Hagar, Satch was close to hitting the road for a Van Halen tribute tour with Roth and Alex Van Halen
Jacob Collier on what happened when he gave his 5-string acoustic to Julian Lag
Collier has ushered in a five-string revolution and a few big names are already on board…
Joe Satriani opens up on the hand injury that forced him to relearn how to play his songs
Satch stuck it out for an entire tour before seeking help from a specialist, and it prompted him to explore new ways of playing the guitar
How Adrian Belew ended up working with Nine Inch Nails – and why their plans for a tour never came to be
The King Crimson legend worked on The Downward Spiral with Reznor, but a planned tour never took place
Fender’s John Osborne Telecaster brings the B-Bender back to its ranks for the first time in over 20 years
Fender’s first-ever in-house B-Bender mechanism makes its debut on one of the firm’s most eye-popping Telecasters
Fender secures legal ruling to protect the Stratocaster body design
Fender says the ruling creates enforceable rights against any guitars using the Stratocaster body shape that are manufactured, sold or distributed into Germany or other countries of the European Union
Why Kim Gordon has stopped playing the bass – despite being an icon of the instrument
Gordon's work with Sonic Youth cemented her reputation as a modern pioneer of the bass guitar – but she hasn't picked one up in over 10 years
All the new guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – including the angriest fuzz pedal you will ever come across
Plenty of new pedals, amps and more from the likes of Epiphone, IK Multimedia, Fender, Laney, Mesa/Boogie and beyond...
Her manager didn’t like him. But Doug Pettibone grinded to land his dream gig with Lucinda Williams
Pettibone cut his teeth playing with Jewel and Tracy Chapman – but when he heard Williams was looking for a new guitarist, he knew he had to get the spot
Joe Bonamassa leads tributes for musical troubadour John Hammond, who has died aged 83
The prolific blues great once had Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton both sit in with his band
Joe Satriani on the guitar ace he recommended for the Guns N’ Roses gig
Axl Rose was on the lookout for a player who could match Buckethead's ability and eccentricity – and Satch knew just who to call
