Latest articles by Matt Owen
Vivian Campbell sets the record straight on his infamous departure from Ronnie James Dio’s band
The guitar icon joined and departed Dio in the space of a few years owing to disagreements over the financial running of the band, Campbell says
“I miss being at the end of the stage and turning up my amp as loud as possible”: Oasis have performed their first live shows in 16 years – and Noel Gallagher re-embracing guitar solos after all this time is set to be a highlight of the entire reunion
After largely spending years as the rhythm guitarist for his High Flying Birds project, Gallagher is finally letting loose on the fretboard once again
Gibson (sort of) revives the cult Marauder model beloved by Adam Jones and Paul Stanley
A Marauder in all but name, the celebratory offering marks 50 years of Gibson handcrafting guitars in Nashville
“A bold step forward in modern amp design”: Blackstar goes up against Boss and Positive Grid with the ID:X – a next-gen modeling amp with newly developed tech that isn’t afraid of the competition
Blackstar goes up against Boss and Positive Grid with the ID:X – a next-gen modeling amp with newly developed tech that isn’t afraid of the competition
Steven Tyler makes triumphant return to the stage with Back to Beginning set
Two Aerosmith members have already voiced their desire to do one more Aerosmith show, and Tyler – who nailed his Back to the Beginning set – sounds in killer form
Ola Strandberg ushered in a new era of headless guitars – but no one is doing it like his own company
Ibanez, Kiesel, Schecter and more have all upped their headless guitar game in recent years, but Strandberg’s approach is unique
This is all the new guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – and it includes my new dream reverb machine
Elsewhere, Ibanez shows its RG range some love and Dunlop hopes to make you a better player with some newly engineered guitar picks...
Why folk legend Richard Thompson is embracing new guitar gear – but drawing the line at digital
Thompson may be impressed with modern guitar gear, but he’s explained why he doesn’t like digital amp simulations
Joe Perry leaves the door open for an Aerosmith reunion – and he’s not the only band member who’s keen
The guitar hero is the latest Aerosmith member to hint at a final send-off at some point in the future
How a woman's dress caused Buddy Guy to accidentally stumble upon guitar feedback
The blues veteran’s approach to playing was changed forever after a random occurrence during an unassuming gig at a Chicago jam night
The curious tale of Joe Bonamassa’s ‘Royal Albert’ Les Paul – and its mysterious mod
Bonamassa tells the story of the salvaged 1960 Les Paul and its bizarre mod, which was theorized to be inspired by Peter Green
Tony Iommi and Laney mark Black Sabbath’s final show with an ultra-limited signature amp
Only 50 of the relaunched TI100 – which brings back Iommi’s signature head from 2012 – will be made available
June 2025 Guitar World Editors' Picks
There's been plenty of heat this month, and not just the temperature outside. Check out some of that six-string (and seven-string... and eight-string) fire from Muse, Rafiq Bhatia, Eric Gales & Buddy Guy, Wunderhorse, Haim, and many, many more
“Steve Vai goes, ‘I’ve been thinking about this a long time. He’s a really good guitar player.’ That’s unusual’”: Paul Reed Smith on the time John Mayer was hailed by a shred hero – and why he found it strange
Smith recalls Vai singling out Mayer for praise – and reveals what Mayer’s songwriting background means for his overall guitar style
Glastonbury 2025: the iconic guitar moments that stole the show at one of the world's biggest music festivals
Pop icons with pointy metal guitars, oddball Masterbuilt Fenders, historic Martins and more – Glastonbury was a dream weekend for players, and here are the pictures to prove it
Here is all the new gear that has caught my eye this week – including an affordable replica of a $1 million Les Paul
PRS ushers in a new era of shred with its Herman Li signature model and Epiphone honors a great
Jeff Beck’s iconic Oxblood Les Paul made history as the most expensive LP to sell at auction – and now it’s been revived as an Epiphone signature model
The legendary 1954 LP starred alongside Beck for much of his career and sold for more than $1 million at auction. Now, Epiphone has launched a $1,200 replica
Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto is on a mission to raise store standards – and says he’s not above scrubbing restrooms
Dalporto took a trip to assess the on-scene situation at one of his stores – and ended up getting hands-on with the cleaning
Here is all the new gear that has caught my eye this week – and, yes, that's a pink Jazzmaster
A blockbuster drop from Line 6 and a raft of new instruments from the Fender family of brands headline a busy week in the world of guitar gear
Squier rolls out its 2025 Classic Vibe collection – and heads into unexpected territory
Some surprising hardware setups and unorthodox configurations head up the drop – which sees Fender commit to its beloved Classic Vibe family
Jackson officially launches its affordable Surfcaster reissue
The surprisingly budget-friendly offset finally arrives after it was first unveiled back at NAMM this year
Line 6 ushers in a bold new era of amp modelers with the Helix Stadium
Brand new modeling tech, gear capturing capabilities, an overhauled interface, and the ability to control your entire live performance with your feet – the Helix Stadium has set a new benchmark in the amp modeler arms race
Guitar World Discussion: What’s your greatest guitar hero encounter?
Ever bumped into your favorite player at the grocery store, or crossed paths with your six-string hero at the guitar store? We want to hear all about it – and don’t spare us the details
