Michael Astley-Brown

Michael Astley-Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar (opens in new tab), Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as the best part of 20 years performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe (opens in new tab).

Articles by: Michael Astley-Brown

Sterling by Music Man Jared Dines Artist Series StingRay

Jared Dines’ signature Sterling by Music Man StingRay just got a sleek new look

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The online guitar phenomenon’s hot-rodded double-cut is now available in Olympic White

Strymon Cloudburst Ambient Reverb

Strymon unveils the Cloudburst Ambient Reverb, its most affordable and compact pedal yet

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The soundscape-friendly stompbox takes shimmer reverb to new heights, all with a fresh form factor and wallet-friendlier price tag

Erica Dunn (left) and Gareth Liddiard of Tropical Fuck Storm perform at the Wide Awake Festival at Brockwell Park on May 28, 2022 in London

From the best prog since Rush to stank face-inducing bends: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown, Jackson Maxwell, Matt Owen, Sam Roche published

With face-melting new songs from Crown Lands, Paul Gilbert, Falling In Reverse, Tropical F*ck Storm, Safiyah Hernandez, Thrice, Demonstealer, Girl Ray and more, this week's playlist has something for everybody

Victory Amps VS100 Super Sheriff and Mastodon's Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher performing live

Victory Amps overhauls its Sheriff range – and seemingly signs Mastodon’s Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher to its ranks

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The British rock-voiced series has been revamped with new Mastodon-endorsed heads and combos

Paul Gilbert and his late cat, Juliette

Paul Gilbert’s guitar-loving cat, Juliette, has passed away

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Guitarists have paid tribute to Juliette, whose curious inspections of the virtuoso’s guitar racks and pedalboards made her an Instagram star

Måneskin and Tom Morello perform live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Watch Måneskin’s Thomas Raggi trade licks with Tom Morello in fiery Gossip performance on The Tonight Show

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The Italian rocker shone on his Strat while the Rage Against the Machine guitarist deployed his trademark Whammy tricks

Taj Mahal performs onstage during the Experience Hendrix concert at City National Grove of Anaheim on October 9, 2019 in Anaheim, California

From evocative standards to the missing link between Dokken and Nine Inch Nails: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Matt Owen, Michael Astley-Brown, Sam Roche, Jackson Maxwell published

On tap this week are new projects from George Lynch, Graham Coxon and Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite, plus fresh tunes from Last in Line, Taj Mahal, Ana Popovic, Babymetal and more

Tal Wilkenfeld and Incubus's Ben Kenney perform live

Tal Wilkenfeld to play bass for Incubus as Ben Kenney recovers from brain surgery

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The Jeff Beck bassist will join the alt-rockers for a run of shows starting this weekend

John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers performs at Mt Smart Stadium on January 21, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

We finally have a good look at John Frusciante’s gigantic new Red Hot Chili Peppers pedalboard

By Michael Astley-Brown published

A newly posted photo gives us a closer look at the guitar hero’s all-encompassing pedal picks and choice settings

Keeley Parallax Spatial Generator

Keeley unveils the Parallax Spatial Generator, “the perfect end-of pedalboard solution for shoegaze, ambient, and experimental tone seekers”

By Michael Astley-Brown published

A greatest hits of Keeley pedals, the Parallax combines the Caverns delay and Realizer reverb for colossal soundscaping

Madonna and Dimebag Darrell perform live

Why Madonna played Pantera’s A New Level on a Gibson Les Paul for an entire tour

By Michael Astley-Brown published

How a Dimebag Darrell encounter and guitar lessons with the Queen of Pop led to one of the weirdest pop-metal mashups in live music history

Arielle, pictured playing her signature Brian May Guitars model

From “upside-down Hendrix licks” to sweetly subversive Whammy solos: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown, Jackson Maxwell, Matt Owen, Sam Roche published

Start your 'best of 2023' playlists with smoldering new tunes from boygenius, Arielle, The National, Fall Out Boy, Noel Gallagher, Malina Moye, Screaming Females, Erase Theory and more

Walrus Audio Melee

Walrus Audio debuts a dedicated wall of noise pedal – meet the Melee, a joystick-controlled distortion and reverb

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The Oklahoma pedal co furthers its quest to conquer shoegaze and post-rock guitarists’ pedalboards with another wild new offering

Way Huge Smalls Attack Vector Phaser & Envelope

Way Huge launches outrageously funky Attack Vector Phaser & Envelope

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The Jim Dunlop brand has teamed two classic funk effects in one Smalls pedal for “infinite rudeness”

Måneskin and Tom Morello

From Periphery's jazz turn to Måneskin's team-up with Tom Morello: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Matt Owen, Michael Astley-Brown, Sam Roche, Jackson Maxwell published

Killer six-string tracks to get the year started by Black Stone Cherry, Enter Shikari, Sleep Token, Etta Marcus, Daughter, The Hold Steady, H.C. McEntire and more

St. Vincent and Pantera's Dimebag Darrell perform live

This monster St. Vincent riff was inspired by Pantera’s Cowboys From Hell – so much so that Annie Clark worried she was “going to be sued”

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Dimebag Darrell is one of St. Vincent’s all-time favorite guitarists, and you can certainly hear the influence here

PRS Sonzera 20 combo guitar amp

PRS revives the Sonzera 20 combo with updated voicing and construction

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The versatile Twin-inspired pedal platform has rejoined the PRS amp lineup

BBE Sonic Stomp Pro and Green Screamer v2 Overdrive

BBE launches the Sonic Stomp Pro and Green Screamer v2 Overdrive, updating two of its most popular pedals

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The latest evolution of the Sonic Maximizer and a versatile new take on the Tube Screamer circuit unveiled

JHS Pedals' Josh Scott

Those tones you’ve been hearing on The JHS Show came from a Kemper, not the tube amp onscreen

By Michael Astley-Brown published

“I'm leaving my tube amp for a Kemper!” declares Josh Scott, as he reveals the show’s daring year-long blind test and launches his own amp profiles for Kemper and Line 6

Kirk Hammett of Metallica performs onstage during Metallica Presents: "The Helping Hands Concert" at Microsoft Theater on December 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Kirk Hammett debuts new custom Fender, Gibson and ESP guitars at Metallica’s Helping Hands Concert

By Michael Astley-Brown published

The serial signature artist wheeled out some dazzling custom axes during the band’s recent charity show, including a personalized Acoustasonic Jazzmaster, 12-string Ouija Eclipse acoustic and a red sparkle Flying V

Fender Japan Elemental Series

Fender Japan launches the Elemental Series – high-spec, mid-priced models that will drive modern players wild

By Michael Astley-Brown published

With striking satin finishes, new pickguard shapes and high-performance spec sheets, these stunning guitars and basses are arguably 2022’s most exciting Fender guitars – so why are they only available in Japan?

Fender Tom DeLonge Starcaster

Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge returns to Fender as he unveils new single-pickup Starcaster design

By Michael Astley-Brown published

It looks like the pop-punk icon’s Gibson days are over

White Reaper

From six-string chess matches to Christmas shred, Blues Lawyer and beyond: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown, Matt Owen, Jackson Maxwell, Sam Roche published

Beat the cold with searing, guitar-driven songs from White Reaper, George Lynch & Jeff Pilson, Paramore, Steel Panther, Zeal & Ardor, Day Wave, Obvurt, NOFX and more

Photo of Joe Satriani

Joe Satriani called it the worst record he ever made, but his debut EP featured his most innovative work

By Michael Astley-Brown published

In 1984, Satch released his first solo recording: a wild five-track effort that used the electric guitar for everything – even drums

Close up of man's hands playing electric guitar

What’s the best guitar album of 2022?

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Get your votes in for the standout guitar records of the year

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