Articles by: Richard Bienstock

Richard Bienstock

Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.

Articles by: Richard Bienstock

Watch deathcore heroes Whitechapel rip through crushing new single Lost Boy in this exclusive playthrough video

By Richard Bienstock

The band’s eighth studio album, Kin, is out October 29

John Mayer: “We’re all in the same boat. We’re all sitting down with an electric guitar alone in a room, hoping to trip over something that we’ll never forget”

By Richard Bienstock

In this exclusive interview, the blues-rock superstar unpacks the '80s influences behind new album, Sob Rock, and celebrates chorus pedals, pink guitars and Journeyman-era Clapton

Jake Cinninger, is the guitarist in the band called "Umphrey's McGee". They are performing on their third sold out performance that week end at Red Rocks Ampitheater in Morrison, CO. on June 23, 2019

Umphrey’s McGee's Jake Cinninger: "I was trying to get that live feel, so it was nice to be able to cut loose on the album guitar-solo wise"

By Richard Bienstock

COVID-19 may have kept the American jam band off the road, but their new effort, composed entirely from live-set intro soundbites, was recorded specifically with the stage in mind

Close-up Yamaha Pacifica 112V electric guitar in blue

10 best beginner electric guitars 2021: kickstart your musical journey with these epic electric guitars for beginners

By Chris Corfield, Richard Bienstock

Get started with the best beginner electric guitars from Squier, Yamaha, and Epiphone with prices from only $179

Guitarist Billy Duffy from the band The Cult performs onstage at La Riviera on August 21, 2019 in Madrid, Spain.

Billy Duffy on Coloursøund's "unfinished business" and masterminding an all-new Gretsch guitar, the Falcon Junior

By Richard Bienstock

The Cult guitarist has teamed up with The Alarm’s Mike Peters for their first album in more than two decades, Coloursøund II

Jackson Guitars has unveiled its 2021 MJ Series

Jackson unleashes metal mayhem as it launches new made-in-Japan MJ Series Rhoads, Dinky and Soloist models

By Richard Bienstock

Fresh 2021 offerings boast DiMarzio and Seymour Duncan pickups, sculpted shredder’s neck heels and sleek finishes

Joe Bonamassa stops by Guitar World for an exclusive first look at his signature Limited Edition Fender '51 Nocaster, “The Bludgeon"

By Richard Bienstock

The $8,500 model, handmade in Fender's Custom Guitar Shop by legendary luthier Greg Fessler, launches today as part of an ultra-limited run of just 100 units

George Harrison All Things Must Pass 50th anniversary

George Harrison’s estate announces massive All Things Must Pass 50th anniversary reissues

By Richard Bienstock

The legendary Beatle’s landmark solo album is bolstered with previously-unreleased tracks, memorabilia and…garden gnomes

Breedlove Guitars celebrates three decades in business with the luxurious 30th Anniversary Phoenix acoustic

By Richard Bienstock

Updated Concert model boasts sustainable sinker redwood top, ziricote back and sides

Brian May of Queen performs live on stage at The O2 Arena on December 12, 2017 in London, England

Brian May explains why he uses a sixpence as a pick

By Richard Bienstock

“The more rigid it is, the more you feel what's happening at the string in your fingers,” the Queen legend says

Watch Eddie Van Halen play the riffs from Amsterdam years before its release in newly unearthed 5150 studio footage

By Richard Bienstock

The song eventually appeared on Van Halen’s 1995 album, Balance

Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready looks back on 30 years of Ten: “It was the first time I was in a situation where everybody was firing on all cylinders“

By Richard Bienstock

In this exclusive interview, McCready, discusses early gear, his Muddy Waters/Stevie Ray Vaughan roadmap, the Ten sessions and being a reformed shredder

St. Vincent plays her new Ernie Ball Music Man Goldie signature guitar

Ernie Ball Music Man releases reimagined St. Vincent signature Goldie guitar

By Richard Bienstock

Annie Clark's popular signature model has been updated with gold foil mini humbuckers, fresh finishes and more

Robert Fripp and Toyah Wilcox cover Rock You Like a Hurricane

Here they are: Robert Fripp and Toyah Wilcox tackle the Scorpions’ Rock You Like a Hurricane for their Sunday Lunch series

By Richard Bienstock

The King Crimson legend gets German metal crazy

David Crosby performs at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on September 16, 2018 in London, England

David Crosby teams up with Michael McDonald for new track, River Rise

By Richard Bienstock

Croz will release his new solo album, For Free, in July

Paul Gilbert Werewolves of Portland video

Paul Gilbert unleashes howling slide guitar on funky, fusion-y new song Werewolves of Portland

By Richard Bienstock

The six-string virtuoso gets wild with “fast guitar riffs, percussive picking and modulating dominant sus4 arpeggios”

Ayron Jones: "While there were all these holes to be filled in my life, the void was ultimately filled by my love of guitar"

By Richard Bienstock

The rising rock guitar phenom on channeling the Seattle sound, attending Jimi Hendrix’s middle school and how a chance encounter with Sir Mix-a-Lot changed the course of his career

Watch R.J. Ronquillo try out Bog Street’s innovative three-sided picks, the “Swiss Army knife in your toolbox”

By Richard Bienstock

Unique plectrums offer multiple picks in one, with various gauges, colors and surfaces

Fender takes the American Ultra range to the next level with new Luxe Stratocaster and Telecaster models

By Richard Bienstock

Stainless steel frets, painted headstocks and Floyd Rose options feature on new ultra-high-end lineup

Looking for the hottest new venue in town? Come on down to TheAvenue.Live

By Richard Bienstock

The “No Cost to Perform, No Cost to Watch" platform bonds artist and fans with anytime live streaming, innovative tip jar payments

Molly Tuttle has covered Phantogram’s You Don’t Get Me High Anymore

Molly Tuttle releases new cover EP, …but i’d rather be with you, too

By Richard Bienstock

The new release finds the fingerpicking titan teaming up with Iron & Wine to cover Phantogram’s You Don’t Get Me High Anymore

Misha Mansoor announces first-ever solo album, Moderately Fast, Adequately Furious, unveils first single Parabolica

By Richard Bienstock

The new track under the Bulb moniker finds the Periphery mastermind delivering syncopated and djent-y thrills aplenty

Watch Billy Gibbons rip out some mean slide licks – using a beer bottle – in new My Lucky Card video

By Richard Bienstock

The ZZ Top legend’s third solo album, Hardware, is out in June

Ozzy Osbourne records the 'Blizzard of Ozz' album with guitarist Randy Rhoads (1956-1982) at Ridge Farm Studio in West Sussex, England in May 1980.

Ozzy Osbourne is “so happy that Randy's genius is finally being recognized” by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

By Richard Bienstock

The legendary guitarist will receive the Musical Excellence Award at this year’s ceremony

Weezer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Watch Weezer perform ‘80s pop-rocker All the Good Ones on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

By Richard Bienstock

It’s the latest single from the band’s long-awaited new album, Van Weezer

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