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.
Latest articles by Richard Bienstock

By Richard Bienstock Published
With Dimebag Darrell's no-holds-barred playing at the fore, these are the best tracks from the metal institution's catalog
![[L-R] Tim Commerford and Jonny Polonsky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qp6KwQp7utSnfC5jHaNaAA-320-80.jpg)
By Richard Bienstock Published
The Rage Against the Machine bassist on why playing with Polonsky is like “jamming with Hendrix”, and his failed experiments with short-scale basses in RATM

By Richard Bienstock Last updated
Behold, gentle reader, a sizzlin’ slew of down and dirty tracks that helped forge heavy metal

By Richard Bienstock Last updated
Amped offers two-way online learning experience via AR app

By Richard Bienstock Last updated
“I don’t think I would able to do this again five years later,” he says

By Richard Bienstock Last updated
The Periphery guitarist offers his own take on the Led Zeppelin classic during self-quarantine

By Richard Bienstock Last updated
Dave Mustaine's response? “There’s a lot of wrong notes!”

By Richard Bienstock Last updated
Poplar purple burst and flame trans blue matte finishes headline a host of impressive features

By Richard Bienstock Last updated
The guitar string company will donate the masks to local charities and residents

By Richard Bienstock Last updated
YouTube guitar sensation Ichika showcases the tuning in a mesmerizing two-hand tapping instrumental

By Richard Bienstock Last updated
A social media post from BlackSmith Strings suggests a more affordable version of the Strat-esque guitar is finally in the works

By Richard Bienstock Last updated
Reverb unveils its top 20 list of the amps you loved most this year

By Richard Bienstock Last updated
Rock also talked about "not getting" Enter Sandman in an extensive interview with Gibson TV

By Richard Bienstock Published
The Les Paul-loving, Wisconsin-bred rocker talks guitar epiphanies, tube amp dynamics, and explains how full-tilt blues power involves a neck-breaking approach to recording

By Richard Bienstock Last updated
Grab your solder and get ready to crank the gain

By Richard Bienstock Published
The Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist takes us behind the writing, gear and recording of some of the biggest songs on the Californian rock institution’s new album

By Richard Bienstock Published
That time Slash and GW spent an afternoon browsing – and buying! – at Norman’s Rare Guitars in Tarzana, California

By Richard Bienstock Published
Billy Zabka – aka Johnny Lawrence, Cobra Kai’s resident badass sensei – has been playing guitar since he was a hair-metal-lovin’ kid (and he’s still a hair-metal-lovin’ kid)

By Richard Bienstock Published
Guitarists Dan and Justin Hawkins talk Motorheart, a riff-rocking new record that’s dedicated to having fun – and, of course, sex robots

By Richard Bienstock Published
It’s badass, it’s very '80s, and – spoilers – it involves lots of guitars…

By Richard Bienstock Published
The Rush legend discusses his new signature model, fresh music and collaborations, and the likelihood of once again teaming up with Geddy Lee

By Richard Bienstock Published
We all know the story of Greeny, the ‘burst owned by Peter Green, Gary Moore and now Hammett. But there is another, and it resides in the Gibson Brand President's personal collection…

By Richard Bienstock Published
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GW’s Paul Riario and Alan Chaput dive into the Epiphone Joan Jett Signature Olympic Special electric, CloudVocal ISOLO GT-10 wireless system and PRS Private Stock Orianthi Limited Edition guitar
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