Sam Roche
Sam was Staff Writer at GuitarWorld.com from 2019 to 2023, and also created content for Total Guitar, Guitarist and Guitar Player. He has well over 15 years of guitar playing under his belt, as well as a degree in Music Technology (Mixing and Mastering). He's a metalhead through and through, but has a thorough appreciation for all genres of music. In his spare time, Sam creates point-of-view guitar lesson videos on YouTube under the name Sightline Guitar.
Latest articles by Sam Roche
Joe Satriani on proposed Van Halen tribute concert: “If it's ever gonna happen, Wolfgang Van Halen should play guitar”
By Sam Roche published
The virtuoso says Wolfgang's playing at Foo Fighters' recent Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts was “the most natural, beautiful thing” he'd seen in a long time
Fingerstyle acoustic guitarist covers Slipknot's Before I Forget – and the results are astounding
By Sam Roche published
Italian maestro Luca Stricagnoli puts his formidable skills on display while repurposing the Nine's Vol. 3 classic
Lamb of God perform with three guitarists for the first time ever: “We're going full Lynyrd Skynyrd!”
By Sam Roche published
Vio-lence and former Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel joined the Virginia metal titans at last weekend's Aftershock Festival for a brutal rendition of Redneck to close their set
Solar Guitars partners with Kirk Windstein of Crowbar and Down for an exceptionally minimalist signature model, the E1.6KW
By Sam Roche published
A no-frills single-pickup configuration featuring a lone EMG 81 in the bridge position heads up the guitar's spec sheet
Steve Vai was taken aback when he heard how Polyphia cut up his guest solo: “I thought, ‘Maybe they didn’t like what I did!’”
By Sam Roche published
But guitarist Tim Henson reassures Vai that his contribution to Ego Death was instrumental to the creative direction of the song
From bowel-busting riffs to life-affirming 12-string acoustic bliss: here are this week's essential guitar tracks
By Matt Owen, Michael Astley-Brown, Sam Roche, Jackson Maxwell published
Herald October's arrival with top-tier tunes from Cardinal Black, Adrian Quesada, Bones UK, Ichika Nito, Bury Tomorrow, Beatenberg, Meet Me @ The Altar, Christie Lenée and more
This is what an acoustic guitar sounds like when you fill it up with water
By Sam Roche published
Watch YouTuber Bernth Brodträger pump litres of water into the soundhole of an Ibanez acoustic, making for some incredible sonic results
Wolfgang Van Halen discusses nerves over covering Eddie's guitar parts at Taylor Hawkins tribute concert: “I didn’t even know if I could do it”
By Sam Roche published
The multi-instrumentalist details his fast-tracked rehearsal process with Dave Grohl, Josh Freese and Justin Hawkins, and why the tribute marked the perfect moment to play Van Halen music onstage
Straight male guitarists play extreme metal to impress other men, study suggests
By Sam Roche published
Research suggests extreme metal guitarists aim to build technical skill to compete with their peers, and improve social status
Rage Against the Machine cancel 2023 North American tour dates following Zack de la Rocha's Achilles tendon tear
By Sam Roche last updated
“It’s been almost three months since Chicago, and I still look down at my leg in disbelief,” the frontman writes in an apologetic letter to fans, his bandmates and crew
Lzzy Hale, Wynonna Judd and Vicki Peterson to host second-ever women-only Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp in Nashville
By Sam Roche last updated
“I believe it’s so important for women of all ages to experience the power of music, of being on a stage, and the camaraderie of being surrounded by other women who have carved their own path,” says Hale
Chris Cornell-owned 1979 Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean up for sale on Reverb for $395,000
By Sam Roche last updated
The hollowbody six-string was reportedly used by the late Soundgarden frontman in both live and studio settings, and can be seen in the music video for Rusty Cage
Wolfgang Van Halen to begin recording sophomore Mammoth WVH album today
By Sam Roche published
The multi-instrumentalist also paid tribute to his late father, guitar icon Eddie Van Halen, in a new Instagram post
Fender partners with sports equipment brand Giro for a range of limited-edition guitar- and amp-inspired snow goggles
By Sam Roche last updated
The Giro x Fender Collection takes styling and color cues from classic Fender guitars, including Sunburst and Seafoam Green finishes
Elvis Presley guitarist James Burton reveals kidney cancer diagnosis
By Sam Roche published
The legendary Nashville session man broke the news to his followers on Facebook on Friday
Neil Young and Crazy Horse announce new album, World Record, share tender first single, Love Earth
By Sam Roche published
“Real magic lasts and we think we have it,” Young says of the new, Rick Rubin-produced album
Robert Fripp and Toyah recruit Chesney Hawkes for his second Sunday Lunch guest spot – for a hilarious performance of The Killers' Mr. Brightside
By Sam Roche last updated
Watch the unlikely trio take on a stratospheric pop-rock classic
5 classic YouTube guitar videos that will make you nostalgic
By Sam Roche published
YouTube has become one of the most viable ways to gain a following as a guitarist, and these videos helped pave the way
From avant-jazz mini-symphonies to cabaret-tinged stadium-rock: here are this week's essential guitar tracks
By Jackson Maxwell, Matt Owen, Sam Roche published
Close out September with the best in new guitar-driven music from Polyphia and Steve Vai, Drowning Pool, Paramore, Jakub Zytecki, Arctic Monkeys, Disturbed, Eliza McLamb, Djo and more
Taylor revamps two 500 Series acoustics with an all-new tonewood: Urban Ironbark
By Sam Roche published
The responsibly sourced wood – described by Taylor as “highly dynamic” with “piano-like fidelity” – comes from red ironbark trees located in urban areas nearing the end of their natural lifecycle
Wolfgang Van Halen nails Panama at LA Taylor Hawkins tribute concert – after promising he'd never play the track live
By Sam Roche published
The multi-instrumentalist and Mammoth WVH mastermind pokes fun at himself in a new social media post, saying that he'll instead never play the track “twice”
Fender partners with Johnny Marr for limited-edition Fever Dream Yellow version of his Jaguar signature model
By Sam Roche published
The highly anticipated six-string is named after the guitarist's latest solo album, Fever Dreams Pts 1 - 4
Ozzy Osbourne was too drunk to recognise Randy Rhoads' talent when he first auditioned: “I thought, it’s never gonna work”
By Sam Roche published
Fortunately, with a little hair of the dog, Ozzy steeled himself for Rhoads' rescheduled audition the following day, and the rest was history
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