Another legendary amp brand has entered the Bluetooth speaker market. Is being Orange enough to stand out? By Matt Parker published 1 June 23 The Orange Box sees the UK-based firm joins the Bluetooth space race with a unique Class D and Class A/B design
Fender just released its most bizarre Squier Paranormal models yet By Matt Owen published 1 June 23 Feast your eyes on the Big F's latest assortment of alternate reality guitars, sure to send shivers down the spines of purists everywhere
Mooer unveils the Micro Looper II – is it destined to dethrone the TC Electronic Ditto as the go-to mini looper? By Matt Owen published 1 June 23 The feature-packed pedal has been released alongside the Micro Drummer II, with the pair aiming to make further waves in the mini pedal market
Bob Rock clarifies comments about Nikki Sixx’s recordings: “At no time did I ever actually think Nikki didn’t play bass on Mötley Crüe’s records” By Matt Parker published 30 May 23 The producer says Sixx was being “self-deprecating” at the time he made the reported comments to Rock
DigiTech just dropped a major announcement that made us even more excited about what's in store By Matt Owen published 26 May 23 Four of DigiTech and DOD’s most influential minds have returned to lead the renewed brands, and some huge pedal releases have already been teased
Nikki Sixx once told Bob Rock he thought someone “replaced” his bass parts on early Mötley Crüe albums By Matt Parker published 26 May 23 The Mötley Crüe producer recalled a self-deprecating conversation he had during the making of Dr. Feelgood – and stressed Sixx is now “an amazing bass player”
Bill Lee, jazz bassist, composer and father of Spike Lee, dies aged 94 By Matt Owen published 25 May 23 The double bass loyalist who rejected the rising wave of electric basses in the '70s worked with Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Gordon Lightfoot and more, and scored Spike's first four feature films
TC Electronic debuts the Infinite Mini Sample Sustainer, shrinking John Mayer’s favorite infinite sustain pedal By Michael Astley-Brown published 24 May 23 The new design delivers the same organic infinitely looped layers but in a pedalboard real estate-saving enclosure
The Beatles’ “first left-handed bassist”, Chas Newby, dies aged 81 By Matt Parker published 24 May 23 The bass player and former math teacher was subbed into the Liverpool legend’s early lineup in December 1960 and played one of the most formative shows of the era
Algy Ward, bassist with The Saints and The Damned and founder of Tank, dies aged 63 By Matt Parker published 23 May 23 The UK bass player played a role in several acclaimed punk and metal bands, yet refused to be pigeonholed by either camp
Foo Fighters officially name Josh Freese as their new drummer By Matt Owen published 22 May 23 With the help of Chad Smith, Tommy Lee and Danny Carey, Dave Grohl and co confirmed Freese would be joining the band full-time for their upcoming tour
Andy Rourke, bassist with The Smiths, dies aged 59 By Matt Parker published 19 May 23 Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has led tributes to the man he says “reinvented what it is to be a bass guitar player”
Kate Bush on John Giblin: “We’ve all lost a great man and an unmatchable musician” By Nick Wells published 18 May 23 Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Guy Pratt and many more pay tribute to bassist John Giblin
Rolling Stone Darryl Jones, Aerosmith’s Tom Hamilton (and an actual Beatle) to lead next Rock ’N’ Roll Fantasy Camp in New York By Jonathan Horsley published 17 May 23 Yup, a rhythm section comprising 'fifth Beatle' Pete Best on drums, with Jones and Hamilton on bass, is just the thing for playing Stones, Aerosmith and Beatles classics onstage in NYC
Fender debuts limited-edition British Racing Green finish – but you’ll need to be quick off the line to bag one By Matt Parker published 16 May 23 The firm has launched a European-exclusive Fender Special Run batch – including a Player Series HSS Strat, Tele and P-Bass, alongside a Blues Junior IV amp
Gene Simmons: “Eddie Van Halen talked about being a fan of Eric Clapton. I’m sorry, I don’t see that. What he did was closer to classical music” By Matt Parker published 15 May 23 The Kiss frontman has been fretting over the guitar hero’s legacy, sharing concerns that “millennials need to know about the most important musician since Jimi Hendrix”
Sting, Nikki Sixx and Paul McCartney to guest on new Dolly Parton album By Nick Wells published 12 May 23 Rockstar sees McCartney reunite with Ringo Starr for a cover of The Beatles Let It Be, with Mick Fleetwood and Peter Frampton also making up the numbers
Kemper announces Liquid Profiling – offering “the perfect marriage of modeling and profiling” By Matt Parker published 4 May 23 The huge new update brings modeled gain and EQ controls to profiled tones, creating amp-like responses in captured profiles
Hear Justin Chancellor play through Les Claypool’s rig as this Primus-Tool supergroup take on Ænima at chest-rattling velocity By Matt Parker published 3 May 23 Members of the two bands and Queens of the Stone Age’s Troy Van Leeuwen teamed up for a double-drummer take on the Tool classic
Keanu Reeves picks up the bass guitar again as his band Dogstar ready new music and live dates By Michael Astley-Brown published 2 May 23 The Hollywood star is up to his old Ma-trix
