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That time Tom Hamilton ended up playing bass for Thin Lizzy
By Phil Weller published
The bassist handled Phil Lynott’s parts during a 2016/17 anniversary tour – a gig he got after meeting members of the new-look lineup at a Motörhead concert

NAMM CEO issues statement on 2025 event following L.A. wildfires
By Janelle Borg published
The CEO has confirmed that the annual trade show will go ahead as planned, with a few adjustments

Carol Kaye on how she made Pet Sounds with the Beach Boys – and why good basslines don't come from scales
By Chris Jisi published
Kaye, the first lady of the electric bass, played her P-Bass through a Fender Super Reverb 4x10 combo on the iconic record

Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee are recording their regular jam sessions – but remain tight-lipped about what they’re using them for
By Janelle Borg published
The Rush legends discuss revisiting the band's repertoire – and even coming up with brand-new jams – during these sessions

Andy Fairweather Low was personally recruited by the Pink Floyd legend – but didn’t know who he was when he came calling
By Matt Owen published
In the 1980s, the rhythm guitar hero was sounded out by Waters for a new band, but there was a clumsy first introduction…

Has HeadRush changed the future of amp modeler rigs with a tiny $149 FRFR cab?
By Phil Weller published
The 30-watt FRFR-GO offers color-free amping of modelers for just shy of $150

Tony Levin on playing for Pink Floyd in the post-Roger Waters era
By Janelle Borg published
The session icon discusses working with David Gilmour – and reveals he was asked to tour with Pink Floyd after his session work on 1987's A Momentary Lapse of Reason

YouTuber sets the record straight on Harley Benton guitars – and debunks the main misconceptions about the budget-friendly brand
By Janelle Borg published
The Thomann-owned brand is renowned for its affordable guitar gear and cheaper alternatives to established models

John Myung plays for one of rock’s most ambitious bands, and the Berklee-schooled bassist is tackling the challenge with extraordinary discipline
By Nick Wells published
The Dream Theater maestro explains what every bassist can learn from Bach, how he developed the Bongo 6-string bass with Ernie Ball, and why he runs a Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier on bass…

James Hetfield explains the controversial mixing of Metallica’s …And Justice for All
By Jackson Maxwell published
The band's first album with Newsted, ...And Justice for All was marked by the band's increasingly progressive and technically intricate bent – and barely audible bass parts

When it comes to Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn’s huge catalog of bass grooves, this ear-catching line from The Blues Brothers is a great place to start
By Brian Fox published
As the linchpin of Booker T. & The M.G.’s, ‘Duck’ Dunn helped put the music of his Memphis hometown on the map

Rhonda Smith had been on call with Prince for more than a decade when she told the Purple One she was busy with Jeff Beck
By Brian Fox published
Session ace Rhonda Smith on how her 10-year stint with Prince came to a close

Remembering the guitarists we lost in 2024
By Jackson Maxwell published
This year, we've sadly had to say goodbye to many guitar greats from across the world of music. Here, we recognize some of those guitarists, and their contributions to the instrument

Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman opens up on his role in one of the world’s biggest bands – and how he’s adapting his playing style
By Matt Owen published
Berryman has discussed how he helps translate Coldplay’s studio sound to the stage, and why that lets him experiment with his technique

Spinal Tap II director teases what we can expect from the long-awaited sequel
By Janelle Borg published
Spinal Tap are ready to reunite… with a little help from Paul McCartney and Elton John

When their gear didn’t turn up for a festival performance, Primus played brand-new Fender guitars from Guitar Center – with the tags still on
By Amit Sharma published
2024 Year in Review: Les Claypool and co proved that tone really is in the fingers when they turned to off-the-shelf guitars for a high-profile festival spot

Tim Commerford’s new Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay is a love letter to the pawnshop bass that crafted the first Rage record
By Phil Weller published
Passive and active editions have been launched, but both come optimized with some clever, player-adjustable additions

Radiohead's Colin Greenwood on who he considers the best rhythm guitarist he's ever played with
By Janelle Borg published
The Radiohead bassist also reflects on what makes Thom Yorke's guitar playing different from Jonny Greenwood's