Features

The rise and fall of Dag Nasty – and the making of a melodic hardcore classic

By Gregory Adams published 23 May 26

Brian Baker took a gamble. He used his college fund to buy a van, hit the road and pursued a life making hardcore punk, and with Can I Say, he had a different vision for its sound

How Rory Gallagher grabbed his iconic 1963 Gretsch Corvette for the princely sum of $150

By Jamie Dickson published 23 May 26

Can you judge a guitar by its case? Not usually, but when Donal Gallagher was shopping for cases for brother Rory, he found one with a very special guitar inside, and there was a deal to be made

The life and times of Killing Joke visionary Geordie Walker – the guitar hero’s guitar hero

By Chris Gill published 23 May 26

He influenced Kurt Cobain, Metallica, Tool, Nine Inch Nails and counted Jimmy Page as a fan. We pay tribute to a true guitar original

Gary Klebe on Shoes’ near miss with Gene Simmons, inspiring Butch Vig into production, and how his band got with Hamer

By Bruce Fagerstrom published 22 May 26

He’s learned to live with his band’s “power pop” label, finally released a solo album, and knows the one piece of advice that should always be ignored if you’re a producer – even if it comes from Steve Albini

The post-Bowie career of Mick Ronson, rock ’n’ roll’s most quietly spoken guitar hero

By Mark McStea published 22 May 26

Sure, he made a massive imprint on David Bowie’s classic early ’70s albums. But Mick Ronson also worked with Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Elton John, Roger McGuinn, Morrissey, Ian Hunter and many others

In the court of the Master Builders – Fender’s Custom Shop gurus spill the secrets of their trade

By Jamie Dickson published 22 May 26

With Fender’s Custom Shop nearing its 40th anniversary, we catch up with two of its most sought-after Master Builders, Austin MacNutt and Andy Hicks, to talk Teles, Jazzmasters, mods and more

Plini answers the call of the wild in search of instrumental guitar’s new frontier

By Gregory Adams published 21 May 26

The Australian virtuoso on dream collabs with John Mayer, high-BPM workouts, and what happened when he imagined “a cello player in a huge, empty concert hall playing this difficult arpeggio”

The Doobie Brothers on their many imitators, their many hits, and what keeps them going

By Joe Bosso published 21 May 26

Ahead of their tour with Carlos Santana, Doobie Brothers guitarists Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, and John McFee revisit their classic tracks and how they came together

“I got the phone call – I was out”: Bob Daisley recalls his rollercoaster years with Ozzy Osbourne

By Andrew Daly published 21 May 26

The Blizzard of Ozz bassist and co-writer on the time he was dismissed only to be re-hired days later – and his thoughts on Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee and Zakk Wylde

George Lynch on his custom ESP that’s too valuable to leave the house

By Andrew Daly published 20 May 26

Mr Scary on how his heart melts for the 1990 ESP Custom Haji/Wicked Sensation from the cover of Guitar World's November 1990 issue