Peter Frampton is prolonging his performing career to savor his remaining playing days By Phil Weller published 17 April 24 The guitarist is battling a degenerative disease but says he intends to continue touring – and is reinventing his playing as a result
Dave Mustaine says Teemu Mäntysaari is the guitarist he’s “been looking for” By Phil Weller published 15 April 24 Mustaine has heaped praise on Mäntysaari's “intelligent” right hand, and his ability to learn Megadeth material and smash out solos like he’s “eating Rice Krispies”
How Adrian Belew and Steve Vai will tackle the King Crimson catalog for a supergroup tour By Phil Weller published 12 April 24 'Beat' will tour the band's ’80s material later this year, and the group's guitar duo is working on a partnership that can do the Belew/Fripp double act justice
“That embodies the attitude of shred, and if you don’t put that into your performance, it’s a sin”: Joe Satriani names the Neil Young solo that shreds – despite only featuring one note By Phil Weller published 10 April 24 Satch has pinpointed the importance of attitude over technique when it comes to being a standout shredder
“Monster lineup here”: Eric Johnson and Michael Landau honor Jeff Beck with a fretboard-burning Freeway Jam cover By Phil Weller published 8 April 24 The two Stratocaster masters recently shared the stage for a Beck-honoring jam
“It gives me a ton of fresh ideas, and enables me to cover more ground with fewer strings to cross”: Is Jacob Collier’s crazy five-string Strandberg custom guitar about to get a signature release? By Phil Weller published 8 April 24 Collier and Strandberg have teased the official release of what is set to be the Swedish luthier’s most out-there signature build yet
“It’s not the world’s greatest solo, but we spent hours on it”: Session legend Dann Huff recalls recording with Michael Jackson and Shania Twain – and begging Michael Bolton to let him play a solo with a Peavey acoustic By Phil Weller published 5 April 24 Huff recounts his session contributions during a new in-depth interview – and explains how his heavily-modded ‘64 Strat “cut through the synthesizers of the ‘80s” and put him in great demand
“Even in the face of adversity he still plays with complete joy and positive intent”: Andy Timmons wrote a song in tribute to Peter Frampton – then his hero ended up playing on it By Matt Owen published 5 April 24 After witnessing his hero play live in 2019, Timmons was inspired to write The Boy From Beckenham in honor of Frampton. Nearly four years later, Frampton joined in to complete the cut
“Pretty much everybody in the genre was a Fender guy… I said, ‘I’ve gotta pivot and do something different’”: Joe Bonamassa reveals what prompted him to switch from Strats to Les Pauls – and the one technique he cannot nail By Phil Weller published 27 March 24 It's a technique that Allan Holdsworth and Eric Johnson are masters at, but the revered blues guitarist has had to pursue a different approach to counter his shredding kryptonite
“I’m at a loss for words”: It’s one of the defining cartoon theme tunes of the ’90s – now Nili Brosh has reimagined the classic X-Men lick fest for X-Men ’97 By Matt Owen published 26 March 24 Brosh brings some serious bends to the table as she helps breathe new life into the iconic opener, which has been re-recorded for Disney's animated X-Men revival
“My face has melted”: Steve Vai and Joe Satriani cover Metallica’s Enter Sandman during opening Satch/Vai Tour show – and give their first-ever collaborative single its live debut By Matt Owen published 25 March 24 After their own solo sets, the two virtuosos shared the stage to perform The Sea of Emotions, Pt. 1, and the Kinks' You Really Got Me – before wrapping things up with a wah-drenched cover of the Metallica classic
“An absolutely genius video presentation”: New video for Mark Knopfler’s all-star Guitar Heroes charity single reveals who played what on the 50-guitarist-strong instrumental epic By Matt Owen published 22 March 24 The cleverly put together clip picks apart the many pieces of the nine-minute track, putting the spotlight on the track's A-list contributors
“Steve Vai is the only guitarist who could play my parts. I’m totally psyched for this”: Robert Fripp gives his blessing for a new King Crimson supergroup, featuring Steve Vai, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Danny Carey By Phil Weller published 22 March 24 The star-studded lineup will perform tracks from King Crimson's ’80s albums – and it was Fripp who suggested the group's name
“If only he knew who was playing guitar behind him!”: Paul Gilbert heard someone playing Little Wing at a music store, so he spontaneously joined in the jam – and the player’s reaction is priceless By Matt Owen published 21 March 24 The Mr. Big virtuoso was doing a spot of gear shopping, but ended up stealing the show with the help of a 1980s Ibanez Roadstar
“That take was live from beginning to end, 7 minutes of pure guitar energy without a single miscue”: Stevie Ray Vaughan’s producer and bassist recall being in the room when SRV tackled his game-changing cover of Voodoo Child By Matt Parker published 21 March 24 SRV’s other massive Hendrix cover proved a pivot point in his playing career – helping the Texas bluesman to find his way through his fraught second album sessions
“It doesn’t take a million dollars. You take this to any studio or venue, and you’re Band of Gypsys”: Joe Bonamassa attempts to recreate Jimi Hendrix’s iconic live rig on a budget – with a $319 Squier Strat and Peavey Classic By Phil Weller published 20 March 24 The gear guru is challenged to capture Hendrix’s legendary live tones with two vastly different budgets – and reveals some Hendrix tricks along the way
“When I first went to England, there was Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton sleeping in a van. They all bought Strats after they saw me play”: Buddy Guy reflects on his relationship with the Strat during a jam with Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram By Phil Weller published 20 March 24 In Fender's new Strat Sessions series, the two blues greats come together for a stripped-back take on a Willie Dixon classic – and to discuss the enduring influence of the Stratocaster
“Absolutely mind-blowing”: Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith rips through the blues on a ‘55 Gibson Les Paul Custom previously owned by Paul Kossoff and Eric Clapton By Matt Owen published 20 March 24 The early-years Black Beauty was reportedly Kossoff's first “real” guitar, and paved the way for the many Burst LPs that the Free great later became synonymous with
“What he did with it, it just brings you to tears”: Jeff Beck’s last-ever recording has been released – as Mark Knopfler’s sensational star-studded charity single finally arrives By Matt Owen published 15 March 24 More than 50 of the world’s finest guitar heroes have joined forces for the track, which has been recorded to raise funds for teenage cancer charities
“I turned everything on the amp to 10 and smoked the guitar so hard that it would rattle someone’s teeth… They said nothing, then Jack Bruce signaled me out”: How Blues Saraceno became ‘the kid that replaced Clapton’ – despite almost blowing the audition By Matt Owen published 12 March 24 The young phenom was already making waves at the age of 16, and when it came to filling Slowhand's shoes, he won over Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce with a bold audition that left quite the impression