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Brian Ray’s audition to join Paul McCartney’s band was a live performance – at the Super Bowl
By Phil Weller published
The multi-instrumentalist didn't have long to prepare for one of the most public auditions in the history of rock and roll

Gary Holt's favorite pedal emulates Eddie Van Halen's iconic “Brown Sound” – and it retails for less than a $100
By Janelle Borg published
Holt reveals his new go-to budget-friendly brand – and offers some of his mini-pedal recommendations

How Robin Nolan went from busking in Amsterdam to collaborating with George Harrison
By Phil Weller published
The gypsy jazz virtuoso would later go on to complete a long-lost Harrison song that had been scribbled on an envelope

Peter Frampton joins Pearl Jam and trades solos with Mike McCready over Black during Nashville performance
By Phil Weller published
Frampton – who has had to adapt his playing technique as he battles a degenerative disease – traded licks with McCready during the surprise guest spot

Rockie Lynne was abandoned as an infant – years later, his birth father left him his most important legacy
By Phil Weller published
Lynne didn't know his parents growing up, but when he met his biological father through a DNA test, they connected over a shared love of the guitar

Todd Rundgren reveals the real reason why he decided to produce Meat Loaf's off-kilter debut Bat Out of Hell
By Janelle Borg published
The Wagnerian rock record was initially rejected by many a record label – but would go on to become one of the best-selling albums of all time

When Suzanne Vega was warned against headlining Glastonbury, she took drastic measures to ensure she made history
By Phil Weller published
The folk guitar icon made history as the first female artist to headline the iconic festival – but she arrived on stage after receiving death threats

Robert Fripp reveals he’s recovering from a heart attack
By Phil Weller published
The prog rock icon underwent two lots of emergency surgery in Italy, revealing there were “complex moments” along the way

Marcus King follows in Craig Ross’ footsteps to wield Jeff Beck’s iconic Yardbirds-era Les Paul on stage
By Janelle Borg published
KALEO's JJ Julius Son and Marcus King Band's Drew Smithers also played the legendary LP, which fetched over $490,000 at auction earlier this year

Gary Clark Jr. on the time he bumped into Eric Clapton at a show
By Phil Weller published
Joe Satriani has commented on the bluesman’s Instagram post to offer his own interpretation of the exchange

Lemmy honored with a towering bronze statue unveiled in the Motörhead legend's hometown
By Phil Weller published
The statue – which depicts Lemmy wielding his iconic Rickenbacker – contains some of his ashes, and arrives 50 years after the formation of Motörhead

Mastodon recruit prog fusion virtuoso Nick Johnston as surprise new stand-in guitarist
By Phil Weller published
The Canadian instrumentalist – known for his rock and fusion chops – has linked up with Bill Kelliher and co for the start of Mastodon's 2025 Infinite Arc tour

Knox Chandler on the recording session that flourished into a decade-long working relationship with Cyndi Lauper
By Janelle Borg published
Chandler's list of collaborators includes the Psychedelic Furs, R.E.M., Siouxsie and the Banshees and Depeche Mode

Mike Campbell on writing The Boys of Summer with Don Henley – after Tom Petty passed on it
By Phil Weller published
Campbell made an all-important change to the song before handing it over to Henley

These are the gear releases that have caught my eye this week – and the essential launches you might have missed
By Matt Owen published
New drops from JHS Pedals, Fender, Victory, and more that need to be on your radar this week

Watch two funk-rock guitar gods unite for the ultimate acid guitar jam
By Jonathan Horsley published
Woodstock '69 finally had some competition as the ultimate acid guitar jam when Rockpalast 1985 united two funk-rock guitar gods under a trippy groove

Steely Dan’s Denny Dias says his iconic Do It Again electric sitar solo was recorded on a lousy rental model
By Phil Weller published
The former Steely Dan guitarist was required to borrow a Danelectro/Coral electric sitar for the job – but he was less than impressed

Sinners composer Ludwig Göransson used vintage Dobros to write the movie’s music – and he scoured the globe to find them
By Phil Weller published
Sinners – which stars Michael B. Jordan and Buddy Guy – boasts a compelling score that pays tribute to the blues, with a little help from three hard-to-find guitars...