Tony Iommi gave birth to heavy metal – and learning his techniques will make you a better riff writer By Jamie Hunt published 5 February 24 In this metal rhythm lesson, we take the art form back to the source, the Black Sabbath guitarist who launched a thousand riffs
“Guitar was harder than I thought, but things clicked once I learned Sweet Child O’ Mine… my teacher thought I’d want to learn Taylor Swift!” With help from Bumblefoot and Tracii Guns, Sierra Levesque, 18, stakes a claim as the future of rock ’n’ roll By Andrew Daly published 19 January 24 Talented and determined, and with a collection of 20 guitars already to her name, Levesque is clear on what she needs to achieve in the coming months
“Ozzy knew that I was Randy’s favorite guitar player. The only way I could think of getting out of the gig was by making outrageous demands”: Why Michael Schenker turned down the opportunity of a lifetime with Ozzy Osbourne after Randy Rhoads died By Matt Owen published 12 January 24 The German virtuoso once received a call in the middle of the night from Osbourne asking him to join the band – but Schenker wasn't sold on the opportunity
Magnum guitarist and founder Tony Clarkin dies aged 77 By Matt Parker published 10 January 24 The songwriter wrote and performed on an astonishing 22 albums with the British hard rock band
“People think his playing is all about the big riffs, but I always loved his jazzy playing – listen to Planet Caravan. You can hear a lot of passing tones”: Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt says there’s way more to Tony Iommi’s guitar style than riffs alone By Amit Sharma published 4 January 24 The Swedish progressive metal icon pays homage to the dark lord of rock
“I’m going to commit sacrilege by joining in!” Footage of Brian May and Tony Iommi jamming together finally surfaces as the Queen legend solos over Black Sabbath’s Paranoid in this exclusive clip By Matt Owen published 3 January 24 While filming a new documentary titled Great Guitar Riffs, the two guitar titans took the opportunity to jam the Black Sabbath classic – and discuss its humble origins
“I've been working in the studio, writing and doing plenty of stuff”: Tony Iommi reveals he is cooking up some “really good” new music for 2024 By Phil Weller published 2 January 24 In his New Year message, the metal legend talks about everything from the Black Sabbath ballet to working in the studio and the status of the delayed Tony Martin-era Sabbath boxset
“People romanticize the old sound, but you want your sound brought into the 21st century”: Billy Corgan reveals how Tony Iommi inspired his approach to signature gear By Phil Weller published 20 December 23 Black Sabbath’s metal icon taught the Smashing Pumpkins leader the importance of updating past tonal glories for the future
“He took the Ibanez Iceman off the wall and said, ‘I’ll buy it for you... If you promise me Celtic Frost is going to be a fantastic band.’ And I said, ‘OK. Deal.’” For Tom G. Warrior, the equation has always been Ibanez + attitude = murderous riffs By Greg Prato published 30 November 23 The black metal guitar icon inspired a generation of heavy players, including Dave Grohl and Mark Tremonti. Thomas Gabriel Fischer reveals what kindled his unending love of Ibanez, the benefits of writing bloodthirsty riffs on tiny practice amps, and the “absolutely crucial thing that people completely underestimate in achieving a guitar sound”
“I played with Satriani, Bonamassa, Iommi and Blackmore… but Gary Moore was the best”: Glenn Hughes has performed with some of the greatest guitarists of all time, but he reckons the late, great blues-rocker surpasses them all By Matt Parker published 4 October 23 The rock frontman and bassist admits they were close, but says Moore was “unbelievable”
Laney Ironheart Foundry IRF-Leadtop review: It’s tiny and costs just $299, but this solid-state fire-breather can handle anything you can throw at it By Nick Guppy published 4 October 23 Compact, crammed with gain and kitted out for home practice or the stage – meet the latest addition to Laney’s Foundry series
“I’m honored”: Tony Iommi walks onstage to play Paranoid at the Black Sabbath ballet – and the entire ensemble bows at his feet By Matt Parker published 25 September 23 The father of metal guitar was given a humbling tribute during a surprise appearance at the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s new Sabbath-themed show
Death metal SG tones, the drummer from Slayer and “unabridged hatred in musical form”: get a load of this year’s filthiest riffers Empire State Bastard By Michael Astley-Brown published 20 September 23 Mike Vennart is touring guitarist for Biffy Clyro and former frontman of UK prog heroes Oceansize, but he’s finally let his extreme metal alter ego out – and it’s seriously nasty, as evidenced in this no-holds-barred playthrough
“I get off stage, and Paul and Gene want to talk to me: ‘We think you’d be perfect for Kiss. Would you consider playing a Les Paul?’” White Lion’s Vito Bratta on the time he nearly joined Kiss – and his failed Ozzy Osbourne audition By Andrew Daly published 18 September 23 The ’80s shred icon explains what stood between him and the gig of a lifetime with Ozzy – and why he turned down Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley
“You know, I've never played slide before, but it just started doing things on its own – I didn’t even have to try”: That time Paul McCartney channeled his inner bluesman – with the help of Nirvana, and a wild 4-string cigar box guitar By Jackson Maxwell published 6 September 23 Matty Baratto's guitars have been played by Slash, Keith Richards, Zakk Wylde, Prince, Josh Homme, Joe Perry, and countless others. Seeing the Beatle use one of his four-string creations live with Nirvana, though, was a truly "surreal" moment for the luthier
“Ozzy Osbourne gets in my face and we're doing this dance. Sometimes Kirk and I do it during For Whom the Bell Tolls”: Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo explains the origin of his iconic crab walk By Nick Wells published 11 August 23 Robert Trujillo thanks Ozzy Osbourne for helping turn on his stage performance with Metallica
“I don't know whether we played it properly, but the audience loved it”: When Black Sabbath regularly covered Smoke on the Water – and unwittingly inspired Spinal Tap's Stonehenge By Jackson Maxwell published 7 August 23 Sabbath's ill-fated Born Again tour featured comically oversized props “as big as the real Stonehenge”, onstage spills, and a crowd-pleasing hard-rock crossover
“An official Vampire now”: Tony Iommi played Paranoid with Joe Perry, Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper at The Hollywood Vampires’ recent UK show By Matt Parker published 13 July 23 The Black Sabbath legend dropped in on the band’s Birmingham, UK show and proved he has lost none of his chops since retiring from touring
Worst Ozzy Osbourne tribute ever? British pub’s inexplicable Photoshop gaffe removes Randy Rhoads and hands his polka dot V to Ozzy instead By Matt Owen published 19 June 23 This Birmingham pub’s tribute to Osbourne and the birth of Black Sabbath went very wrong indeed
Tony Iommi trades guitars with Brian May and faces the struggle of all left-handers, as he wields the Red Special upside down By Matt Parker published 17 May 23 The two British guitar heroes and friends spent the afternoon trading licks – and instruments – as part of a forthcoming documentary on riffs