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
The guitar gear secrets behind James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett’s tones on 72 Seasons By Jenna Scaramanga published 12 May 23 Metallica co-producer Greg Fidelman reveals how the new album was made with the help of a Marshall modded by Eddie Van Halen’s amp wizard and a rack full of battle-hardened guitars, including one that makes Hetfield “immediately want to play fast riffs”
Everything you need to know about Metallica's scorching new album – only in the new Guitar World By Damian Fanelli published 18 April 23 Plus! Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton, Steel Panther, Paul Gilbert does Dio, Chris Holmes, the top 10 tools for every gig and tributes to Gary Rossington and David Lindley
Paul Gilbert reveals the surprising guitars he used to emulate Ronnie James Dio's voice, the lead that took 100 takes and his grand guitar solo plans for Mr. Big's farewell tour By Andrew Daly published 5 April 23 The much-loved virtuoso details his approach to tackling parts by Ritchie Blackmore, Tony Iommi and Vivian Campbell for The Dio Album, snapping up vintage Ibanez guitar bargains, and the younger players who are catching his ear
Paul McCartney: “Somebody whispered to me ‘That’s Nirvana. You’re Kurt.’ I couldn’t believe it” By Nick Wells published 31 March 23 Bassist Krist Novoselic revisits the time the ex-Beatle fronted a Nirvana reunion gig
Geezer Butler: “Originally it was titled ‘Nib’, which was Bill’s beard and looked like a pen nib because it was pointy” By Nick Wells published 31 March 23 Geezer Butler explains the obscure title behind one of Black Sabbath’s most recognisable riffs
It turns out Steve Vai isn’t sitting on an unreleased Ozzy Osbourne album after all: “I spoke a bit carelessly” By Matt Owen published 24 February 23 After seemingly revealing the existence of a “real heavy” album he recorded with Osbourne in the '90s, Vai has now set the record straight
Paul Gilbert tackles both Tony Iommi and Ronnie James Dio’s parts in new cover of Black Sabbath’s Heaven and Hell By Matt Owen published 23 February 23 It follows the Mr. Big virtuoso's cover of Dio's Holy Diver, with his fully fledged Dio tribute record set to arrive April 7
Acid King's Lori S. talks out-riffing leather-clad shredders, why she's a Les Paul lifer and the art of the perfect stoner solo By Andrew Daly published 14 February 23 New album Beyond Vision finds the stoner rock staples' slow-burning sonic stew laced with mountains of pedals, and asks the question: what's the rush for the next note?
Some of Black Sabbath’s heaviest tracks are being turned into a ballet By Matt Owen published 8 February 23 War Pigs, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Iron Man and five other Sabbath songs will soundtrack the new three-act dance show – which might feature a Tony Iommi cameo
Ozzy Osbourne, Bonnie Raitt, Wet Leg and Brandi Carlile win big at the Grammys 2023 By Matt Owen published 6 February 23 Snarky Puppy, Madison Cunningham, Molly Tuttle and Edgar Winter were also among the guitar-wielding winners at the 65th annual Grammy Awards ceremony
Paul Gilbert announces surprise Ronnie James Dio tribute album, releases Holy Diver cover as lead single By Matt Owen published 1 February 23 Gilbert's The Dio Album, which covers the late vocalist's Rainbow, Black Sabbath and solo eras across 12 tracks, will arrive April 7
Laney Supergroup LA-Studio review By Nick Guppy published 1 February 23 The latest amp head from Laney’s flagship UK-designed and made Supergroup range offers real vintage tube tone combined with Two Notes cab emulation
Ozzy Osbourne announces retirement from touring, cancels all remaining shows By Sam Roche published 1 February 23 The metal legend says he's not “physically capable” of a life of touring anymore
Tony Iommi reveals he is about to start recording a new album By Matt Owen published 4 January 23 The Black Sabbath legend didn't give too much away, but it sounds as though a follow-up to 2005's Fused is right around the corner
Watch Pantera play their first show in 21 years with Zakk Wylde on guitar By Sam Roche published 5 December 22 The band's reformed lineup – Phil Anselmo, Rex Brown, Wylde and Charlie Benante – looked in fine form as they played a set of classics at Mexico's Hell & Heaven Metal Fest
Frank Bello: 5 bass players who influenced me By Joel McIver published 14 November 22 Anthrax bassist Frank Bello on Geezer Butler, Steve Harris, Paul McCartney and more
The 20 heaviest songs before Black Sabbath By Richard Bienstock last updated 11 November 22 Behold, gentle reader, a sizzlin’ slew of down and dirty tracks that helped forge heavy metal
A year before he joined Metallica, Cliff Burton was in a college band with Faith No More’s Jim Martin – watch them jam For Whom the Bell Tolls at a battle of the bands By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 9 November 22 In 1981, the two childhood friends embraced improvisatory psychedelic chaos as Agents of Misfortune – and their epic jam sessions gave birth to several future classics along the way