Pale Waves: “We wanted to make a more honest record, and that meant bringing guitar to the forefront” By Chris Schwarten published 9 February 21 The UK indie-pop outfit reflect on an eventful few years with their six-string-stacked follow-up album, Who Am I?
Miss Grit: “Plugging into effects pedals and making weird sounds is a big part of my songwriting process” By Matt Parker published 5 February 21 Margaret Sohn talks her favorite stompboxes, rare Fender Jaguars and conquering self-doubt with new EP, Impostor
Chrissie Hynde: “I don’t think of myself as a songwriter or a guitar player. If I have to write on a form what I do I never quite know what to say!” By Jonathan Horsley published 4 February 21 The Pretenders leader talks songwriting with an unplugged electric guitar, the evolution of punk and her stunning new Fender signature Telecaster
Jack McEwan: “I want to forget every natural convention in guitar playing and find things that are stupid… but actually make it musical!” By Amit Sharma published 3 February 21 The Psychedelic Porn Crumpets six-stringer on the glitchy guitar sounds and wondrous array of pedals that form the band's upcoming album, SHYGA! The Sunlight Mound
Carmen Vandenberg: “I want to be the kind of guitarist who can do a show with nothing – just an amp and a guitar. But I'm a geek, and I love pedals!” By Jonathan Horsley published 28 January 21 One half of UK rock outfit Bones UK talks skateboarding accidents, her love of effects, and her brand-new signature Blackstar combo
Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold: "I've always started every song on guitar, but I'm comfortable to let it be a songwriting tool and remove it, if necessary" By Matt Parker published 27 January 21 The indie-folk songwriter discusses the band's new album Shore, Red Dead Redemption studio adventures and his 'no Martin dreadnought' rule
Steven Wilson: “I wanted to make an album that was more reflective of the electronic world we live in – the guitar is there, but it’s used in a different way” By Amit Sharma published 26 January 21 The trailblazing prog man talks the future of guitar music, the rise of electronica and how Elton John came to appear on his latest album, The Future Bites
Thurston Moore: “Writing music is about stepping away from the ego and creating something that's selfless” By Matt Frost published 25 January 21 The left-field guitar pioneer opens up on his stunning 2020 album By The Fire, the creative impact of lockdown, and experimenting with Sonic Youth and beyond
Evanescence: “Guitarists need to be honest. Use your voice. We don’t need fake – we need humanity and real people” By Amit Sharma published 7 January 21 Jen Majura and Troy McLawhorn wax lyrical on the high-octane gear, influences and themes behind the band's upcoming fifth album, The Bitter Truth
Leslie West talks jamming with Jimi Hendrix and seeing Eddie Van Halen for the first time in this classic 1987 Guitar World interview By Gene Santoro published 24 December 20 The trailblazing Mountain guitarist discusses life on the road in one of the heaviest hard-rock outfits of the time
How Shirley Tetteh became one of the UK's most exciting new jazz guitarists By Cheri Amour published 11 December 20 The JUCE and Nardeydey wunderkind on growing as a musician in London's jazz scene and dealing with imposter syndrome
Alpha Male Tea Party's Tom Peters: "Throwing a simple major-key riff together wasn't doing it for me any more… I thought, 'How can I use melody differently?'" By Alex Lynham published 9 December 20 The instrumental riff-meister and keen-eared producer details the personal struggle behind making monumental new album, Infinity Stare, and his secret formula for killer guitar tone
Dimebag Darrell reveals his 12 favorite metal tracks in this classic 1993 Guitar World interview By Jeff Kitts published 8 December 20 The legendary Pantera guitarist shares the top heavy-hitting tunes every guitarist should know
Black Stone Cherry: “You never want two guitarists who are competing with each other. That’s a cocktail for failure” By Alison Richter published 26 November 20 Chris Robertson and Ben Wells detail their guitar synergy, and the gear – formerly used by rock royalty – that drove the band's hard-hitting new album, The Human Condition
Brad Paisley: “I’ve always said that country is jazz on the bridge pickup!” By Amit Sharma published 24 November 20 The country music star on his guitar rig essentials, how he came to develop his secret neck pickup-equipped Fender Esquire, and the similarities between metal, jazz and country…
Adrian Smith talks fishy tour stories, from falling in front of 20,000 people to being recognized while angling By John Katic published 23 November 20 The Iron Maiden guitarist recalls the conception of his new book, Monsters of River & Rock: My Life as Iron Maiden’s Compulsive Angler
Partner: “Our genre is post-classic rock – we keep the riffs and forget the rest!” By Cheri Amour published 17 November 20 Queer Canadian pairing Josée Caron and Lucy Niles open up about the sophomore slump, Steely Dan microphones and why even the oldest routes of rock deserve reimagining
Este Haim: “It’s funkier to concentrate on the notes you’re not playing, rather than the notes that you are” By Amit Sharma published 16 November 20 The Haim bassist talks tracking down her first Fender P-Bass, her love of fusion, and the group's multifaceted new album, Women In Music Pt. III
Daron Malakian on how System of a Down ended up recording their first new music in 15 years – and what the future holds for the alt-metal icons By Amit Sharma published 16 November 20 In this GW exclusive, Malakian discusses his surprising guitar heroes, how he wrote Chop Suey!, and why he’s never practiced a day in his life
Declan McKenna: “Guitars are just planks of wood, but they help us translate the most difficult aspects of life” By Matt Parker published 5 November 20 We chat with the UK singer-songwriter about the gear and themes behind his enrapturing new album Zeros, and being dubbed the 'voice of a generation'