Mental health

I've spent 20 years as a touring guitarist. The live industry is broken – now it’s breaking musicians too

By Glen Phillips published 4 February 26

When an average gigging life includes permanent damage to financial, physical and mental wellbeing, it’s time to re-evaluate what the business is doing to the people who stand on stage

5 common excuses for not learning the guitar – and 5 body and mind-boosting reasons you should

By Ross Holder published 7 March 25

Always wanted to learn the guitar, but keep making excuses? These are the most common ones I've heard – and why they don’t hold up

Meet The Native Howl, the thrashgrass pioneers running Taylor acoustics through Mesa/Boogie stacks

By Alison Richter published 16 December 24

The Native Howl’s Alex Holycross turned himself around after a suicide attempt, and focused on merging bluegrass with thrash – and spreading the word about giving and getting help when it’s needed

Marcus King on why your fretboard has its own language – and how mental health became his muse

By Andrew Daly published 9 December 24

The Americana-loving singer-songwriter digs into the ties between the ebb and flow of his emotional state and the safe space inherent in the well-worn fretboard of his beloved Big Red

Ethan Kahn learned to play after a high school shooting – now his band is championed by William DuVall and Rob Halford

By Alison Richter published 18 November 24

The Chained Saint guitarist is learning to balance his SATs with promoting their debut album, but he’s got the support of two rock icons

Koe Wetzel abandoned his party animal image to show who he really is on 9 Lives, and found a new reason to play his beat-up Gibson J-200

By Alison Richter published 4 September 24

With the help of his producer, friends and family, the country-rocker is gearing up for the biggest years of his career – and wants to make sure his fans know he’s on their side no matter how difficult their lives get

How Michael Franti fought back the darkness with a 25-year-old acoustic named after his grandma

By Alison Richter published 19 August 24

The Spearhead leader explains why it’s not just the sound of the guitar that soothes him – it’s the vibrations as well

For Darius Rucker, the industry has brought joy and cut him to the bone. Now he’s written a book on living with his mental health challenges

By Alison Richter published 29 May 24

The Hootie & the Blowfish frontman hopes his memoir will help others out of the depression and anxiety traps that led him into substance abuse

Session guitarist Jon Conley has faced mental health challenges all his life. Here’s what keeps him going

By Alison Richter published 21 May 24

Conley has played with artists including Kenny Chesney, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell and Joe Walsh, all while striving for internal balance and perspective