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He was regarded as one of the world's greatest under-the-radar guitarists – watch him solo with a beer bottle and a towel
By Damian Fanelli published
Steve Vai once said that the guitarist in question, Danny Gatton, “comes closer than anyone else to being the best guitar player that ever lived”

Martin’s Junior Series has been given its most significant upgrade yet
By Matt Owen published
Updated electronics, solid tonewoods and new models make up the 2025 edition of Martin's humble Junior series, which starts from $699

Alex Lifeson on his complicated relationship with guitar solos – and why he cut down on leads in Rush's later years
By Janelle Borg published
Lifeson explains why solos aren't a priority for him anymore

“I don’t only think in barre chords – that’s a slightly arrogant statement to make”: Brian May and Roger Taylor disagree about their guitar contributions to Taylor’s Queen tracks
By Phil Weller published
The pair have offered a fresh insight into their songwriting partnership

Jackson and Bring Me the Horizon’s Lee Malia champion the rise of the metal offset with new signature Surfcaster
By Phil Weller published
Featuring old looks, modern features, and pickups voiced to Malia’s aggressive-but-open specifications, the LM-87 is one of 2025’s finest new signature guitars

Fender and Mike Campbell recreate the Red Dog – The Heartbreaker’s heavily modded 1972 Telecaster
By Matt Owen published
Campbell bought the Red Dog from one of his students, and used it across his career on some of his most notable works

Richie Kotzen came close to joining Nine Inch Nails – but one detail stopped him getting the gig
By Phil Weller published
The former Poison guitarist aced his surprise audition but never got a call back

Martin Barre once distanced himself from rhythm playing – but some Steve Lukather wisdom changed his mind
By Phil Weller published
The former Jethro Tull lead guitarist reassessed his playing priorities after hearing some wise words from the Toto legend

Popular social media guitarist Giacomo Turra accused of stealing other musicians’ songs for content
By Matt Owen published
The funk and R&B guitarist has responded to the accusations

Jack Black mimes on a Minecraft’d Flying V as Kirk Douglas nails the Sweet Child O’ Mine solo on Jimmy Fallon
By Phil Weller published
Black’s epic entrance caught the eye, but Captain Kirk Douglas’ tastefully virtuosic playing caught the ear

Amadou Bagayoko, singer and Malian guitar great, dies at 70
By Jackson Maxwell published
Half of the enormously successful duo Amadou & Mariam, Bagayoko developed a powerful guitar style that blended classic rock influences with more traditional West African sounds, jammed with David Gilmour, and collaborated with Damon Albarn

Machine Gun Kelly on the time he stole a cheap Martin from a hotel – and was billed $5,000
By Phil Weller published
The damaged instrument is inscribed with a message that echoes MGK’s guitar-playing mantra – and it’s one of his most cherished instruments

That time Chrissie Hynde enraged one of her Pretenders bandmates because she stopped playing mid-gig
By Phil Weller published
The guitar icon once decided to spontaneously shake things up on stage, and ended up feeling the wrath of Jimmy Scott

Dave Allen, former Gang of Four bassist and post-punk heavyweight, dies aged 69
By Matt Owen published
Allen’s work on Gang of Four’s first two albums would inspire generations and influence the likes of Nirvana, REM, and Flea, who has paid tribute to the late bass icon

SSD guitarist and hardcore pioneer Al Barile dies aged 63
By Phil Weller published
Barile was a key player in the Boston hardcore scene in the 1980s

Kayla Kent nails Eddie Van Halen’s Ice Cream Man solo in the style of Dimebag Darrell
By Phil Weller published
The Dime-loving shred star is at it again, blurring the lines between the tone and playing styles of two greats in one blinding performance

He started playing at the age of three, at 13, he came across something that would help define his unique sound
By Jackson Maxwell published
One of the most distinctive (and underrated) blues guitar players of his era, Jeff Healey adopted his radically unconventional approach to the instrument at a very young age

Billy Corgan on the difference between rock and “indie” guitar players
By Phil Weller published
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman recently sat down with Richie Sambora to discuss their early musical experiences