Christopher Scapelliti

Christopher Scapelliti

Guitar Player editor-in-chief

Christopher Scapelliti is editor-in-chief of Guitar Player (opens in new tab) magazine, the world’s longest-running guitar magazine, founded in 1967. In his extensive career, he has authored in-depth interviews with such guitarists as Pete Townshend, Slash, Billy Corgan, Jack White, Elvis Costello and Todd Rundgren, and audio professionals including Beatles engineers Geoff Emerick and Ken Scott. He is the co-author of Guitar Aficionado: The Collections: The Most Famous, Rare, and Valuable Guitars in the World (opens in new tab), a founding editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine, and a former editor with Guitar World, Guitar for the Practicing Musician and Maximum Guitar. Apart from guitars, he maintains a collection of more than 30 vintage analog synthesizers.

Latest articles by Christopher Scapelliti

Radial Engineering Reamp Station and Radial Engineering Reamp HP

Radial Engineering Reamp Station and Reamp HP Reviews

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Based on Joe Satriani engineer John Cuniberti’s design, these utility boxes tackle the job in ways that will suit everyone from home studio hobbyists to professionals

Django Reinhardt

Watch Django Reinhardt Tear it Up with the Hot Club in 1938 Film Short

By Christopher Scapelliti published

The vintage promo film features some great shots of Reinhardt's fretting hand performing some blazing runs.

Boss Dual Cube LX

Boss Dual Cube LX Review

By Christopher Scapelliti published

A solid performer from the tried and tested Cube lineup

EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker

EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker Review

By Christopher Scapelliti published

This “all-discrete analog distortion enhancement device” features silicon and germanium diode options

The Electric Prunes

Watch the Electric Prunes Perform Their Signature Hit "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)" on ‘American Bandstand’ in 1967

By Christopher Scapelliti, Rod Brakes published

Video Heavy tremolo, fuzz guitars and Eastern-inspired lead lines – this psychedelic rock smash has it all!

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Released in 1967, 'Forever Changes' is Love's third studio album

"There Were so Many Places in This Country, Being a Mixed-Race Group, That We Could Not Play”: Johnny Echols Recounts the Incredible History of Love and ‘Forever Changes’ in This Essential Interview

By Christopher Scapelliti, Rod Brakes published

Video The story of one of the greatest bands of the ‘60s psychedelic era and beyond told by its co-founding guitarist

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Iron Butterfly in 1969 (l-r): singer/keyboardist Doug Ingle, drummer Ron Bushy, bassist Lee Dorman and guitarist Erik Brann

Watch Iron Butterfly’s Kaleidoscopic “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” Performance Film

By Rod Brakes, Christopher Scapelliti published

Video All 17 minutes of this acid rock epic in full lysergic glory

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Singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshed, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon of the rock and roll band "The Who" pose for a portrait during a session at Griffith Park on February 27, 1968 in Los Angeles California

Listen to the Who’s Psychedelic Pop Masterpiece, “Dogs”

By Christopher Scapelliti published

A champion of psychedelia, the group’s June 1968 single was a dog on the charts

B.B. King 'Sing Sing Thanksgiving'

Watch B.B. King’s Awe-Inspiring ‘Sing Sing Thanksgiving’ Performance 50 Years On

By Christopher Scapelliti published

VIDEO Filmmaker David Hoffman says the legendary bluesman called this “the best recording of his music he had heard”

VIDEO
A Wizard, a True Star is the fourth album by American musician Todd Rundgren, released March 2, 1973, on Bearsville Records.

Largely Considered a Career Mistake, Todd Rundgren’s ‘A Wizard, a True Star’ Is Now a Celebrated Work. Here’s Why…

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Fortified by psychedelic mushrooms and Ritalin, the artist abandoned his career as “the male Carole King” and began recording the music of his mind

Eric Clapton performs with Cream in 1967

Watch Eric Clapton Demonstrate His Signature "Woman Tone" in This Classic Cream-Era Video

By Damian Fanelli, Christopher Scapelliti published

Video A young Slowhand explains how to operate his legendary 'the Fool' Gibson SG

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Bill Doss (1968-2012)

Watch Indie-Rock Legends the Olivia Tremor Control Perform Their Infectious Signature Song, “Jumping Fences”

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Video Short and sweet, this gorgeously saccharine number is a lesson in songwriting

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David Roback performs with Mazzy Star in 2013

Watch Mazzy Star’s Spellbinding “Fade Into You” Live Performance

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Video This timeless rendition of the band’s ‘90s dream pop classic is a great example of influential guitarist David Roback’s neo-psychedelic approach

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The Bangles (l-r): Vicki Peterson, Debbi Peterson (drums), Susanna Hoffs and Michael Steele

Merging Late ‘60s Jangle Rock With Punk, the Paisley Underground Signaled a Psychedelic Rock Revival

By Christopher Scapelliti published

This musical movement inspired countless artists including Prince, the Teardrop Explodes and Echo and the Bunnymen

Jimmy Page, 1966

Here's Why Jimmy Page Is a Missing Link Between ‘60s Psychedelia and ‘70s Hard Rock

By Rod Brakes, Ian Fortnam, Christopher Scapelliti published

The guitarist was on the path of the exotic long before he bridged the gap with Led Zeppelin

Pink Floyd in the late '60s. Clockwise from top-left: Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Rick Wright and Roger Waters,

“It Was a Huge Loss. And I Did Love Him”: Roger Waters Tells the Tragic Tale of Syd Barrett

By Rod Brakes, Christopher Scapelliti published

Video The Pink Floyd co-founder recounts the inside story of one of psychedelic rock’s greatest in this unmissable ‘Joe Rogan Experience’ clip

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Roger McGuinn performs with the Byrds in 1970

Watch the Byrds’ Epic Instrumental Rendition of Their Breakthrough Psychedelic Masterpiece, "Eight Miles High"

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Video Roger McGuinn channels the spirit of John Coltrane in this expansive 1970 performance at the legendary Fillmore East venue

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Robyn Hitchcock and Andy Metcalfe of The Soft Boys supporting The Damned at the Rainbow Theatre, London, England, on April 8th 1978

Listen to the Soft Boys’ “Queen of Eyes” – a Track That Helped Launch the Neo-Psychedelic Revolution

By Christopher Scapelliti published

The group are credited for paving the way for Britain’s shoegaze and dream pop bands

Randy California, 1969

“That’s the Guy I Just Played With in New York! His Name’s Not Jimi Hendrix”: Randy California Talks Playing With the Artist FKA Jimmy James in This Classic Interview

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Video Spirit's legendary guitarist recounts Hendrix’s epochal Cafe Wha? gigs

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Jim James, 2021

“I Get Down on My Knees and Pray Before Every Show”: Watch My Morning Jacket’s Otherworldly “Circuital” Performance

By Rod Brakes, Christopher Scapelliti published

Video Gibson signature artist Jim James and Co deliver a stirring rendition of this epic track live at Red Rocks

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The Beatles 'Revolver' Special Edition release

Get 22% Off the Beatles’ New ‘Revolver’ Special Edition 5CD Box Set

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Remixed in stereo, this expanded version of the psychedelic rock masterpiece is available now at a special introductory price

Roky Erickson, 1967

“They Started out Unbelievable and They Ended That Way Too”: Roky Erickson Recalls the 13th Floor Elevators’ Rise From Obscurity to Psychedelic Rock Heroes in This Vintage Interview

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Video Here’s how the pioneering band elevated the genre to the record charts

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Keith Richards, 1967

“The Whole Musical World Went on a Trip”: Listen to Keith Richards Recollect His Memories From the Summer of Love and ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’

By Christopher Scapelliti published

The Rolling Stones took the full plunge into psychedelic rock on this classic 1967 album

Bob Dylan, 1966

Here’s Why Bob Dylan Was Essential to the Birth of Psychedelic Rock

By Christopher Scapelliti published

From the Beatles and the Byrds to Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane, the folk legend laid the groundwork for all

George Harrison (1943-2001), Paul McCartney and John Lennon (1940-1980) of The Beatles perform at Empire Pool in Wembley at the New Musical Express Annual Poll Winner's Concert in what would be their final scheduled performance in Britain, May 1, 196

“I Think It Comes From Their Fingers and the Guitars”: Listen to Tracks From the Beatles’ New ‘Revolver’ Releases and Read Giles Martin’s Unmissable Interview on Re-Mixing (and De-Mixing!) the Landmark Album

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Wielding a sonic scalpel, the producer presents the Beatles’ 1966 milestone recording as you’ve never heard it

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