Christopher Scapelliti
Christopher Scapelliti is editor-in-chief of Guitar Player 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, 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
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!
"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
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
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”
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
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
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
“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
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
“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
“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
“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