
Gary Graff
Gary Graff is an award-winning Detroit-based music journalist and author who writes for a variety of print, online and broadcast outlets. He has written and collaborated on books about Alice Cooper, Neil Young, Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen and Rock 'n' Roll Myths. He's also the founding editor of the award-winning MusicHound Essential Album Guide series and of the new 501 Essential Albums series. Graff is also a co-founder and co-producer of the annual Detroit Music Awards.
Latest articles by Gary Graff

Nancy Wilson tells how a transformative Beatles concert set Heart's wheels in motion
By Gary Graff published
As the band prepares to launch the An Evening With Heart spring/summer 2025 U.S. tour, Wilson offered a revealing look into her and Ann's early musical inspirations

Steve Stevens explains the shocking techniques that made Billy Idol's 'Rebel Yell' a milestone for guitar sound design
By Gary Graff published
Stevens says the 1984 release was a golden opportunity to revolutionize guitar in an era dominated by synths

John 5 shares the last photo of Gene Simmons in full Kiss makeup and costume
By Gary Graff last updated
The photo will not be among the treasures in John's personally guided tours of his Kiss collection, being offered this onth

Neil Giraldo on the guitar-busting drive to cut his most fret-burning solo of all time for Pat Benatar's "Promises in the Dark"
By Gary Graff published
One of many standout tracks co-written by Benatar and Giraldo, it features the solo that's universally considered his career best

Steve Stevens on introducing the guitar synthesizer to America and shaping sounds on Billy Idol’s new hit album, ‘Dream Into It’
By Gary Graff published
Idol’s first studio full-length in 11 years, the record debuted at number seven on the U.S. Top Albums chart

Samantha Fish names the one thing that can ruin every gig
By Gary Graff published
“I never take it for granted," Fish says of life on the road. "Even when it doesn’t go the way it should"

Alice Cooper on his 1973 hit that inadvertently ripped off the Who
By Gary Graff last updated
The tune helped propel 'Billion Dollars Babies' to the top of the charts in the U.S. and U.K., bringing Cooper his greatest fame

Samantha Fish reveals the guitar that became the heart and soul of her new album, ‘Paper Doll’
By Gary Graff published
The blues shredder also reveals that her faithful cigar-box guitar may soon reach the end of its days on the road

Steven Wilson on David Gilmour and remixing ‘Pink Floyd at Pompeii — MCMLXXII'
By Gary Graff published
The legendary concert film has been digitally remastered in 4K from the original 35mm footage and paired with Wilson's revealing new mixes

Steve Stevens on his all-time worst gig and the visit to Jimi Hendrix's grave that never happened
By Gary Graff published
The Rock Hall nominee recounts the good, bad and ugly shows ahead of releasing Idol’s latest album

"It was in the early days of wireless guitars." Squeeze guitarist Glenn Tilbrook reveals his best and worst gigs of all time
By Gary Graff published
The English guitarist and songwriter is currently performing with Squeeze, supporting Daryl Hall and playing solo dates

Ricky Byrd reflects on Jeff Beck, the Who, Humble Pie and the 10 records that changed his life
By Gary Graff published
The NYC rock guitar icon has just released 'NYC Made,' his first album for Little Steven Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool label

How an extremely rare goldtop 1958 Les Paul Standard found its way into Wayne Sermon's hands
By Gary Graff published
Sermon brought the guitar out last October for the band’s filmed concert at Hollywood Bowl, which comes to theaters this week

Alex Lifeson says digital technology made him a believer on his new album with Envy of None
By Gary Graff last updated
The guitarist believes 'Stygian Wavz,' out March 28, presents the quartet as a unified band for the first time

Dan Donegan tells how a "warm-up" session produced Disturbed's signature hit, "Down With the Sickness"
By Gary Graff published
The band is celebrating the 25th anniversary of 'The Sickness' with a rarities-packed reissue and has plans for a new full-length.

Billy Idol took his Les Paul Junior — and his mother — to meet Les Paul in 1986
By Gary Graff published
The guitar legend placed his signature on the guitar, which Idol then covered in varnish “so it will never come off”

Don Felder on how he crafted his iconic guitar solo for the Eagles’ “One of These Nights”
By Gary Graff published
Felder considers his creation "the most deliberate solo I did" and says he took his cues from the style of alto saxophonist David Sanborn

Nels Cline sets aside guitar improvisations on his debut release with Consentrik Quartet
By Gary Graff published
The group’s debut arrives seven years after they teamed up for a John Zorn show. Their inaugural tour launches March 30

Kirk Hammett takes us deep inside 'The Collection,' his new tome from Gibson Publishing
By Gary Graff published
The guitarist tells us about the guitars he's won and those he's lost as he admits "in the process of trading up, sometimes you have some remorse"

Steven Wilson redefines the modern guitar solo on 'The Overview' by putting tone first
By Gary Graff published
Wilson's new solo album is influenced by the experience space travelers have when seeing Earth from outer space

Alex Lifeson on how Rush’s early failure pushed them for their breakthrough success
By Gary Graff published
The guitarist explains how the band’s more ambitious direction “inspired me to mess around with my guitar tone”

Stephen Stills sold his Les Paul 'Burst to Waddy Wachtel — and forgot the deal ever went down
By Gary Graff published
Wachtel used the guitar throughout his career until Gibson Custom created a limited-edition Collector’s Choice replica for him in 2014

“You can't look over and be, 'Omigod! I'm playing with Jimmy Page!'” Twenty-five years after Page and the Black Crowes joined forces, Rich Robinson explains the group’s split with the legend as an expanded ‘Live at the Greek’ arrives
By Gary Graff published
The Page and Crowes tandem marked a high point in both artists' histories. Robinson recalls being "awestruck" to perform with his hero
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