Gary GraffSocial Links Navigation Latest articles by Gary Graff How Noel Gallagher and Beck helped bring the Black Keys' latest funky full-length, Ohio Players, to life By Gary Graff published 23 April 24 The Black Keys began life as a bare-bones two-piece, but, as Dan Auerbach tells GP, collaboration and an open musical mind have expanded the duo's sound to thrilling new heights “I was on the toilet with my acoustic guitar and I just started playing the riff. I thought, 'Wow, that’s either something or it’s just a bunch of irrelevant notes'. The next day, the riff came back…" How Trevor Rabin wrote Yes’s Owner of a Lonely Heart By Gary Graff published 20 January 24 Trevor Rabin reveals the origins of the 1983 mega-hit that put Yes on top of the charts ”There’s 12 notes on a guitar and Steve Vai and Zakk Wylde sound like they have more. How do you do that?” Blues prodigy Kenny Wayne Shepherd on his new solo album Dirt on My Diamonds, Vol. 1, and why unpredictability is so important By Gary Graff published 6 January 24 Looking for fresh inspiration, Kenny Wayne Shepherd left Nashville for Alabama’s FAME Studios. The result is the first half of a new album project that continues his breathtaking blues-rock evolution “I want my solos to be melodic — but not a ‘pretty’ melodic, an aggressive one…’‘ Grammy award nominee Christone “Kingfish” Ingram’s top five tips for guitarists By Gary Graff published 5 January 24 Whether it’s being happy to warm up the audience as an opening act, not getting lost in solos or letting a lukewarm crowd prey on your mind, these are the tips Christone “Kingfish” Ingram uses to stay at the top of his game "When I got the B-Bender, I learned how to find a way to bend so that it doesn’t sound just like a B-Bender but sounds like the strings are being bent by fingers…" Ex-Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin chats about Rio, his first new album of songs in 34 years By Gary Graff published 20 December 23 “The idea was to visit different genres but make sure it still sounds like a cohesive, coherent thing”: Trevor Rabin on scoring his new album Rio using a 1962 Fender Strat, Alvarez and B-Bender Tele "I wrote a few songs with Joe Strummer. I don't know if they'll ever see the light of day. I like to think that I guard Joe…" Brian Setzer opens up on old friends, new music – and shows us his gear By Gary Graff published 22 October 23 Brian Setzer made rockabilly cool again and revitalised the big band sound in the era of grunge. With a blazing new album, The Devil Always Collects, he opens up on his creative processes and shows us some of his amazing guitars “I Love Guitar Players, and I’ve Been Lucky Enough to Work With so Many Great Ones”: Alice Cooper Talks Guitarists and His “Revolving-Door Policy” By Gary Graff published 27 September 23 “To me, rock and roll is guitar music. That’s the crux of everything,” says the veteran shock rocker “I Kind of Stole Ed...And That Wasn’t Something That Happened Very Often”: Brian May Expounds on Eddie Van Halen’s Role in the Fabled ‘Star Fleet Project’ By Gary Graff published 26 September 23 As he releases his expanded ‘Star Fleet Project’ box set, the guitarist reveals his thoughts on EVH, the future of Queen, and the dangers AI poses for music in the coming year “You Have to Account for 'Tales'…I Don’t Think We’d Be the Same Group Without It”: Steve Howe Talks Yes's ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’ and Other Milestone Albums By Gary Graff published 26 September 23 As Yes release their second album in two years, the guitarist reflects on the 50th anniversary of ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’ and his newly reconceptualized take on the debut album from his 1960s band Tomorrow “I Think We Might Look Back on 2023 as the Last Year When Humans Really Dominated the Music Scene”: Brian May Shares His Hopes and Fears About the Impact of AI By Gary Graff published 31 August 23 Having been involved with artificial intelligence in his scientific pursuits, the astrophysicist and Queen guitarist has some unique insights that may shock you “Like Neil Young Said, It’s Better to Burn out Than to Fade Away”: Gary Rossington Remained “The Last Rebel” Whose Presence Through Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Many Incarnations Was Essential By Gary Graff published 26 July 23 When Gary Rossington died, Lynyrd Skynyrd lost its last link to the band’s hell-raising origins. In this tribute, Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke recall his music, legacy and southern spirit “We Were Tired of Playing the Required Music You’d Play in a Bar”: Rich Williams Reveals His Top Five Quintessential Kansas Songs By Gary Graff published 21 July 23 Dubbed “Mr. One-Take” by Steve Morse, the Kansas founding guitarist picks his greatest cuts from the group’s epic 50-year history “When the Vocal Stops, You Want to Make Sure That the Audience Isn’t Bored”: Neil Giraldo Details His Philosophy for Crafting Great Guitar Solos and Reflects on Career Highlights From Rick Derringer to Pat Benatar and Beyond By Gary Graff published 29 June 23 The multiple Grammy winning-guitarist savors his Rock Hall induction and raves for the musical ‘Invincible’ John Lennon Played It on Repeat and Frank Sinatra Called It the Best Song of the ‘70s – Here’s How a Simple C9 Chord Inspired Little River Band’s Top-Ten Hit “Reminiscing” By Gary Graff published 16 June 23 “It was a spiritual download that just flowed through me”: guitarist Graeham Goble explains how learning this extended chord unlocked LRB's “pinnacle song” in half an hour “I’ve Dedicated My Life to the Blues, and a Lot of Other People Have, Too. What Did We Do to Be Treated Like That?”: Buddy Guy Has, Most Definitely, Still Got the Blues By Gary Graff published 9 June 23 “I’ve kept doing it so people don’t forget Muddy and Wolf, B.B. – all the rest of ’em,” says the Strat-toting blues guru “Anybody Would Say, ‘That’s Enough”: At 86, Buddy Guy Says It’s Finally Time to Come off the Road By Gary Graff published 9 June 23 “I’m still going to probably play some of the big festivals,” maintains the blues guitar legend “He Said, ‘I Just Canceled a Gig, ’Cause I Wanted to See You’”: Buddy Guy Talks Befriending Jimi Hendrix By Gary Graff published 7 June 23 How the blues icon met Jimi (and was invited to kick Leonard Chess’s butt!) “Somebody called and told him I sounded pretty good, and he decided to come by and see for mimself”: When Buddy Guy met Muddy Waters By Gary Graff published 5 June 23 Arriving in Chicago from Baton Rouge in 1957, Buddy was a starving musician when he was “fed by the Mud” “I Got to Chicago on September the 25th, 1957. And I’m Still Here”: How Buddy Guy Went From Diddley Bow “Country Boy” to Chicago Blues Legend By Gary Graff published 1 June 23 “I said to myself, I want to do something the rest of the kids can’t do. And I thought, I want to play the guitar,” says the blues icon “With Each Successive New Record, We Grow Our Own Legacy”: Vivian Campbell Moves Between Last in Line and Def Leppard Without Missing a Step By Gary Graff published 31 May 23 The Irish-born axeman says Last in Line’s latest album, ‘Jericho,’ is "all about the solos and the riffs and the structures in the songs” “I Wouldn’t Want to Go Through All That Again. It All Turned out Fine, Though”: Jeff Beck Reflects on a Life Devoted to Guitar By Gary Graff published 9 May 23 The legendary guitarist sat down for a chat and opened up before his 2009 Rock Hall honors and show-stopping all-star jam “I Feel That I’m Kind of Underrated”: In 2008, Harvey Goldsmith Got a Phone Call That Changed His Life… And Revived Jeff Beck’s Career By Gary Graff published 8 May 23 The U.K.’s best-known concert promoter raised Beck’s profile considerably in both music and pop culture “When I Heard Pavarotti Sing It, I Thought, All This Is Is Sophisticated Blues”: How Jeff Beck’s Unlikely “Nessun Dorma” Cover Earned Him a Grammy By Gary Graff published 5 May 23 Along with an interpretation of the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life,” the guitarist’s oddball tribute tunes have earned high praise “I Can See in People’s Faces That They Really Feel His Presence. I Feel It, Too”: Mike Campbell Talks New Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Release, ‘Live at the Fillmore 1997’ By Gary Graff published 14 February 23 The Heartbreakers’ first lieutenant reveals what went down when the band got back to its roots “I’m in Two Great Bands, so It’s Complicated”: Nils Lofgren Reflects on His Tenure With Neil Young, His New Tour With Bruce Springsteen, and His Latest Obsession: Pedal Steel By Gary Graff published 18 January 23 The rock ‘n’ roll veteran reveals what’s going on behind the scenes as Crazy Horse drop their latest, ‘World Record’ MOST READ1Best amp modelers 2024: Get your dream guitar tone with our top picks2Best overdrive pedals 2024: Strap in, it's time to drive3“A lot of times when someone says, ‘They have good technique, but there’s something missing,’ what’s actually missing is part of the technique”: Paul Gilbert on the essentials of great guitar playing4Dickey Betts on dueling with Duane Allman, and composing Allman Brothers' biggest hit5All-star tribute to David Lindley, one of the greatest sidemen of all time, announced
How Noel Gallagher and Beck helped bring the Black Keys' latest funky full-length, Ohio Players, to life By Gary Graff published 23 April 24 The Black Keys began life as a bare-bones two-piece, but, as Dan Auerbach tells GP, collaboration and an open musical mind have expanded the duo's sound to thrilling new heights
“I was on the toilet with my acoustic guitar and I just started playing the riff. I thought, 'Wow, that’s either something or it’s just a bunch of irrelevant notes'. The next day, the riff came back…" How Trevor Rabin wrote Yes’s Owner of a Lonely Heart By Gary Graff published 20 January 24 Trevor Rabin reveals the origins of the 1983 mega-hit that put Yes on top of the charts
”There’s 12 notes on a guitar and Steve Vai and Zakk Wylde sound like they have more. How do you do that?” Blues prodigy Kenny Wayne Shepherd on his new solo album Dirt on My Diamonds, Vol. 1, and why unpredictability is so important By Gary Graff published 6 January 24 Looking for fresh inspiration, Kenny Wayne Shepherd left Nashville for Alabama’s FAME Studios. The result is the first half of a new album project that continues his breathtaking blues-rock evolution
“I want my solos to be melodic — but not a ‘pretty’ melodic, an aggressive one…’‘ Grammy award nominee Christone “Kingfish” Ingram’s top five tips for guitarists By Gary Graff published 5 January 24 Whether it’s being happy to warm up the audience as an opening act, not getting lost in solos or letting a lukewarm crowd prey on your mind, these are the tips Christone “Kingfish” Ingram uses to stay at the top of his game
"When I got the B-Bender, I learned how to find a way to bend so that it doesn’t sound just like a B-Bender but sounds like the strings are being bent by fingers…" Ex-Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin chats about Rio, his first new album of songs in 34 years By Gary Graff published 20 December 23 “The idea was to visit different genres but make sure it still sounds like a cohesive, coherent thing”: Trevor Rabin on scoring his new album Rio using a 1962 Fender Strat, Alvarez and B-Bender Tele
"I wrote a few songs with Joe Strummer. I don't know if they'll ever see the light of day. I like to think that I guard Joe…" Brian Setzer opens up on old friends, new music – and shows us his gear By Gary Graff published 22 October 23 Brian Setzer made rockabilly cool again and revitalised the big band sound in the era of grunge. With a blazing new album, The Devil Always Collects, he opens up on his creative processes and shows us some of his amazing guitars
“I Love Guitar Players, and I’ve Been Lucky Enough to Work With so Many Great Ones”: Alice Cooper Talks Guitarists and His “Revolving-Door Policy” By Gary Graff published 27 September 23 “To me, rock and roll is guitar music. That’s the crux of everything,” says the veteran shock rocker
“I Kind of Stole Ed...And That Wasn’t Something That Happened Very Often”: Brian May Expounds on Eddie Van Halen’s Role in the Fabled ‘Star Fleet Project’ By Gary Graff published 26 September 23 As he releases his expanded ‘Star Fleet Project’ box set, the guitarist reveals his thoughts on EVH, the future of Queen, and the dangers AI poses for music in the coming year
“You Have to Account for 'Tales'…I Don’t Think We’d Be the Same Group Without It”: Steve Howe Talks Yes's ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’ and Other Milestone Albums By Gary Graff published 26 September 23 As Yes release their second album in two years, the guitarist reflects on the 50th anniversary of ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’ and his newly reconceptualized take on the debut album from his 1960s band Tomorrow
“I Think We Might Look Back on 2023 as the Last Year When Humans Really Dominated the Music Scene”: Brian May Shares His Hopes and Fears About the Impact of AI By Gary Graff published 31 August 23 Having been involved with artificial intelligence in his scientific pursuits, the astrophysicist and Queen guitarist has some unique insights that may shock you
“Like Neil Young Said, It’s Better to Burn out Than to Fade Away”: Gary Rossington Remained “The Last Rebel” Whose Presence Through Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Many Incarnations Was Essential By Gary Graff published 26 July 23 When Gary Rossington died, Lynyrd Skynyrd lost its last link to the band’s hell-raising origins. In this tribute, Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke recall his music, legacy and southern spirit
“We Were Tired of Playing the Required Music You’d Play in a Bar”: Rich Williams Reveals His Top Five Quintessential Kansas Songs By Gary Graff published 21 July 23 Dubbed “Mr. One-Take” by Steve Morse, the Kansas founding guitarist picks his greatest cuts from the group’s epic 50-year history
“When the Vocal Stops, You Want to Make Sure That the Audience Isn’t Bored”: Neil Giraldo Details His Philosophy for Crafting Great Guitar Solos and Reflects on Career Highlights From Rick Derringer to Pat Benatar and Beyond By Gary Graff published 29 June 23 The multiple Grammy winning-guitarist savors his Rock Hall induction and raves for the musical ‘Invincible’
John Lennon Played It on Repeat and Frank Sinatra Called It the Best Song of the ‘70s – Here’s How a Simple C9 Chord Inspired Little River Band’s Top-Ten Hit “Reminiscing” By Gary Graff published 16 June 23 “It was a spiritual download that just flowed through me”: guitarist Graeham Goble explains how learning this extended chord unlocked LRB's “pinnacle song” in half an hour
“I’ve Dedicated My Life to the Blues, and a Lot of Other People Have, Too. What Did We Do to Be Treated Like That?”: Buddy Guy Has, Most Definitely, Still Got the Blues By Gary Graff published 9 June 23 “I’ve kept doing it so people don’t forget Muddy and Wolf, B.B. – all the rest of ’em,” says the Strat-toting blues guru
“Anybody Would Say, ‘That’s Enough”: At 86, Buddy Guy Says It’s Finally Time to Come off the Road By Gary Graff published 9 June 23 “I’m still going to probably play some of the big festivals,” maintains the blues guitar legend
“He Said, ‘I Just Canceled a Gig, ’Cause I Wanted to See You’”: Buddy Guy Talks Befriending Jimi Hendrix By Gary Graff published 7 June 23 How the blues icon met Jimi (and was invited to kick Leonard Chess’s butt!)
“Somebody called and told him I sounded pretty good, and he decided to come by and see for mimself”: When Buddy Guy met Muddy Waters By Gary Graff published 5 June 23 Arriving in Chicago from Baton Rouge in 1957, Buddy was a starving musician when he was “fed by the Mud”
“I Got to Chicago on September the 25th, 1957. And I’m Still Here”: How Buddy Guy Went From Diddley Bow “Country Boy” to Chicago Blues Legend By Gary Graff published 1 June 23 “I said to myself, I want to do something the rest of the kids can’t do. And I thought, I want to play the guitar,” says the blues icon
“With Each Successive New Record, We Grow Our Own Legacy”: Vivian Campbell Moves Between Last in Line and Def Leppard Without Missing a Step By Gary Graff published 31 May 23 The Irish-born axeman says Last in Line’s latest album, ‘Jericho,’ is "all about the solos and the riffs and the structures in the songs”
“I Wouldn’t Want to Go Through All That Again. It All Turned out Fine, Though”: Jeff Beck Reflects on a Life Devoted to Guitar By Gary Graff published 9 May 23 The legendary guitarist sat down for a chat and opened up before his 2009 Rock Hall honors and show-stopping all-star jam
“I Feel That I’m Kind of Underrated”: In 2008, Harvey Goldsmith Got a Phone Call That Changed His Life… And Revived Jeff Beck’s Career By Gary Graff published 8 May 23 The U.K.’s best-known concert promoter raised Beck’s profile considerably in both music and pop culture
“When I Heard Pavarotti Sing It, I Thought, All This Is Is Sophisticated Blues”: How Jeff Beck’s Unlikely “Nessun Dorma” Cover Earned Him a Grammy By Gary Graff published 5 May 23 Along with an interpretation of the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life,” the guitarist’s oddball tribute tunes have earned high praise
“I Can See in People’s Faces That They Really Feel His Presence. I Feel It, Too”: Mike Campbell Talks New Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Release, ‘Live at the Fillmore 1997’ By Gary Graff published 14 February 23 The Heartbreakers’ first lieutenant reveals what went down when the band got back to its roots
“I’m in Two Great Bands, so It’s Complicated”: Nils Lofgren Reflects on His Tenure With Neil Young, His New Tour With Bruce Springsteen, and His Latest Obsession: Pedal Steel By Gary Graff published 18 January 23 The rock ‘n’ roll veteran reveals what’s going on behind the scenes as Crazy Horse drop their latest, ‘World Record’
