Joe Bosso
Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar World, Guitar Player, MusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.
Latest articles by Joe Bosso

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram's Top Five Tips for Guitarists
By Joe Bosso published
Mindset, bending, solos, rhythm and the pentatonic scale – here are some invaluable pointers from one of the hottest blues players around

“If You Love Guitar, Play Guitar and Be the Best You Can Be”: Madison Cunningham Takes Her Own Path to Musical Expression on New Album, ‘Revealer’
By Joe Bosso published
The singer-guitarist’s third full-length release draws inspiration from open tunings and intimate observations

“You Can’t Fool People, so Don’t Fool Yourself”: Tommy Emmanuel Shares His Top Tips for Guitarists
By Joe Bosso last updated
The Certified Guitar Player lives by these guiding principles

Gretchen Menn’s Top Ten Tips for Guitarists
By Joe Bosso published
Guiding principles to help you grow as a guitar player

“It’s Still a Record That Stands up Today, Very, Very Well:” Adrian Belew and Jerry Harrison Talk ‘Remain in Light’
By Joe Bosso published
The pair celebrate the Talking Heads’ 1980 milestone with a special live performance

How Grand Funk Railroad Made Stadiums Their Own as They Shook a Generation with a Fierce Rock Sound
By Joe Bosso last updated
Mark Farner looks back on the gear, songs, and stories behind the biggest American hard-rock band of the early 1970s.

“My Guitar Playing Has Always Been Based On Pure Emotion”: Grand Funk Railroad’s Mark Farner Reveals His Five Career-Defining Songs
By Joe Bosso last updated
The guitarist explains the genesis of classic tracks from the band’s heyday.

Eric Johnson’s Top Five Tips for Guitarists
By Joe Bosso published
The maestro reveals his five guidelines to improve practice, technique and music knowledge

Listen to Stephen Dale Petit’s ‘2020 Visions’ – One of the Most Exciting Guitar Records We’ve Heard This Year
By Joe Bosso published
This fascinating interview tells the story of a career that has seen the U.S. expat cross paths with everyone from Randy Rhoads to Albert King to Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor

“Finally, We Went Back to the Guitars I Played on the Demo, Which Went Through a Kemper Profiler”: Zach Myers Does More With Less on Shinedown’s Latest
By Joe Bosso published
The Florida outfit’s seventh studio album, ‘Planet Zero,' showcases choice digital amp tone

Marshall Crenshaw Reveals Gene Vincent’s Role in His Signature Hit “Someday, Someway”
By Joe Bosso published
From ’50s rockabilly and ’60s pop to ‘70s punk and ‘80s new wave, this 1982 smash encapsulates decades of inspiration

"I’ve Had an Amazing, Unbelievable Career”: Elton John Guitarist Davey Johnstone Names His Top Five Tracks
By Joe Bosso published
With a new solo album – 'Deeper Than My Roots' – under his belt, Elton’s primo axe slinger picks out the deepest cuts from his glittering musical legacy

“You Hear These Guys Noodling Around and Playing Fast. It’s Like Listening To Somebody Type”: Joey Santiago Makes It Clear Why He Hates Guitar Solos.
By Joe Bosso last updated
The Pixies’ secret weapon on finding the band’s pioneering alt-rock sound.

Joey Santiago Picks Five Career-Defining Cuts From the Pixies Catalog
By Joe Bosso last updated
He’s the first to admit that his playing style probably wouldn’t fit most other outfits – and that’s just the way he likes it!

Joe Satriani's Top Ten Tips for Guitarists
By Joe Bosso published
These simple pointers can seriously improve your practice, playing and performance

Chris Stein: My Career in Five Songs
By Joe Bosso last updated
He’s a huge Flatt & Scruggs fan, but Blondie’s Chris Stein put his signature on the punk era with these five tracks.

“I Was Like a Mad Scientist, Always Refining”: Steve Morse Reveals How He Wrote “Take It Off the Top”
By Joe Bosso last updated
The Dixie Dregs songwriter opens up about the band’s long-running fan favorite.

Rev Up Your Rig with Joe Satriani
By Joe Bosso last updated
Find out how to get the tone of your dreams in this essential in-depth interview.

“We Didn’t Sound Like Anybody Else”: Andy Summers Talks Five Career-Defining Songs
By Joe Bosso last updated
As 'The Police – Greatest Hits' returns in a deluxe edition, the guitarist reflects on five classics from the band’s timeless catalog.

Robin Trower: My Career in Five Songs
By Joe Bosso last updated
From his Jimi Hendrix tribute to his latest blues track, here are the cuts that make Robin Trower proud.

George Benson: My Career in Five Songs
By Joe Bosso last updated
From “Breezin’” to “On Broadway” – George Benson reveals the stories behind his most significant tracks.

Lita Ford: "I Don’t Know Why Power Ballads Have Such a Bad Rap, I Think They’re Badass. And ‘Close My Eyes Forever’ is as Badass as it Gets"
By Joe Bosso published
The glam metal guitar icon reveals how a few games of pool (and a shared bottle of wine) with Ozzy Osbourne played a role in the writing of their smash hit duet.

Tom Bukovac: "The Firebird is a Great Nashville Guitar, Because it’s Got the Midrange That Can Cut Through a Big Band. It’s Like a Big Giant Tele"
By Joe Bosso last updated
One of Nashville's top session guitarists discusses his new LP with Dean DeLeo, the vintage guitars he brings to every session, and what sets him apart from his Tele-slinging peers.

"A Record Like This Was Destined to Be Made, and We Wanted to Be the Ones Making it”: Steve Howe on 50 Years of Yes's 'Close to the Edge'
By Joe Bosso published
Yes's longtime axeman details the intense rehearsals, rare Gibson archtops, and inspired improvisations that formed the band's masterpiece.
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