Latest articles by Mark McStea
“We Just Thought We Might as Well Make Another Record Because We Sure Weren’t Going to be Doing Any Shows”: Zakk Wylde Talks Black Label Society's Lockdown Album
The master shredder emerges with a new long-player that laces ballads with twin-guitar rockers.
“I Wanted to Say It Loud and Clear”: Alan Merrill on Writing “I Love Rock ’N’ Roll”
The amazing story of Joan Jett’s runaway hit.
The Story of Robert Gordon and the Late Seventies Rockabilly Revival
Gordon's work with Link Wray, Chris Spedding, and Danny Gatton breathed new life into rockabilly. Here, he and his closest collaborators set the scene.
Nancy Wilson on How Her Long-Lost Nighthawk Design Evolved Into Her Signature Epiphone Fanatic
Based on the Gibson Nighthawk, the Heart guitarist's signature six-string is a smart-looking singlecut with a compact frame.
“Stevie Never Got To Have a Family Or Anything Like That. I’ve Been Blessed”: Jimmie Vaughan Opens Up About His Brother
The Texas blues veteran reveals his musical inspirations and talks ‘Family Style’ in this insightful interview.
Nancy Wilson on the Genesis of Heart's Sound, Her Fingerstyle Influences, and Paying Tribute To Eddie Van Halen
With her long-running group sidelined during the pandemic, Wilson finally found time to make something she’s always dreamed of: a solo album.
Paul Gilbert on How He Tamed His Inner Shredder and Found a New Melodic Range with Slide Guitar
The shred icon's latest album, 'Werewolves of Portland,' is playful, super-entertaining, and combines guitar pyro with melodic sensibilities influenced by the Beatles and Joplin.
Robby Krieger Discusses His Unorthodox Slide Style, Gear, Leeches and Reworking a Doors Classic as an Instrumental
On 'The Ritual Begins at Sundown,' Robby Krieger turns up the heat with a blazing set of tunes.
Steve Vai’s Two Rules for Financial Security
Want to live off your music? Here’s how he did it.
How Yngwie Malmsteen Wrote “Far Beyond the Sun“
Shredding Beethoven through 50-watt Marshall heads, the Swedish guitar god invented neoclassical metal.
Martin Barre Reflects on the Recording of Jethro Tull's 1971 Prog Milestone, ‘Aqualung‘
How a little naïveté, a lot of preparation, and a '58 Les Paul Junior helped Barre track one of prog's finest albums.
Black Stone Cherry’s Ben Wells and Chris Robertson on How to Stick the Landing on Their Hard Rock/Country Crossover Sound
’The Human Condition’ finds the Kentucky stalwarts going all in with big hooks and songs that'll live long in the memory.
How George Kooymans, and Michael and Rudolf Schenker, Put a European Spin on Hard-Rock Guitar
Look back at three guitarists who drove hard rock's European evolution with the Scorpions, Golden Earring, and UFO.
Eddie Van Halen's 10 Greatest Recorded Moments
The Guitar Player guide to Ed's most essential cuts.
Duane Eddy: How I Wrote "Rebel-'Rouser"
The rock and roll legend on the inspiration and session behind his 1958 string-twanging instrumental hit.
Brian Setzer: How I Wrote the Stray Cats' "Runaway Boys"
The Stray Cats' leader tells all about the band's hit debut single.
Colin Newman and Matt Simms on the Glorious Noise in Wire's Punk Sound
Returning with 'Mind Hive,' the seminal British band have lost none of their fire and fury, nor their contempt for convention.
Dion DiMucci Talks Longevity, Faith and Casting Great Guitarists for an All-Star Blues Record
From '50s teen idol to blues man, Dion keeps the music going on his star-studded new album, 'Blues With Friends.'
