Latest articles by Phil Weller
“I cried.” John Mayer says his label didn’t hear any hits on his album. Then it sold five million copies
After nearly scrapping ‘Continuum,’ Mayer said he learned a lesson about believing in himself
“His voice was a whisper.” Adrian Belew on the last time he saw Frank Zappa — and the memory he prefers to remember
More than 30 years after Zappa’s death, Belew shares memories of visiting the ailing guitarist — and the unexpected phone call that gave him closure
“He put it in our coffee and never told us.” George Harrison rejected claims the Beatles were responsible for America’s drug culture
Harrison recalled how he and John Lennon unwittingly took acid, and argued that the media played a larger role in the drug’s popularity than the Beatles
“How are we going to get this home?” Geddy Lee recalls the winter night he and Alex Lifeson bought his first bass amp
A teenage Lee thought he’d solved his gear problem — until he and Lifeson realized the oversized Traynor amp was too big too carry home
“We would listen to that album nonstop.” Eric Clapton reveals the surprising pop influence behind Cream's sound
The guitarist says a Beach Boys record played a key role in shaping the music of his 1960s power trio
Heart on being “scandalized” by Led Zeppelin, and fighting sexism
As Heart began its climb in the 1970s, Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson say they had to fight to be taken seriously in a rock world dominated by men
Grace Bowers got a text from Jimmy Jam — three days later, she was playing the Grammys with Chris Martin
The rising guitarist was handpicked for a mystery gig, only to discover she’d be performing in front of 20,000 people — and a TV audience of millions
How a battered Jimi Hendrix Strat helped inspire My Chemical Romance’s change in direction
The Les Paul fanatic soon saw axes from the Big F sneak into his collection
“The faders were so clogged with cocaine they wouldn’t move.” Geezer Butler on the time Black Sabbath and Eagles shared a studio
As the Eagles cut ‘Hotel California’ in Miami, Sabbath were recording ‘Technical Ecstasy’ next door — and their thunderous volume wasn’t the only thing causing problems
“They didn’t know what it was!” Ritchie Blackmore on the mysterious illness that took him offstage — and brought in Christopher Cross
Blackmore’s mystery illness sent him to a Texas hospital on Deep Purple’s first U.S. gig, while a local guitar hero came to his rescue
“We did call him — he just didn’t answer.” Alex Van Halen explains why Michael Anthony was replaced by Wolfgang
The drummer says the band reached out to its longtime bassist before Eddie Van Halen’s teenage son joined the lineup.
The last music Steve Cropper heard before he died was his own new album
The Stax guitar icon gave his blessing to ‘Watching the Tide’ hours before his passing, leaving behind one last statement from the soul-music pioneer.
“I was like, ‘Ed, you better stop smoking.’” Valerie Bertinelli recalls the night she met Eddie Van Halen — and the “tragic, scary” years that followed
The actress says their whirlwind romance quickly collided with addiction, fame and the habits that ultimately damaged the guitarist’s health
“Obviously, I thought I wasn’t drinking enough.” Joe Walsh on his secret to a long career and a better life
After years of excess, the Eagles guitarist explains how asking for help helped him stay alive — and keep making music.
Paul McCartney says the Beatles are haunting his new album
The former Beatles star says memories of John Lennon and George Harrison helped shape ‘The Boys of Dungeon Lane’
“That's a form of abuse.” Sting says he won’t leave his $245 million fortune to his kids
The former Police frontman says trust funds can become “albatrosses” that undermine a child’s drive to work
“It would lift me up so I could work that night.” Eric Clapton says Jeff Beck pulled him out of a late-career slump
Clapton says he was struggling during a 2020s tour — until nightly YouTube clips of Beck’s performances changed his mindset
“There was a box of cocaine on every shelf.” Robben Ford on his wild sessions with George Harrison
The guitarist says joining Harrison’s 1974 band after playing with Joni Mitchell exposed him to chaotic studio nights during the ill-fated ‘Dark Horse’ era.
“It’s sacrosanct.” St. Vincent says Larry Carlton’s Steely Dan guitar solo should be played note-for-note
The guitarist argues that some recordings are so definitive they shouldn’t be reinterpreted — even by the players performing them.
Billy Strings details the “dumb ass mistake” that has forced four show postponements
The bluegrass virtuoso says the accident happened moments after leaving the stage at Charlottesville’s John Paul Jones Arena.
Violet Grohl may be the daughter of a Foo Fighter, but she has another star to thank for her guitar-playing craft
She may be the daughter of a Foo Fighter, but Violet Grohl has another star to thank for her guitar-playing craft. Her new album comes out in May
How Larry Carlton got the ES-335 behind countless hits
As the session ace’s career took off, he needed an upgrade, and the guitar has been by his side ever since
Ritchie Blackmore on his backstage encounters with Eddie Van Halen
The former Deep Purple guitarist says Van Halen was a “humble” player who “always used to underestimate himself”
