
Phil Weller
A freelance writer with a penchant for music that gets weird, Phil is a regular contributor to Prog, Guitar World, and Total Guitar magazines and is especially keen on shining a light on unknown artists. Outside of the journalism realm, you can find him writing angular riffs in progressive metal band, Prognosis, in which he slings an 8-string Strandberg Boden Original, churning that low string through a variety of tunings. He's also a published author and is currently penning his debut novel which chucks fantasy, mythology and humanity into a great big melting pot.
Latest articles by Phil Weller

Ian Anderson reveals the question that made Jethro Tull say no to Woodstock
By Phil Weller published
The Jethro Tull leader says one question about nudity and drugs convinced him to skip rock’s most famous festival.

Jack White on the “blessing” behind the White Stripes
By Phil Weller published
White may be deemed the mastermind of the Detroit garage rockers, but he shared the stage with an artist he considers vital to his success

“I stole my first guitar from my dead friend’s house.” Pepper Keenan on the morbid origins of his guitar career
By Phil Weller published
The Corrosion of Conformity guitarist reveals how the instrument launched him onto the punk and metal scene in his native New Orleans

Alice Cooper reveals his new guitarist — and she’s got the approval of Nita Strauss
By Phil Weller published
As Strauss goes on maternity leave, 22-year-old Anna Cara steps in on the eve of the band’s latest tour

“Ozzy’s like, ‘I really f***ing need to cut the calories!’” A flight attendant mistook Ozzy Osbourne for another rocker
By Phil Weller published
Zakk Wylde recounts the hilarious moment the future Prince of Darkness realized he‘d been mistaken for another rock legend.

Lindsey Buckingham attacked by women who threw “unknown substance” on him
By Phil Weller published
The former Fleetwood Mac guitarist was in Santa Monica for an appointment when the assailant intercepted him

Chrissie Hynde on her unforgettable first meeting with Lemmy — and the one band he truly loved
By Phil Weller published
Before he was shattering decibels with Motörhead, Lemmy was chasing Liverpudlian girls who were obsessed with the new band in town

Zakk Wylde’s beloved Grail Les Paul fell off the back of a truck. Here’s how he got it back
By Phil Weller published
It was the guitar he launched his Ozzy Osbourne career with, but it nearly crashed out of his life forever

“I can’t play this!” Steve Vai got his hands on Brian May’s Red Special — and immediately knew he was in trouble
By Phil Weller published
The 20-year-old guitar prodigy thought he might finally unlock the sound of Queen. Instead, the legendary guitar left him completely baffled

Olivia Rodrigo’s backstage tribute to a ’90s rock hero left her daughter in tears
By Phil Weller published
Former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur recalls the emotional moment when Rodrigo acknowledged the women who shaped her sound

Rush signals their second coming with a surprise appearance at the Juno Awards
By Phil Weller published
However, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee give different reasons for their choice of song, as Anika Nilles and Loren Gold make their debuts

Joe Bonamassa says this rare instrument is the most meaningful guitar he owns
By Phil Weller published
The blues star owns guitars tied to Tommy Bolin and Lowell George — but the instrument he dreamed about as a kid means the most.

New Found Glory‘s Chad Gilbert shares health update following emergency surgery
By Phil Weller published
The guitarist began having trouble controlling his left hand last month. This is his third cancer diagnosis

“He didn’t have the tapping — and he was still unreal.” George Lynch recalls the stunning impact of early Eddie Van Halen
By Phil Weller published
The Dokken guitarist recalls a raw, blues-driven EVH—and the little-known player who may have influenced him.

Dave Davies hits back at Moby after he calls one of the Kinks’ biggest hits “gross” and “unevolved”
By Phil Weller published
The Kinks guitarist pushes back hard, citing the band’s history and support of trans people

Richard Marx mourned Nathan East for hours — but the bassist wasn’t dead
By Phil Weller published
Early reports of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s fatal 1990 crash sparked a devastating case of mistaken identity that left Marx grieving a friend who was still alive

“He wanted to crucify me.” Sammy Hagar says Eddie Van Halen “micromanaged everything” on ‘Balance’
By Phil Weller published
The singer claims tensions got so bad he and producer Bruce Fairbairn fled to Bryan Adams’ studio to finish key vocals

“Our parents f***ed up!” Pete Townshend says kids today are living a modern version of his rock opera ‘Tommy’
By Phil Weller published
The guitarist believes the themes he wrote from his postwar childhood now echo in a generation shaped by screens

Rich Robinson says success tore the Black Crowes apart — and explains why they refused to reunite until everything changed
By Phil Weller published
In their heyday, the brothers were constantly at one another’s throats. But since 2020, they’re committed to controlling their relationship

Freddie Mercury didn’t want a guitar solo. Brian May fought for it — and created one of Queen’s most celebrated moments on record
By Phil Weller published
May says creative friction was part of the process that made the group so successful

“I added more frets with a saw.” They built a microtonal guitar that “makes no sense.” Now they’re blowing up online
By Phil Weller published
The duo’s dense blend of jazz, prog and math-rock has racked up millions of views — and left players like Rick Beato and Cory Wong stunned

“I was done with Radiohead.” Ed O’Brien on why he thought it was over for the long-running art rockers
By Phil Weller published
As he prepares to drop ‘Blue Morpho,’ the guitarist opens up about burnout, lost inspiration, and why stepping away saved his creativity.

“I’m 75, for god’s sake!” Suzi Quatro says she's been driving illegally for 50 years without knowing It
By Phil Weller published
She fought the law — and no one even noticed
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