
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

Zakk Wylde and Gus G. on Ozzy Osbourne, the fatherly band leader who turned unknown guitar players into world-class shredders
By Phil Weller published
Both shredders were thrust into the limelight when they became the Prince of Darkness’s right-hand man, and he was there to guide them through the weight of the gig

Keith Richards on Jimmy Page and the one thing he said kept Led Zeppelin from taking flight
By Phil Weller published
The guitarists may have a great mutual respect for one another, but their respective comments shine a light on their different approaches to rock and roll

Jack White introduces his weirdest guitar yet, created by Eddie Van Halen's luthier
By Phil Weller published
With three humbuckers, recessed bass strings, and a very peculiar double tuning setup, the Ugly Stick might be White’s weirdest guitar yet

Robben Ford on what went wrong with George Harrison's first tour after the Beatles’ breakup
By Phil Weller published
The guitarist was just 22 when Harrison handpicked him to perform on his fateful 1974 tour

Dad unknowingly buys John Lennon’s “White Album” combo for about $4,000
By Phil Weller published
He didn’t believe the initial talk of the Fender amp’s historic past. Now that it’s been confirmed, he doesn’t want to keep it for much longer

Rudy Sarzo says Ozzy would have died if they didn’t carry on touring after Randy Rhoads' death
By Phil Weller published
Getting back on the road took its toll on the grief-stricken band — but it also stopped Ozzy from going “in the hole”

Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker wanted to keep Cream a secret. A record project nearly blew their cover
By Phil Weller published
Tasked with putting together an all-star band in 1966, Manfred Mann's singer coincidentally formed a dream team that included all three of Cream's members

Eddie Van Halen was "a pretty complex person" says his longtime friend and biographer
By Phil Weller published
Steven Rosen had a 26-year friendship with the guitarist, whose personality was split between the guitar and the rest of his life, he says

Joe Satriani reveals the moment he realized vintage guitars aren't what they're cracked up to be
By Phil Weller published
Instead of focusing on unearthing obscure vintage gems, he’s been putting Ibanez’s luthiers through their paces

Mark Knopfler on the guitar he is “never without” — and the rock legend who gave it to him
By Phil Weller published
He may have sold off 123 of his guitars last year, but this once “sweat-pitted” axe was too good to part with

Joe Bonamassa on the playing advice he got from Leslie West 30 years ago — and how it's elevated his live performances
By Phil Weller published
It turns out the late guitarist gave similar advice to another blues-rocker who made it one of his essential tips for other players

Scott Gorham on Gary Moore's third and final run that left Thin Lizzy rudderless in the middle of a tour
By Phil Weller published
Gorham says he was "thrilled" by Moore's decision to join, but the honeymoon was brief. The divorce was abrupt — and final

“I don't think Jimi Hendrix was a guitarist. Eric Clapton is excessively tedious.” Robert Fripp on his 1960s contemporaries — and the one guitarist he thought was fun
By Phil Weller published
With news that a new King Crimson album is in the works, Fripp's past comments highlight the left-field ideas that make him an original

Wet Leg are post-punk's hottest ticket right now. Here's why
By Phil Weller published
With a standout performance at Glastonbury and a three hot singles from their new album, the group is rising fast on both sides of the Atlantic

Jakko Jakszyk confirms he's working on a new King Crimson album with Robert Fripp
By Phil Weller published
The record will be the first King Crimson album in 22 years, but there is no timeline for its release

Zakk Wylde on Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page and the five greatest riffs in rock history
By Phil Weller published
His picks are cornerstones of rock guitar, and he doesn’t believe anyone should ignore their genius

Jake E. Lee shares his craziest Ozzy Osbourne story and reflects on the guitar genius of Tony Iommi
By Phil Weller published
After being shot multiple times last year, the guitarist battled adversity to help Black Sabbath bow out in style at Back to the Beginning

Mark Knopfler says it's “awkward” to be called a guitar god and tells who deserves the title
By Phil Weller published
He says he’s “gotten away with murder” across his career and points to the true unsung heroes of the guitar scene

Zakk Wylde has an idea for how Black Sabbath can carry on after Back to the Beginning
By Phil Weller published
Ozzy's battle with Parkinson’s has reduced his role for Sabbath’s final show, but Wylde hopes it can be the dawn of a new era, not the end of an old one

Pete Townshend on the Oasis song that made him weep
By Phil Weller published
Oasis are kicking their reunion into gear, and Townshend is among those delighted to see them playing live again

The owners didn't know what they had, but this 1960 Les Paul is now one of Joe Bonamassa's favorites
By Phil Weller published
Bought for £50 in 1967, modified and left unplayed, the Royal Albert Les Paul was acquired for the princely sum of $190,0000

Andy Summers on why Eric Clapton bored him and how his love of jazz fueled the Police
By Phil Weller published
"It’s too simple to play because it’s based on a five-note scale, and I had come way past that," the guitarist says

Buddy Guy on his unconventional means of discovering the joys of feedback
By Phil Weller published
The guitarist said the absence of stages in Chicago's juke joints brought musicians and audiences together, resulting in a lesson in the joys of feedback
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