Latest articles by Phil Weller
How an acid trip, a cassette and an offhand comment landed teenage guitarist Al Di Meola the gig of a lifetime
Di Meola was just 17 when he played a drug-induced gig that would change the course of his career
Steve Vai says guitar-playing excellence is within every player’s reach. But there’s a catch
The former Frank Zappa and David Lee Roth guitarist calls virtuosity an “intellectual exercise”
Rod Stewart on the bizarre reason the Jeff Beck Group turned down a chance to play Woodstock
The “Da Ya Think I'm Sexy” singer says Beck lacked leadership skills but ultimately blames a key figure in Led Zeppelin for the band’s woes
Uli Jon Roth on the modern technique guitarists need to avoid
The Scorpions-era virtuoso says young players chasing speed are forgetting the notes that matter.
“I was handcuffed and asked to step outside.” Lindsey Buckingam on troubles with the woman who attacked him
Michelle Dick was arrested in Santa Monica for an attack on the former Fleetwood Mac guitarist on March 25
“Never say no.” How Tommy Henriksen got the Alice Cooper gig
Cooper’s trusted shredder only learned to solo when the shock rock icon came knocking, and he turned to YouTube for a rapid-fire education
Ian Anderson reveals the question that made Jethro Tull say no to Woodstock
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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”
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
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’
The singer claims tensions got so bad he and producer Bruce Fairbairn fled to Bryan Adams’ studio to finish key vocals
