Guitarists
Latest about Guitarists

How Alex Lifeson’s broken finger once stopped the band at a crucial moment in their rise
By Phil Weller Published
With Lee sidelined by laryngitis and bronchitis, it’s a reminder of 1979’s ‘Hemispheres’ tour, when Lifeson’s fretting hand took a hit just as Rush were becoming one of rock’s hottest live acts

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

Sean Lennon says his dad deserves more credit for shaping heavy music
By Phil Weller Published
The son of John Lennon traces his love of dark, dissonant music to Fantasia and the Beatles' “I Want You (She's So Heavy),” which he calls one of rock's most groundbreaking riffs

Paul McCartney on John Lennon’s accidental acid trip during a nighttime recording session
By Phil Weller Published
McCartney says the band was happy to see if Lennon’s altered state created studio magic. On this night, it nearly ended in catastrophe

Joe Satriani says Sammy Hagar has him beat in one aspect of guitar playing
By Phil Weller Published
As the Best of All Worlds band heads to Europe for July dates, Satriani says Hagar's greatest strength as a guitarist comes from thinking more like a lead singer than a shredder.

Billy Gibbons says one unforgettable solo showed him Prince’s talents — then Prince invited him to talk guitar until dawn
By Christopher Scapelliti Published
The ZZ Top guitarist says Prince’s legendary Rock Hall performance opened his eyes to his playing before a chance late-night meeting in Manhattan turned into an hours-long masterclass

Paul Gilbert reveals the bizarre effect hearing loss has on his live shows
By Phil Weller Published
The former Mr. Big guitarist says tinnitus can make entire performances sound painfully out of tune — even when audience recordings prove everything was pitch-perfect. But the condition also led him to become a more melodic player

Buddy Guy on the endorsement that helped him more than any record company
By Christopher Scapelliti Published
The blues legend reflects on learning from Muddy Waters and B.B. King, inspiring Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, and why authenticity matters more than originality

Robert Smith on the studio blunder that accidentally changed one of the Cure’s biggest hits
By Elizabeth Swann Published
The Cure frontman reveals how a simple mistake changed the feel of “Friday I’m in Love” — and why he decided to leave it that way.

Pete Townshend on the one thing that has kept Angus Young and AC/DC from evolving
By Christopher Scapelliti Published
The Who guitarist still called Young “one of my favorite guitar players” but used AC/DC to illustrate a point he'd been making ever since he built one of rock's first home studios
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!