How I Wrote... How Robin Trower crafted his blistering tonal triumph, Day of the Eagle With some help from legendary Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, Trower laid down an inspired tune that – 50 years later – remains, for his money, his “best rock and roll song” “Sly Stallone asked me about why AC/DC records sounded so powerful – I told him about tape compression...”: Survivor's The Eye of the Tiger beat out Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust for use in Rocky III – here's how the '80s smash came together Though the rewards were ultimately huge, the process of putting together one of the most iconic rock songs of the 1980s – guitarist Frankie Sullivan tells GP – was sometimes a tense one “Any Idiot Can Play It… I Just Happen to Play It Better Than Anybody”: Leslie West Explains Why "Mississippi Queen" Is a Stone-Cold Classic Remembering the guitar legend on the anniversary of his passing with this insightful interview about how he made Mountain's 1970 breakthrough hit Latest How I Wrote... Lita Ford: "I Don’t Know Why Power Ballads Have Such a Bad Rap, I Think They’re Badass. And ‘Close My Eyes Forever’ is as Badass as it Gets" By Joe Bosso published 16 August 22 The glam metal guitar icon reveals how a few games of pool (and a shared bottle of wine) with Ozzy Osbourne played a role in the writing of their smash hit duet. "It’s the Basis for Everything I Do Because it Tells the Truth": How Joan Jett Combined Punk Toughness and Ear-Candy Pop Smarts on “Bad Reputation” By Joe Bosso published 29 July 22 The rock icon reveals how a stint touring with the Ramones inspired one of her most enduring hits. How Steve Vai Wrote "For the Love of God" By Joe Bosso published 6 June 22 The virtuoso's first "real visceral, long-playing guitar" piece came during a 10-day fast, changing his life in the process. Punk Guitar Legend Dr. Know Revisits the Profound Legacy of Bad Brains By Tom Beaujour last updated 27 January 22 The pioneering guitarist tells his story of the Washington D.C. band that redefined punk. How Matthew Sweet Wrote “Evangeline” By Joe Bosso published 12 November 21 With a virtuoso solo from Richard Lloyd, Sweet's breakout hit is a six-string tour de force. How Buck Dharma Wrote Blue Öyster Cult's “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper” By Joe Bosso published 19 July 21 The classic rock perennial roared to life on '70s radio, telling a tale of love after death. How Yngwie Malmsteen Wrote “Far Beyond the Sun“ By Mark McStea published 4 June 21 Shredding Beethoven through 50-watt Marshall heads, the Swedish guitar god invented neoclassical metal. How Billy Gibbons Wrote ZZ Top's “La Grange“ By Joe Bosso published 7 May 21 How a warm-up jam became ZZ Top’s breakthrough hit. How Eric Johnson Wrote “Cliffs of Dover“ By Joe Bosso published 26 March 21 Johnson's 1990 signature guitar instrumental was “a gift from the universe.“ Tommy Shaw: How I Wrote Styx's “Blue Collar Man“ By Joe Bosso published 23 February 21 Tommy Shaw reveals the jolly green inspiration behind Styx’s 1978 hit. 12Archives Get The Pick NewsletterAll the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors MOST READ1Dickey Betts on dueling with Duane Allman, and composing Allman Brothers' biggest hit2All-star tribute to David Lindley, one of the greatest sidemen of all time, announced3“We all knew it was really good… The guitar playing is just amazing”: How Dickey Betts made “Ramblin’ Man”, triumphed over tragedy and led the Allman Brothers to their greatest success4Ritchie Blackmore on Steve Howe, Jimi Hendrix, classical influences and more5The Allman Brothers Band’s Dickey Betts has died at 80
Lita Ford: "I Don’t Know Why Power Ballads Have Such a Bad Rap, I Think They’re Badass. And ‘Close My Eyes Forever’ is as Badass as it Gets" By Joe Bosso published 16 August 22 The glam metal guitar icon reveals how a few games of pool (and a shared bottle of wine) with Ozzy Osbourne played a role in the writing of their smash hit duet.
"It’s the Basis for Everything I Do Because it Tells the Truth": How Joan Jett Combined Punk Toughness and Ear-Candy Pop Smarts on “Bad Reputation” By Joe Bosso published 29 July 22 The rock icon reveals how a stint touring with the Ramones inspired one of her most enduring hits.
How Steve Vai Wrote "For the Love of God" By Joe Bosso published 6 June 22 The virtuoso's first "real visceral, long-playing guitar" piece came during a 10-day fast, changing his life in the process.
Punk Guitar Legend Dr. Know Revisits the Profound Legacy of Bad Brains By Tom Beaujour last updated 27 January 22 The pioneering guitarist tells his story of the Washington D.C. band that redefined punk.
How Matthew Sweet Wrote “Evangeline” By Joe Bosso published 12 November 21 With a virtuoso solo from Richard Lloyd, Sweet's breakout hit is a six-string tour de force.
How Buck Dharma Wrote Blue Öyster Cult's “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper” By Joe Bosso published 19 July 21 The classic rock perennial roared to life on '70s radio, telling a tale of love after death.
How Yngwie Malmsteen Wrote “Far Beyond the Sun“ By Mark McStea published 4 June 21 Shredding Beethoven through 50-watt Marshall heads, the Swedish guitar god invented neoclassical metal.
How Billy Gibbons Wrote ZZ Top's “La Grange“ By Joe Bosso published 7 May 21 How a warm-up jam became ZZ Top’s breakthrough hit.
How Eric Johnson Wrote “Cliffs of Dover“ By Joe Bosso published 26 March 21 Johnson's 1990 signature guitar instrumental was “a gift from the universe.“
Tommy Shaw: How I Wrote Styx's “Blue Collar Man“ By Joe Bosso published 23 February 21 Tommy Shaw reveals the jolly green inspiration behind Styx’s 1978 hit.