How I Wrote... “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 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" 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” The rock icon reveals how a stint touring with the Ramones inspired one of her most enduring hits. Grid List Latest How I Wrote... 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. How Traffic's Dave Mason Wrote “Feelin' Alright?“ By Joe Bosso published 25 January 21 Dave Mason shares good memories of a song about feeling bad. Steve Stevens: How I Wrote "Rebel Yell" By Joe Bosso published 22 December 20 Stevens tells how partying with the Rolling Stones led to Billy Idol’s breakthrough hit. Duane Eddy: How I Wrote "Rebel-'Rouser" By Mark McStea published 11 December 20 The rock and roll legend on the inspiration and session behind his 1958 string-twanging instrumental hit. Brian Setzer: How I Wrote the Stray Cats' "Runaway Boys" By Mark McStea published 5 November 20 The Stray Cats' leader tells all about the band's hit debut single. Rick Nielsen: How I Wrote Cheap Trick's "Surrender" By Joe Bosso published 14 October 20 A nursery rhyme, a Les Paul and the world's first Orange Amp – here's the story behind a bona fide rock anthem. Al Di Meola: How I Wrote “Race with Devil on Spanish Highway” By Joe Bosso published 31 July 20 Hearing congas, Leslie West's tone and recording live - Al Di Meola recalls creating his 1977 “shred” masterpiece. Joe Satriani: How I Wrote "Satch Boogie" By Joe Bosso published 13 July 20 Joe Satriani turned a vision of Gene Krupa into a rock radio hit - and a shred guitar milestone. 12 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 READ1Learn to play like Snarky Puppy's Mark Lettieri with the ultimate funk baritone guitar lesson2How Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet and "the Randy Rhoads school of soloing" helped Ozzy Osbourne and Zakk Wylde write No More Tears3GP Presents Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew’s Remain in Light, with X, December 30 in San Francisco – Win Tickets4"An amp worth auditioning if you’re in the market for a gig-worthy, low-watt combo that punches above its weight class": Does Fender's Tone Master Princeton Reverb amp live up to the lofty precedent set by its tube-powered sibling? 5"I was playing the wrong key and everything, but it didn't seem to matter": Watch George Harrison play a Little Richard classic with Deep Purple in 1984
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.
How Traffic's Dave Mason Wrote “Feelin' Alright?“ By Joe Bosso published 25 January 21 Dave Mason shares good memories of a song about feeling bad.
Steve Stevens: How I Wrote "Rebel Yell" By Joe Bosso published 22 December 20 Stevens tells how partying with the Rolling Stones led to Billy Idol’s breakthrough hit.
Duane Eddy: How I Wrote "Rebel-'Rouser" By Mark McStea published 11 December 20 The rock and roll legend on the inspiration and session behind his 1958 string-twanging instrumental hit.
Brian Setzer: How I Wrote the Stray Cats' "Runaway Boys" By Mark McStea published 5 November 20 The Stray Cats' leader tells all about the band's hit debut single.
Rick Nielsen: How I Wrote Cheap Trick's "Surrender" By Joe Bosso published 14 October 20 A nursery rhyme, a Les Paul and the world's first Orange Amp – here's the story behind a bona fide rock anthem.
Al Di Meola: How I Wrote “Race with Devil on Spanish Highway” By Joe Bosso published 31 July 20 Hearing congas, Leslie West's tone and recording live - Al Di Meola recalls creating his 1977 “shred” masterpiece.
Joe Satriani: How I Wrote "Satch Boogie" By Joe Bosso published 13 July 20 Joe Satriani turned a vision of Gene Krupa into a rock radio hit - and a shred guitar milestone.
