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... 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. 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. 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 READ1How Robin Trower crafted his blistering tonal triumph, Day of the Eagle2Gary Clark Jr. never asked to be a guitar savior 3Best Travel Guitars 2024: Top Portable Instruments From Lowden, Furch, Martin and more4“‘Those old Beatle bashers?’”: Paul McCartney talks Vox amps, and his love of dirty tones5“I was 17 years old and found it in this local paper. It said, ‘Gretsch guitar, 100 bucks.’ I called the guy up and asked, ‘Is it like Eddie Cochran’s?’ He was like, ‘Who?’”: How Brian Setzer forged his trademark twanging tone
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.
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.
