John McLaughlin

Latest about John McLaughlin

Jan Hammer, playing a keytar, and Jeff Beck performing at the ARMS benefit concert at the Cow Palace in San Francisco on December 3, 1983.
Jeff Beck’s guitar was stolen before the Wired sessions — Jan Hammer remembers what happened next

By Gary Graff Published

The keyboard legend also looks back on his collaborations with Beck, Eddie Van Halen, Tommy Bolin, John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Neal Schon and Miles Davis

Guitarists
Ginger BAKER, with Cream, performing live onstage, playing drums, August 13, 1967
“Come on, get a move on!” John McLaughlin recalls the night Ginger Baker started throwing drumsticks at Jack Bruce

By Andrew Daly Published

Before forming Cream with Eric Clapton, the volatile duo were already clashing nightly onstage.

Guitarists
John McLAUGHLIN performs in 1970
“John McLaughlin scared the hell out of me.” Narada Michael Walden on his 1970s adventures with Mahavishnu, Robert Fripp and Carlos Santana

By Gary Graff Published

The drummer and producer for Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin recalls the intimidating moment he first jammed with the Mahavishnu Orchestra leader

Guitarists
American trumpeter and composer Miles Davis (1926 - 1991) performing live on stage at the Newport Jazz Festival at Newport, Rhode Island, 5th July 1969.
Miles Davis gave him a cryptic instruction. The result was jazz-fusion’s foundational album

By Andrew Daly Published

John McLaughlin was shaking when the recording began. By the time it finished, he had made history

Guitarists
LEFT: John McLaughlin performs on stage, UK, 1975. RIGHT: Jeff Beck performing at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, California on August 1, 2003. He plays a Fender Stratocaster guitar.
The night John McLaughlin broke his guitar — and changed Jeff Beck forever

By Andrew Daly Published

When his double-neck was destroyed on tour, McLaughlin turned to Beck for help — and repaid him with a white Stratocaster that reshaped Beck’s sound.

Guitarists
LEFT: JIMI HENDRIX, 27, playing on Friday at Electric Ladyland Studio in Manhattan, August 14, 1970. RIGHT: John McLAUGHLIN; performing with the Mahavishnu Orchestra
John McLaughlin on his “disaster” jam session with Jimi Hendrix

By Phil Weller Published

The pair jammed into the small hours, with McLaughlin playing a less-than-ideal guitar for the spot

Guitarists
LEFT: Jaco Pastorius photographed with bass guitar circa 1970. RIGHT: John McLaughlin performs on stage, UK, 1975.
The short and tumultuous reign of the Trio of Doom, as told by John McLaughlin

By Phil Weller Published

They could have been the world’s greatest jazz-fusion trio, but Jaco's undiagnosed bipolar disorder brought things to an end almost as soon as they started

Guitarists
American rock guitarist and singer Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) performs live on stage playing a white Fender Stratocaster guitar with The Jimi Hendrix Experience at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 24th February 1969. Image is part of David Redfern Premium Collection.
"He brought the elements of expression that a voice has: sliding, bending and the best vibrato anyone had heard in 1966. Guitar was NOT built to do that!" What Jimi Hendrix means to me – by some of the world's greatest guitar players

By Jason Sidwell Last updated

Jimi Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942. Here, Eric Gales, Paul Gilbert, Jennifer Batten, Joe Bonamassa, Kirk Fletcher, Steve Lukather, Joe Satriani and more talk about his enduring legacy

Guitarists
John McLaughlin and his PRS guitar
“Paul Reed Smith chooses wood like Stradivari, who used to walk around the Dolomites in Italy tapping on trees, saying, ‘I’ll take that one, not that one.’ He’s a maniac”: John McLaughlin on reuniting with Shakti, his bad year, and his signature PRS

By Jimmy Leslie Published

As he reunites his Indo-jazz supergroup Shakti, John McLaughlin talks harmony, rhythm and good wood

Guitarists
John McLaughlin, Marty Friedman, Yngwie Malmsteen and Al Di Meola
John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Marty Friedman and Yngwie Malmsteen Didn't Rely Exclusively on Western Scales - so Why Should You?

By Guitar Player Staff Published

Add intriguing twists to your playing with the tonal flavors of the Far East, Middle East, Africa and beyond

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