The Boy with the Thorn in His Side “There’s a Lot of Guitar Culture That I Don’t Like At All”: How Johnny Marr Placed The Smiths at the Forefront of the U.K.’s 1980s Music Scene The British guitarist created a new ethos and approach to guitar playing that defined alternative rock. 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 LATEST ARTICLES1“The guitar playing on ‘Stairway to Heaven’ — it’s probably the greatest electric guitar solo of all time.” Steve Stevens talks Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and the 10 albums that changed his life2“They had strippers and crabs everywhere... People would get pissed and start shooting at the stage. You had to duck and keep playing!” Stevie Ray Vaughan talks his Number One Strat, Dumbles, and his craziest gigs in classic GP interview3"I tuned the E string down to D and came up with this riff. I didn't really think anything of it." Roland Orzabal reveals how a chance guitar line on his detuned Fender Strat led to Tears for Fears' monster hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”4“Sometimes you are going to be so frustrated you'll hate the guitar. But all of this is just a part of learning." Jimi Hendrix explains his struggles with guitar in a 1968 Guitar Player interview5“They're perfectly situated between .010 and .011 sets — big enough to get great tone, but nimble enough to finesse those vocal bends guitar players are always going for." John Mayer's new signature Ernie Ball string set has unbelievably precise gauges