CATEGORIES

Sterner Stuff

Five years after a misstep on a New York City street left him with broken bones and nerve damage in his right hand, Mike Stern perseveres one gig at a time.

Sweet Little Rock & Rollers

The sound of rock and roll began in the hands of Charles Edward Anderson Berry. Here are some of the guitars that helped him make history.

Catch Me if You Can

Chuck Berry brought poetry to pop and broke race barriers to become rock and roll's first guitar-playing frontman. As he recalled, it all began with some "hillbilly stuff' he revved into a rocker: "Maybellene."

My Career in Five Songs

Alt-rock pioneer Bob Mould selects the key cuts from his 40-year career with Hüsker Dü and Sugar and as a solo artist.

California Dreamin'

The new Matchless Laurel Canyon and Coldwater Canyon amps capture classic West Coast splendor.

Revinylization

Round Trip: Ornette Coleman’s Blue Note sides

Back From the Brink

Overcoming their personal and creative obstacles of the last several years, Tears for Fears reemerge with a new album The Tipping Point

Music in the Air

"Nashville hums with cool tunes and hip hot spots."

Gravel and Grail

ELECTRO-HARMONIX DIRT ROAD SPECIAL

IN DEEP

DREAM WEAVER

Performance Notes

HOW TO PLAY THIS MONTH’S SONGS

HOWLIN' MULE

Believe it or not, GOV’T MULE’S latest album, Heavy Load Blues, is WARREN HAYNES’ first foray into full-on blues (and it all happened while they were recording another album entirely)

FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK

And now, everything a guitarist needs TO HEADBANG ON A BUDGET, including five metal-friendly axes for under $500

Buzz Bin - LD Systems

Maui 5 Go 100

Synth City

Boss SY-200 Synthesizer

True Value

Squier contemporary Stratocaster Special HT and Paranormal Toronado

When Frank Zappa Shut Up 'n Stopped Playing Guitar

Zappa’s on-again, off-again love affair with his guitar

“The Thrill Is Gone”

B.B. King | Live in cook county jail, 1971 | Guitarist: B.B. King

Cobra Kai: Settling the Score

How Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson — composers on Netflix’s blockbuster series, Cobra Kai — craft the perfect (not to mention badass!) eighties-style score

Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar

After two serious surgeries that affected his ability to play guitar, Steve Vai could have simply packed it in. Instead, he gave himself some familiar-sounding advice and emerged with his most dazzling new album in years. (And yes, we asked him about that triple-neck guitar!)

“Music Was Mine to Experience.”

For all its ghastliness and heartbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic has been good to Keb’ Mo’. When the virus hit the US, it forced the cancelation of a string of his concerts. “I was getting a little burned out on touring,” he confesses.

NEW ADVENTURES IN HI-FI

Armed with a Rickenbacker and a Fender Twin, Peter Buck helped R.E.M. put alternative rock on the map. Producer Mitch Easter reveals the genius behind the jangle pop.

THESE THINGS TAKE TIME

Rejecting traditional rock guitar stylings, Johnny Marr created a new ethos that defined alternative rock and placed it at the forefront of the U.K.’s 1980s music scene.

EARTHQUAKER DEVICES

Hizumitas Fuzz Sustainer

Alternative Notion

"AVA puts an elegant spin on carbon-fiber luthiery with its One First Edition electric guitars."

John Frusciante

He saved the red hot chili peppers. But first he had to save himself.

Fire Down Below

"Armed with just his phone and extensive network of musical cohorts, Tom Morello takes the electric guitar into uncharted territory on The Atlas Underground Fire."

Time Is on Her Side

Stripping away the heavy rock guitars of her previous albums, Courtney Barnett makes a fresh start with Things Take Time, Take Time.

Leo Rising

After 50 years, Leo Nocentelli’s long-lost solo debut reveals a softer side to the hard-nosed electric funk legend.

Twice As Nice

FENDER DUAL MARINE LAYER REVERB AND DUEL PUGILIST DISTORTION