THE MAD AXE OF KING GEORGE

Finding Fretless author Paul Brett reveals how his relentless sleuthing uncovered the mysterious history of a most unusual Beatles guitar: George Harrison’s “mad” Bartell fretless.

Ry Cooder – Back on Board

Ry Cooder reunites with Taj Mahal for an album that returns to both men’s roots: Get On Board: The Songs of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.

Aero Instrument

dBuz Cable and dBuzX Extender

Alone, Together

Let’s Eat Grandma’s Jenny Hollingworth and Rosa Walton on learning how to write their stories separately after a lifelong friendship.

FRUSCIANTE, UNLIMITED

IN THIS CANDID CONVERSATION, JOHN FRUSCIANTE EXPOUNDS ON THE BENEFITS OF KICKING YOUR EGO TO THE CURB, TRUSTING YOURSELF AS A PLAYER, RELIGIOUSLY MEMORIZING CHARLIE CHRISTIAN’S GUITAR SOLOS AND — OH, YEAH — HOW THE PIECES FELL INTO PLACE FOR HIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RETURN TO THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

Shine a Light

ANDY TIMMONS FINDS OUT MORE ABOUT ANDY ALEDORT’S NEW DOUBLE ALBUM, LIGHT OF LOVE, FEATURING DOUBLE TROUBLE, STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN’S LEGENDARY RHYTHM SECTION

The Arc Angels Return ...

AND OTHER NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

The Rockfords

AFTER BEING OUT OF PRINT FOR AGES, THE LONE STUDIO ALBUM BY PEARL JAM SIXSTRINGER MIKE McCREADY’S Y2K POWERPOP SIDE PROJECT IS GETTING ITS FIRST DIGITAL RELEASE

Performance Notes

Ozzy Osbourne’s longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde on the making of their classic track “No More Tears”

Sylvaine

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO REALIZE YOUR UNIQUE, ATMOSPHERIC “BLACK GAZE” VISION? PLAY MOST OF THE INSTRUMENTS YOURSELF, OF COURSE!

Pattern-Seeking Animals

THE PROG-ROCK SUPERGROUP IS BACK WITH A LUSH NEW ALBUM, AND THIS TIME GUITARIST TED LEONARD DIDN’T FORGET TO PACK THE GUITAR SOLOS

Slanted and Enchanted

BIG THIEF’S ADRIANNE LENKER AND BUCK MEEK WALK US THROUGH THE TUNINGS, TECHNIQUES AND GEAR THAT SHAPE THEIR INDIE-ROCK SOUND

NEW WORLD MAN

RUSH LEGEND ALEX LIFESON REEMERGES WITH A NEW BAND, NEW MUSIC AND A NEW, SCALED-DOWN APPROACH TO SERVING THE SONG.

FIRESTORM “We never, ever, ever expected it to get that type of response.

BODY COUNT’S ICE-T AND ERNIE C LOOK BACK ON THE MAKING OF — AND REACTION TO — THEIR POLARIZING SELF-TITLED 1992 DEBUT ALBUM

Big Wreck, Version 7.1

IAN THORNLEY TALKS 7.1, THE FIRST OF A TRIO OF NEW EPs, PLUS SUHR GEAR, THE BAND’S NEW RHYTHM GUITARIST AND THE CONSTANT STRUGGLE TO KEEP STUFF SIMPLE

Electro-harmonix Big Muff Pi

Category: Distortion/Fuzz Pedal

Farewell Tour

As Primus prime movers Les Claypool and Larry Lalonde prepare to set off on a tour that pays tribute to Rush’s iconic 1977 album, A farewell to kings, they check in with GW and — of course — Rush’s Alex Lifeson.

Voices

Musician and composer Jon Batiste and Juilliard dance director Alicia Graf Mack on reinventing spaces and institutions in the arts

The Player You Get

FENDER ACOUSTASONIC PLAYER TELECASTER

Going Through Phases

STRYMON ZELZAH MULTIDIMENSIONAL PHASER

A Green New DL

LINE 6 DL4 MKII DELAY AND LOOPER

Young Punks

Forty-four years after their implosion, The Sex Pistols their music, fashion, and attitude still matter. This May, a new limited series brings the band's incredible story to life. Here, the cast of the show wears summer's new crop of sharp suits, proving there's nothing more punk, right now, than dressing up.

What I've learned - Liam Gallagher

Rock Star, 49, London

Wet Leg Gets the Joke

The hot British indie duo have been riding high since their single “Chaise Longue" became a smash. They're not taking their success too seriously

What Works for Me: Appetite for Redemption

Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan pinballed from vice to hedonistic vice until life tilted out of control. Here's how he made it out alive-and shredded.

Playing Those Mind Games

VOLBEAT’S MICHAEL POULSEN AND ROB CAGGIANO ON THE PENT-UP ENERGY AND FALSE STARTS THAT LED TO THEIR BACK-TO-BASICS NEW ALBUM, SERVANT OF THE MIND

INTERGALACTIC SATCH

SUPREME SHREDDER JOE SATRIANI CHALLENGED HIMSELF TO CREATE A “NEW STANDARD” FOR INSTRUMENTAL GUITAR ALBUMS TO BE MEASURED AGAINST. THE RESULT? THE ELEPHANTS OF MARS, AN UNDENIABLY CINEMATIC NEW ALBUM RECORDED WITHOUT CREATIVE BARRIERS — OR PHYSICAL AMPLIFIERS

THE BOWMAN COMETH

AN ODE TO EDDIE PHILLIPS OF THE CREATION.

EASTMAN NEW TRADITIONAL STYLE

EASTMAN CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF BRINGING TRUE HANDCRAFTED STRINGED INSTRUMENTS TO THE MASSES

FREE FOR ALL

JAZZ/FUSION GREAT JOHN McLAUGHLIN on his liberating new album, his recent run-in with the law and his spiritual connection to pretty much everything and everyone