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BBC Music Magazine

Eric Whitacre

It's not really the done thing to go into fan mode during an interview

6 mins |

Record Collector

The Flaming Lips – "We like Sex Pistols and Pink Floyd"

Across four decades and countless madcap ideas, The Flaming Lips have evolved from indie noiseniks to purveyors of Disneyesque symphonia to multi-media art ensemble, each new album expanding the group's sonic world and conceptual ambitions. Accidental hits (She Don't Use Jelly; Do You Realize??) have pulled them into the mainstream on occasion, and yet the Lips have consistently refused to court commercial success and often seemed to actively shun it, with a string of extra-curricular projects, including a homemade sci-fi movie and a line in deconstructive covers albums, defying even the most hardened Lips fan to make sense of it all. Frontman Wayne Coyne tells Jason Draper why the extreme-embracing unit will always remain a "weirdo studio band".

MO' BETTER BLUES! Bonamassa & Friends

Andy Saphir offers up a blues-rock fest in the style of vintage guitar-wielding blues legend, Joe Bonamassa and his contemporary friends and musical collaborators.

IMPROVE YOUR ARPEGGIOS PT 2

Following on from last month where he looked at rhythm guitar arpeggios, here Simon Barnard shows how they can improve your solos, too.

TASTY SOLOING

This month Andy G Jones from London’s LCCM investigates the style of one of the great blues, rock and jazz session greats, Larry Carlton.

LÉO DELIBES Pizzicato (from Sylvia)

This month Declan Zapala reduces an orchestra to just six strings with his arrangement of this quirky and chirpy pizzicato movement from Delibes’ ballet masterpiece.

CHRIS REA

This month Phil Short takes a trip down memory lane exploring the slide guitar stylings of Middlesborough’s finest pop-blues crooner.

JARED JAMES NICHOLS

A minute's all it takes to discover what makes a great guitarist tick. Before he jumped into his limo for the airport, we grabbed a quick chat with amodern American blues-rock tour-de-force.

7 mins |

JARED JAMES NICHOLS Six Rock Licks

This young but very old-school rock master took time out of his busy schedule to record six, red-hot blues-rock licks for you, all in the key of A. Jon Bishop is your guide.

1 min |

LADY A

In this month’s acoustic column Stuart Ryan shows you how to craft parts in the style of these harmonious American country hitmakers!

DAVID GRISSOM

Guitar instrumentals have supplied some of music’s most evocative moments. Jason Sidwell asks top guitarists for their take on this iconic movement. This month it's the stunning blues-rocker and tone master from Austin, Texas.

5 mins |

JUSTIN SANDERCOE

The founder of justinguitar.com lends GT his insight as one of the world’s most successful guitar teachers

4 mins |

MITCH DALTON

The studio guitarist’s guide to happiness and personal fulfilment, as related by our resident session ace.

JEFF LOOMIS

This month Charlie Griffiths gets Nevermore heavy with five very challenging licks from the shredder from Seattle with no Arch Enemies.

THE CROSSROADS Pat Metheny

For this month’s Crossroads, John Wheatcroft looks at a jazz musician who is undeniably one of the world’s most significant guitar players, and a master of the instrument.

BOSS Katana-50 MkII EX

THE KATANA SERIES amps from Boss recently expanded with the introduction of three new Mkll models: a 50-watt 1x12, a 100-watt head and a 2x12 cabinet with Boss Waza speakers.

Still Killing

Fifty-five years since his solo bow, Harvey Mandel shows no sign of slowing down on his latest, Who's Calling. \"The Sustain King\" riffs with GP on his music, guitar technique and a certain player by the name of Eddie.

LARGER THAN LIFE

He's played on records by Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond and Donovan. As he drops his latest solo effort, Jonny Polonsky reflects on how he spun a few homemade cassettes into a remarkably varied music career.

9 mins |

THE BLACK STRAT

An iconic instrument heard on Pink Floyd albums, including The Dark Side of the Moon, David Gilmour’s Black Strat underwent its fair share of modifications over the years. Here we explore its storied life and many mods.

ΜΟΟΝ RISE

As The Dark Side of the Moon turns 50, we go behind the scenes of Pink Floyd’s masterpiece, from its live origins to its studio metamorphosis, to explore David Gilmour’s gear and tone, and the stories behind every track.

ACOUSTIC WAVES

The 2023 NAMM show was surging with innovative and environmentally savvy gear for acoustic players. We did a little surfing.

9 mins |

Open & Shut

How to liven up progressions by combining open and closed chords.

ASSISTED STRETCHING

Taylor Goldsmith talks Dawes' latest genre-extending effort and the benefits of bringing a hired guitarslinger on tour.

5 mins |

BEST SHOTS

As he savors his Rock Hall induction and raves for the musical Invincible, Neil Giraldo reflects on the highlights of his career — from Rick Derringer to Pat Benatar and beyond.