CATEGORIES

Boston Bun - Don't Wanna Dance

Universal/Island Records Ltd, 2019

Highway Star

BLACK MOUNTAIN’S NEW ALBUM IS A STOMPBOX-OBLITERATING GEM CALLED DESTROYER; GUITARIST STEPHEN MCBEAN LETS US LOOK UNDER THE HOOD

Good Times, Rad Times

JOHN NOTTO TELLS THE STORY OF DIRTY HONEY, THE LITTLE BAND THAT COULD (BECOME THE FIRST UNSIGNED BAND-EVER-TO HIT NUMBER 1 ON BILLBOARD'S MAINSTREAM ROCK SONGS CHART)

Schrodinger's Shredder

INSTRUMENTAL MASTER NICK JOHNSTON SHEDS SOME LIGHT ON HIS GEAR, HIS SONGWRITING AND HIS MAJESTIC NEW ALBUM, WIDE EYES IN THE DARK

A Garage Rock Hit

YOU MIGHT NEVER WANT TO LEAVE THE GARAGE, THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME’S NEWEST INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT

Hot Fuzz

Victory takes on USA boutique tone with a world-class EL84-powered head that’s compact and ready to take on any gig

GREG KOCH

Those of you who were lucky enough to see Greg on his recent UK tour will already be aware of his formidable six-string wizardry. For the rest of you, our exclusive video lesson should be proof enough of the man’s supernatural abilities…

ZILLA CABS

Look around any pro studio or stage set these days and you’re likely to spot a Zilla speaker cab. We tracked down the company founder, Paul Gough, to talk about the art of matching the right cab, speakers and finish to his customers’ varying musical needs…

Black Magic Box

Hughes & Kettner hits the floor with its latest amp, which combines digital control of analogue solid-state. A new benchmark? We plug in to find out…

Whatever We Want

They might be controversial, but aged relic guitars are here to stay, because that’s what more and more of us want. We talk taste and trends with World Guitars’ Julian White…

The Art Of Ageing

When a vintage instrument is out of financial reach, or simply too precious to leave its case, the new-old guitar answers the call. Guitar expert and author Tony Bacon traces the history of artificial ageing to today’s relics from big names and independent makers

STAND ATLANTIC

FROM TRIUMPHANT HEADLINE TOURS TO BOLD, BOUNDARY-PUSHING NEW MUSIC, 2019 HAS BEEN A YEAR TO REMEMBER FOR STAND ATLANTIC. BONNIE FRASER WALKS US THROUGH IT ALL FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE…

SUM 41

TEENAGE SUPERSTARDOM, NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES AND A LEGACY THAT’LL LIVE FOREVER. SUM 41 FRONTMAN DERYCK WHIBLEY TALKS THROUGH THE ESSENTIAL STORY OF THE NEW INDUCTEES TO THE ROCK SOUND HALL OF FAME.

SET IT OFF

FUELLED BY THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM MOST, SET IT OFF PULLED THROUGH ADVERSITY, UNCERTAINTY AND ISOLATION TO CREATE THE ALBUM OF THEIR CAREERS. CODY CARSON EXPLAINS HOW IT ALL PLAYED OUT...

YUNGBLUD

BUILDING A UNIQUE GLOBAL COMMUNITY AND SENDING A WAKE-UP CALL TO ALTERNATIVE CULTURE, YUNGBLUD HAS MADE 2019 HIS OWN. HE REVEALS HOW IT ALL WENT DOWN, FROM MOMENTOUS COLLABORATIONS AND DREAM SHOWS TO LIFE AT THE HEART OF A PHENOMENON.

The Maine

CANDID, EMOTIONAL AND DEEPLY HOPEFUL, THE MAINE’S SEVENTH ALBUM SHOWED US ALL A MUCH-NEEDED BRIGHTER SIDE TO LIFE IN 2019. THEY REVEAL HOW IT WAS BORN, AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT’S FORMED AROUND THEM.

FRANK IERO

IN CREATING BOLD, BRASH, IMPERFECT NEW ALBUM ‘BARRIERS’, FRANK IERO AND HIS BAND THE FUTURE VIOLENTS TURNED HEADS ACROSS THE GLOBE. THIS IS THE STORY OF A YEAR SPENT DOING THINGS ENTIRELY DIFFERENTLY.

ENTER SHIKARI

HUGE TOURING, ONE-OFF SONGS AND SOME UTTERLY MINDBLOWING FESTIVAL SETS MEANT ENTER SHIKARI STOOD HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE REST OF THE UK THIS YEAR. HERE’S HOW IT PANNED OUT IN THEIR OWN WORDS…

SIXTY SECONDS with...

A minute’s all it takes to find out what makes a great guitarist tick. Before he jumped into his limo for the airport we grabbed a quick chat with Royal Southern Brotherhood singer-guitarist and chart-topping blues musician, Mike Zito.

Rocking the blues Soloing masterclass

Kenny on how to weave classic blues influences into your soloing and unlock the fretboard.

Rocco Zifarelli Video Masterclass pt3

In the third instalment of this six-part video feature, Rocco Zifarelli demonstrates some evocative acoustic lead work over an orchestral backing track, Days Long Gone, with Jon Bishop as your guide.

Psychedelic: Gong

Put the kettle on and grab your guitar as RGT’s Simon Barnard explores the psychedelic sounds of Gong. But watch out for flying teapots!

Pat Travers

This month Phil Short checks out the ‘fire and brimstone’ style of a criminally undersung Canadian blues-rock powerhouse: Pat Travers.

Mauro Giuliani La Rose

This month Bridget Mermikides introduces us to the music of Mauro Giuliani, a leading Italian guitarist and cellist from the early 19th century.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Interview & masterclass

A protégé of BB King, jamming partner with Alexander Dumble and bandmate of Stephen Stills, we joined Kenny to talk about Dumble-modded Fuzz Faces, the essence of a great Strat, and learn some of his blues soloing strategies.

Jimmy Page Full style analysis!

Jon Bishop unlocks the playing secrets of a blues-rock virtuoso and one of the most influential and best-loved guitarists of all time. Session superstar, Yardbird, and Led Zeppelin founder, Jimmy Page.

Kim Gordon: La Ghosts & Flowers

As KIM GORDON prepares to release No Home Record – her brilliant debut solo album – she takes stock of her consistently adventurous career so far. To discuss: her early days in New York’s Downtown, cooking with Neil Young and the perils of gentrification. “Life is unexpected,” she tells Tom Pinnock

Tinariwen: Even Nomads Get The Blues

A lot has changed for TINARIWEN since they became superstars of desert rock’n’roll. But their Saharan homeland remains as troubled as ever. We track the band down in Morocco, where Michael Bonner hears tales of exile, insurgency and belonging. “As long as people are oppressed, there will be room for protest music,” they explain

“I Was Insatiable!”

From a back garden in Epsom to the stage of the O2 – via Bombay, New York, Marrakesh and Beijing – join us as JIMMY PAGE guides us through 60 years’ worth of his marvellous adventures. CliffRichard! Exorcisms! “A cauldron of inspiration”! There are road trips with The Yardbirds, magical recording sessions at Headley Grange, his ongoing relationship with Robert Plant and the vast musical legacy of Led Zeppelin to consider. “I was dealt a very good hand,” Page tells Michael Odell. “And I like to think I played it well.”

Angel Olsen: Her Bright Materials

Welcome to Asheville, North Carolina, where ANGEL OLSEN is poised to release her new album, All Mirrors. Erin Osmon joins the singer-songwriter at home to discuss heartbreak, fantasy property deals and her latest bold pop experiment. “Sometimes your dreams are not what they seem,” she says