Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell died from multiple-organ failure after “necessary” surgeries
The guitarist, who spent more than 30 years in the band alongside Lemmy Kilmister, died in March at 64
Guitarists
John Lennon had a plan to keep the Beatles going into the 1970s. Paul McCartney rejected it. The rest is history
A last recorded meeting between Lennon, McCartney and George Harrison revealed how they might have carried on despite their growing differences
Johnny Marr names the one thing musicians talk about but hardly ever do: “Most of the guitar bands I’ve been around have said it”
The Smiths co-founder only worked out what he was doing with his new solo album The Age of Everything once it had been mastered
What Paul McCartney taught Brian Ray about playing the Beatles’ songs: "One time in rehearsal I made a mistake in the chorus”
The Paul McCartney guitarist shares his hard-won advice on how to perform any Beatles song perfectly
Gear
With discounts hitting up to 50% off, Sweetwater's recording sale is live with some mega reductions on interfaces, mics, and studio monitors
Upgrade your tracking rig with unmissable savings on industry-leading hardware in the Sweetwater studio and recording sale
With 38% off one of our favorite headphone amps plus a super affordable FRFR, you can't afford to miss Positive Grid's Sparktober sale
Score healthy discounts on the celebrated Spark Neo Core and Spark Cab this October
We review the Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr. Overdrive, Fuzz and Booster effects pedals
Warm Audio shrinks Alex Saraceno’s larger Dirty Boy circuits into more compact, affordable pedals, bringing the sounds of the originals to a new generation of guitarists
Best FRFR speakers 2026: the best full-range, flat-response speakers for your digital effects and modelers
Our pick of fantastic FRFR speakers that won’t color your tone from Line 6, Fender, HeadRush, Blackstar, and more
Guitars
Vince Gill tells how a tragedy brought him his prized 1959 Gibson Les Paul ’Burst
In a 2017 interview with Guitar Aficionado, the country-rock six-string ace revealed how a sad and deeply personal twist of events brought a prized '59 Les Paul into his life
Best semi-hollow guitars 2026: my top picks for tone and feel
From affordable workhorses to dream guitar purchases, these are the semi-acoustic guitars that deliver
Best beginner acoustic guitars 2026: start as you mean to go on
My pick of tried-and-tested beginner acoustics from trusted brands including Taylor, Fender, Epiphone, and more
Rick Nielsen on the origin of his Hamer five-neck guitar: “I wanted a 12-string and a fretless, and...”
The Cheap Trick guitarist’s custom 2004 Hamer is going to auction for the first time. But the story of its 1981 predecessor arose from an even crazier idea
How the search for Mick Ronson’s Ziggy Stardust Les Paul ended in $200,000 and heartache
How Rick Tedesco found and lost his dream guitar.
We review the Silvertone 1446 semihollow and find a mid-priced steal that’s more than a handsome rocker
With a set neck, center block and Wilkinson-designed mini-humbuckers, RBI Music’s $999 reissue puts a decidedly muscular spin on the vintage Silvertone design
Best 3/4 acoustic guitars 2026: top short-scale options from Taylor, Martin and more
Here are the best short-scale acoustic options that don’t compromise on tone, build quality or performance
Makers
Guitar Center wants players to test its “revolutionary” guitar design as the launch of its in-house brand draws near
"We’re looking for genuine players who are willing to share honest opinions…"
New video shows Les Paul’s home and workshop in ruins just before demolition: “It made me sick”
Guitar collector Perry Margouleff filmed the Mahwah property in its final days, while Les Paul’s son questions why preservation was never pursued
Behind the Beatles’ Abbey Road cover with Paul McCartney and its designer: “I thought, I’ve got to do this and get it out on Wednesday?”
As Sam Mendes re-creates the iconic image for his new Beatles films, we revisit how the original cover photo became an icon
Roger Daltrey says the Who invented metal before Black Sabbath
The singer says the Who's pioneering use of volume, feedback and Marshall amps laid the foundations for metal years before Black Sabbath arrived.
Fender serves a cease-and-desist to PRS, but does this latest target meet Fender’s copyist criteria?
PRS confirms it received a cease-and-desist letter over the Silver Sky — John Mayer’s massively successful signature model. But does this latest target meet Fender’s copyist criteria?
Studio legend Glyn Johns on Paul McCartney's shocking request to work on what became the Beatles' final album
The album’s roots live on as 'Let It Be,' but Johns says the rest of the band didn’t get McCartney’s “really interesting” idea
From Taylor Swift to Phoebe Bridgers and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy — how indie rockers came to adopt a guitar bridge born from parts in Home Depot's toilet aisle
Rubber-bridge guitars have changed the sound of acoustic guitar over the past 10 years. And it's all down to one man's invention
Lessons
"Everybody was going crazy about Yngwie Malmsteen. Joe Satriani told me, ‘Don’t get too into him.'" Alex Skolnick's top five tips to becoming a better guitarist
Testament's Alex Skolnick on why you should be honest with yourself, never listen to negativity and focus on creating your own identity as a guitar player
How I use the Melodic Minor scale by Phi Yaan-Zek
Supercharge your soloing chops with Phi Yaan-Zek’s six Steve Vai-esque examples
“Here’s how to make your guitar sing…” Larry McCray Blues Masterclass
Learn these 13 examples that span across gospel inspired moans and bends, the Chicago shuffle and Larry Carlton's super arpeggio approach to soloing
Music
How the Beatles reinvented the recording studio with Rubber Soul
The making of Rubber Soul marked the moment the Beatles began taking control of the recording process, launching the sonic experimentation that would define Revolver and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
How Cheap Trick ripped off an iconic riff from the Who to make two of the all-time greatest power-pop hits
Producer Tom Werman admits he was the guilty party: “Pete Townshend was always my main musical inspiration”
Eric Clapton doesn’t like this classic Cream track, even though it’s key to his legend: “I think there’s something wrong with it”
Producer Tom Dowd said the live recording may have been edited down from a much longer performance — but even Clapton can’t remember for certain
“I won’t watch the films.” Paul McCartney’s ex has no interest in the new Fab Four biopics
Jane Asher was engaged to McCartney and became the subject of several songs before their relationship ended in 1968
Brian May on Freddie Mercury and the mega-hit that changed Queen’s relationship with their audience
May recalls how Mercury’s vision challenged the band at first — then helped Queen realize just how powerful their audience could be
Rita Coolidge says Eric Clapton owes her a writing credit for one of the most celebrated songs in rock
The Grammy-winning singer helped pen the piano coda that closes "Layla," but was never credited despite her pleas to the guitarist
Dolly Parton wrote “9 to 5” with her fingernails: “I have a credit on the back of the album that says, ‘Nails by Dolly!’”
On Dolly Parton Day, we revisit how the country icon was stuck on the 9 to 5 set without her guitar — and turned her trademark acrylic nails into a percussion instrument
As Ed Sheeran deals with tour fallout, Macklemore announces Free Palestine tour: “What happened to me is bigger than one artist”
The announcement comes after Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s Loop Tour, prompting the remaining supporting acts to withdraw in solidarity; Sheeran has since resumed the tour with a new lineup.
