Alan PaulSocial Links NavigationAlan Paul is the author of three books, Texas Flood: The Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughan, One Way Way Out: The Inside Story of the Allman Brothers Band – which were both New York Times bestsellers – and Big in China: My Unlikely Adventures Raising a Family, Playing the Blues and Becoming a Star in Beijing, a memoir about raising a family in Beijing and forming a Chinese blues band that toured the nation. He’s been associated with Guitar World for 30 years, serving as Managing Editor from 1991-96. He plays in two bands: Big in China and Friends of the Brothers, with Guitar World’s Andy Aledort. Latest articles by Alan Paul Warren Haynes talks recording with Derek Trucks for the first time in over 20 years on Gregg Allman's forgotten gem By Alan Paul published 4 November 24 The two former ABB guitarists reunited to bring Gregg's unheard song to life for Haynes' new album Dave Mason on meeting Jimi Hendrix in 1966 and making “All Along the Watchtower” with him By Alan Paul published 18 October 24 The former Traffic guitarist also tells us about his time with Eric Clapton as a founding member of Derek & the Dominos Buddy Guy-backed Quinn Sullivan is spreading his wings on his fifth album – at the age of 25 By Alan Paul published 28 August 24 Once a preternatural phenomenon, the precocious blues guitarist charts a broader musical path on Salvation, an album born out of loss and self-discovery “We all knew it was really good… The guitar playing is just amazing”: How Dickey Betts made “Ramblin’ Man”, triumphed over tragedy and led the Allman Brothers to their greatest success By Alan Paul published 19 April 24 Duane Allman’s death might have been the end of the Allman Brothers Band. Instead, led by Dickey Betts, it marked the start of a remarkable era in the group’s life – and rock history “I got John Lennon’s Epiphone Casino and played through his amp, Paul got on the drums. It was like we’d been playing together forever”: Steve Miller on jamming with the Beatles, his pre-show warmups, and 50 years of the Joker By Alan Paul published 13 February 24 In a candid interview, the classic rock hero discusses the strange journeys of some of his biggest hits, opening for Pink Floyd, and injecting blues into the San Francisco scene in the midst of the Summer of Love “He said, ‘I want to make a little-amp record.’ Apparently on Layla, Eric Clapton and Duane Allman were playing through Champs and facing each other, and that’s what we did”: Charlie Starr on how Blackberry Smoke evolved by slimming down in the studio By Alan Paul published 12 February 24 Blackberry Smoke's frontman and guitarist dishes on making a “little-amp record,” and how playing guitar in another famous band helped strengthen his connection to his own group "Jimmy Herring peeked behind my amp and asked, 'What speakers are you using?'": Why the old hands are asking Daniel Donato for gear advice By Alan Paul published 2 February 24 Roots player Daniel Donato is celebrating the drop of new cross-genre album Reflector by hitting the road with his heroes Recorded During the Pandemic Simultaneously With 2021’s ‘Heavy Load Blues’, Gov’t Mule’s Ambitious New Album, ‘Peace…Like a River,’ Is an Exercise in Taking Risks By Alan Paul published 25 July 23 It was also “a way of not going crazy,” says Warren Haynes “We Tracked Everything Live and Kept Whichever Takes Had the Magic”: Duane Betts Steps out Solo With ‘Wild & Precious Life’ By Alan Paul published 21 July 23 The guitarist makes his full-length debut album, featuring guests Derek Trucks and Marcus King “If I Can Lift Myself With a Solo or Riff, It Can Re-Ignite Me and Save the Show”: Taylor Goldsmith Talks Dawes’ Latest Genre-Extending Effort and the Power of Lead Guitar By Alan Paul published 21 June 23 Having played alongside the likes of Blake Mills and Duane Betts, the Dawes frontman knows how great lead guitar work can give performances a powerful edge “We Went from Rags to Riches”: The Incredible Story of the Allman Brothers' 'At Fillmore East' By Alan Paul published 9 December 21 Fifty years on this definitive album remains the gold standard of blues-based rock and roll. Get The Pick NewsletterAll the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors LATEST ARTICLES1Slash recalls how a jam with Jeff Beck nearly ended his idol's career2Richie Sambora recalls the disastrous show that turned him into a pro3"One cool guitar from one of the hippest builders." The Rivolta Quadrata is a stylishly original take on a famous retro rock axe4Spend less and get more in Reverb's early Black Friday sales event - save up to 80% on second-hand gear5Jim Suhler talks about sneaking backstage to meet Stevie Ray Vaughan and the career-shaping advice he gave him
Warren Haynes talks recording with Derek Trucks for the first time in over 20 years on Gregg Allman's forgotten gem By Alan Paul published 4 November 24 The two former ABB guitarists reunited to bring Gregg's unheard song to life for Haynes' new album
Dave Mason on meeting Jimi Hendrix in 1966 and making “All Along the Watchtower” with him By Alan Paul published 18 October 24 The former Traffic guitarist also tells us about his time with Eric Clapton as a founding member of Derek & the Dominos
Buddy Guy-backed Quinn Sullivan is spreading his wings on his fifth album – at the age of 25 By Alan Paul published 28 August 24 Once a preternatural phenomenon, the precocious blues guitarist charts a broader musical path on Salvation, an album born out of loss and self-discovery
“We all knew it was really good… The guitar playing is just amazing”: How Dickey Betts made “Ramblin’ Man”, triumphed over tragedy and led the Allman Brothers to their greatest success By Alan Paul published 19 April 24 Duane Allman’s death might have been the end of the Allman Brothers Band. Instead, led by Dickey Betts, it marked the start of a remarkable era in the group’s life – and rock history
“I got John Lennon’s Epiphone Casino and played through his amp, Paul got on the drums. It was like we’d been playing together forever”: Steve Miller on jamming with the Beatles, his pre-show warmups, and 50 years of the Joker By Alan Paul published 13 February 24 In a candid interview, the classic rock hero discusses the strange journeys of some of his biggest hits, opening for Pink Floyd, and injecting blues into the San Francisco scene in the midst of the Summer of Love
“He said, ‘I want to make a little-amp record.’ Apparently on Layla, Eric Clapton and Duane Allman were playing through Champs and facing each other, and that’s what we did”: Charlie Starr on how Blackberry Smoke evolved by slimming down in the studio By Alan Paul published 12 February 24 Blackberry Smoke's frontman and guitarist dishes on making a “little-amp record,” and how playing guitar in another famous band helped strengthen his connection to his own group
"Jimmy Herring peeked behind my amp and asked, 'What speakers are you using?'": Why the old hands are asking Daniel Donato for gear advice By Alan Paul published 2 February 24 Roots player Daniel Donato is celebrating the drop of new cross-genre album Reflector by hitting the road with his heroes
Recorded During the Pandemic Simultaneously With 2021’s ‘Heavy Load Blues’, Gov’t Mule’s Ambitious New Album, ‘Peace…Like a River,’ Is an Exercise in Taking Risks By Alan Paul published 25 July 23 It was also “a way of not going crazy,” says Warren Haynes
“We Tracked Everything Live and Kept Whichever Takes Had the Magic”: Duane Betts Steps out Solo With ‘Wild & Precious Life’ By Alan Paul published 21 July 23 The guitarist makes his full-length debut album, featuring guests Derek Trucks and Marcus King
“If I Can Lift Myself With a Solo or Riff, It Can Re-Ignite Me and Save the Show”: Taylor Goldsmith Talks Dawes’ Latest Genre-Extending Effort and the Power of Lead Guitar By Alan Paul published 21 June 23 Having played alongside the likes of Blake Mills and Duane Betts, the Dawes frontman knows how great lead guitar work can give performances a powerful edge
“We Went from Rags to Riches”: The Incredible Story of the Allman Brothers' 'At Fillmore East' By Alan Paul published 9 December 21 Fifty years on this definitive album remains the gold standard of blues-based rock and roll.
