Elizabeth Swann
Elizabeth Swann is a devoted follower of prog-folk and has reported on the scene from far-flung places around the globe for The Evening Standard, Forbes, HuffPost, Prog, Wired, Popular Mechanics and The New Yorker. She treasures her collection of rare live Bert Jansch and John Renbourn reel-to-reel recordings and souvenir teaspoons collected from her travels through the Appalachians. When she’s not leaning over her Stella 12-string acoustic, she’s probably bent over her workbench with a soldering iron, modding some cheap synthesizer or effect pedal she pulled from a skip. Her favorite hobbies are making herbal wine and delivering sharp comebacks to men who ask if she’s the same Elizabeth Swann from Pirates of the Caribbean. (She is not.)
Latest articles by Elizabeth Swann

Watch 17-year-old Alex Lifeson argue with his parents about his future with Rush in a 1971 documentary
By Elizabeth Swann published
The famed guitarist was three years into his music career and just a few years from getting his first taste of success at the time

Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood are working together again in the studio
By Elizabeth Swann published
The news comes just one month after Fleetwood publicly called for Buckingham and Stevie Nicks to end their feud. Could a reunion be far off?

“It really pulled me out of my grief.” Mike Campbell reveals the offer to become Fleetwood Mac's guitarist saved him just months after Tom Petty's death
By Elizabeth Swann published
The guitarist says Mac singer Stevie Nicks was like the “fifth or sixth” Heartbreaker and would have joined the band if Tom had said yes

Kirk Hammett says he’s sitting on hundreds of riffs for Metallica’s next album and planning another solo record
By Elizabeth Swann published
The Metallica guitarist says his new songs span the genres, from classical to “heavy stuff” and funk

Steve Lukather clarifies his role in the new project featuring Eddie Van Halen recordings
By Elizabeth Swann published
Lukather took to his Instagram account to explain his participation in Alex Van Halen's effort to work with unfinished recordings featuring the late guitar icon

What would Eddie Van Halen’s “Beat It” solo sound like on a fretless guitar? Here it is — no whammy bar required
By Elizabeth Swann published
Fretless guitar virtuoso Ilya Franciosi tackles Ed’s tricky solo flawlessly to demonstrate what’s possible with the instrument

Brian May blasts a new law that will make it easier for AI to use artists' music
By Elizabeth Swann published
“My fear is that it’s already too late” the guitarist says. “This theft has already been performed and is unstoppable”

Circle Guitar does the picking for you. Radiohead's Ed O'Brien is onboard
By Elizabeth Swann published
O'Brien will receive the first of the roughly $10,000 MIDI-controlled self-strumming guitars when they start to roll off the line this year

Karl Cochran, guitar player who worked with Kiss and Joe Lynn Turner, has died
By Elizabeth Swann published
The guitarist was a member of Ace Frehley's band and co-wrote "Into the Void" from Kiss's 1998 reunion album, 'Psycho Circus'

Don Felder feeling better after being rushed offstage by medical emergency
By Elizabeth Swann published
The guitarist was playing on the Rock Legends Cruise when he became disoriented during a performance of the Eagles' classic “Tequila Sunrise”

Joe Satriani: "She can shred any guy out there"
By Elizabeth Swann published
Satch points to Alyssa Day as an example of how the digital age has leveled the playing field for women and others who once had to rely on record labels for success

Steve Vai says he's “admired” this guitar player “for quite a while"
By Elizabeth Swann published
The virtuoso adds that he and Joe Satriani are “feverishly writing” new music together for the SatchVai band, whose tour kicks off in June

Black Sabbath will reunite for one final show, with all-star support acts
By Elizabeth Swann published
Dubbed Back to the Beginning, the all-star event will take place on July 5 at Villa Park, Birmingham

Paul McCartney said necessity made him and John Lennon learn to be ambidextrous guitar players
By Elizabeth Swann published
McCartney also revealed how he came to understand the bass guitar's transformational power while recording the Beatles' "Michelle"

“That's the easiest part, the solos." Why Angus Young thinks rhythm guitar is harder to play than lead
By Jas Obrecht published
The guitarist shared with us his favorite solos, but said “I never look at them as a solo thing. It’s our band. We all play together”

Bob Daisley credits Randy Rhoads' faulty equipment for inspiring Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train"
By Elizabeth Swann published
The bassist and lyricist said he wrote the 1980 song about world events and the looming threat of another world war

Jeff Beck on his microtonal guitar approach and how he set up his Fender Stratocaster for precision pitch bending
By Lisa Sharken published
The late guitarist shared insights into his influences and techniques in an interviewer for our May 1999 issue

Martin celebrates its 3 millionth serialized instrument and announces new models
By Elizabeth Swann published
The diamond-encrusted masterpiece is a tribute to the company's 192-year history and the countless employees who have served it

Derek Trucks explains why the Gibson SG is the best guitar for him
By Elizabeth Swann last updated
The Tedeschi Trucks guitarist says his main SG is one gifted to him by Duane Allman's daughter

Joe Satriani and Steve Vai are writing new music and will tour as the SatchVai Band
By Elizabeth Swann published
The news comes at the end of a busy year of touring for the two guitar virtuosos
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