Gary Graff
Gary Graff is an award-winning Detroit-based music journalist and author who writes for a variety of print, online and broadcast outlets. He has written and collaborated on books about Alice Cooper, Neil Young, Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen and Rock 'n' Roll Myths. He's also the founding editor of the award-winning MusicHound Essential Album Guide series and of the new 501 Essential Albums series. Graff is also a co-founder and co-producer of the annual Detroit Music Awards.
Latest articles by Gary Graff
Nick Lowe says he’s just a strummer — but these two classic-rock hits launched made him a songwriter's songwriter
By Gary Graff published
Lowe tells the story behind "Cruel to Be Kind" and four other tracks from his 50-year career
Mark Knopfler on why he’s ditched the pick in favor of fingerpicking
By Gary Graff published
Read one of our top 20 stories of 2024: The former Dire Straits guitarist told us why he moved away from the plectrum but still regards the pick as “a superior thing”
Steve Hunter tells how he spontaneously tracked the guitar solo for Aerosmith's "Train Kept a Rollin' "
By Gary Graff published
How the veteran session guitarist helped launch Aerosmith’s career
Andy Summers reveals his role in the making of the Police hit “Every Breath You Take”
By Gary Graff published
The former Police guitarist says his riff should have earned him a writing credit
Watch David Gilmour perform on a dulcimer as he hints at more to come in 2025
By Phil Weller published
The prog legend delivered his Christmas message alongside a special live version of a new standout track
Randy Bachman tells us how an inside joke gave him a hit even bigger than "Takin' Care of Business"
By Gary Graff published
Not many artists can boast that their song won an award from the Stuttering Foundation of America
Tommy Shaw tells us the twisted history of a classic Styx hit
By Gary Graff published
The Styx guitarist says “Renegade” is appropriately titled, given its criminal theme and stolen musical phrase
Thrown away as a B-side, this 1974 classic-rock gem became a number-one hit
By Gary Graff last updated
"Black Water" would be the first of two chart-toppers the Doobie Brothers released
The world’s most famous charity rock song lost its guitar parts in 1984. They’re finally back for 2024
By Gary Graff published
“Do They Know It’s Christmas” co-writer Midge Ure says he struggled to give guitar more prominence on the song
Who is Chris Herin and why are Peter Frampton, Alex Lifeson and Martin Barre on his new album?
By Gary Graff published
The Tiles guitarist calls himself “one of the luckiest guys” to have such famous six-string connections
Marshall Crenshaw almost let his hit single pass him by. His label had other ideas
By Gary Graff published
The guitarist tells the story behind “Someday, Someway” and other treasures from his career
Gary Rossington's 1961 Gibson SG returns to the stage for the first time in years
By Gary Graff published
The southern rocker's gear will soon be used onstage by "some very big acts"
No longer performing, Brad Delson powers Linkin Park’s guitar riffs in the studio. The result? The #1 rock album in the world
By Gary Graff published
The group's revised lineup has proved its mettle and will launch an extensive 2025 road trek starting January 31
Justin Hayward on “Nights in White Satin” and the 12-string he got from Lonnie Donegan
By Gary Graff published
The guitarist expounds on the virtues of guitar, saying, "It’s the perfect instrument to play and write with. You don’t need anything else"
The new MC5 album took more than 50 years to arrive. Guitarist Wayne Kramer and his bandmates have passed on, but the celebration is just beginning
By Gary Graff published
Kramer was assisted by Vernon Reid, Tom Morello and Slash in making the group's final album
Warren Haynes explains the lucky break behind his take on U2's "One"
By Gary Graff published
The guitarist has included the cover in his set from time to time, making it a fan favorite
Coco Montoya explains how John Mayall turned him from a bartender into his Bluesbreaker guitarslinger
By Gary Graff published
The guitarist, who spent 10 years in Mayall's company, learned his stylings from Albert Collins
Rich Williams recalls how his choice of guitar picks ruined a day’s worth of playing on the biggest hit Kansas ever had
By Gary Graff published
The problem was made worse by the fact that he'd quadruple-tracked his guitars
Diego Garcia’s ship is home base for his new album, as well as his musical life as the seafaring Spanish guitarist Twanguero.
By Gary Graff published
Garcia Diego's unique approach begins with his music, an unusual and energetic mix of traditional Spanish acoustic styles and rock
Thurston Moore was gifted a vintage axe when Sonic Youth's gear was stolen. He had no idea how rare it was
By Gary Graff published
Patti Smith gave Moore the guitar after suffering a similar theft of gear and personal items years before
As Trans-Siberian Orchestra revs up again, Al Pitrelli reflects on how it all began
By Gary Graff published
The guitarist also shared the stories behind his five favorite TSO tracks
How I Prevail and All Time Low teamed up to create their monster hit “Hate This Song”
By Gary Graff published
All Time Low guitarist Alex Gaskarth reveals the Police and U2 roots of a riff you can't get out of your head
It took guitarist Randy Bachman seven years to write "Takin' Care of Business." It finally came together at one nearly disastrous show
By Gary Graff last updated
The guitarist reveals that the Bachman-Turner Overdrive hit was actually inspired by the Beatles' "Paperback Writer" and written for the Guess Who
People say, ‘Do you think you'll be able to go out for 10 days'?" Peter Frampton gives health update as he gets his Rock Hall induction
By Gary Graff published
The guitarist, who uses a cane and sits while performing, says he's determined to "play for as long as I'm able"
“The guitar allows me to switch my brain off from trying to understand the music... The mistakes make it interesting.” Crowded House's Neil Finn on his trial-and-error approach to playing and songwriting
By Gary Graff published
Four decades in with Crowded House’s ever-changing lineup, Finn remains committed to exploring possibilities
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