Joe Bosso

Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar World, Guitar Player, MusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.

Latest articles by Joe Bosso

Zakk Wylde poses with guitars

Zakk Wylde explains his weirdly effective method for creative guitar playing

By Joe Bosso published

Of the guitarist’s five guitar tips, the central theme is to do what comes naturally

Dickey Betts (left) and Warren Haynes perform with the Allman Brothers Band at Lakewood Amphitheater in Atlanta, Georgia Circa 1993

Warren Haynes reveals how one of the best-loved songs in the Allman Brothers’ catalog was almost lost.

By Joe Bosso published

The guitarist says "this one poured right out of us in the studio. We were on a real roll.”

Rival Sons guitarist Scott Holiday holds a vintage acoustic guitar as he poses in a guitar shop

"Alternate tunings — it was like the sky opened up.” Rival Son’s Scott Holiday on how to get out of ruts

By Joe Bosso published

The guitarist also has valuable advice for anyone who takes their career as a musician seriously

Robby Krieger performing live onstage, December 30, 2006

Robby Krieger reveals how breaking the rules resulted in the Doors' breakthrough hit, "Light My Fire"

By Joe Bosso published

The guitarist says his chart-topping song came about because Jim Morrison said "We need more originals"

Matthew Caws of Nada Surf

Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws talks vintage Gibsons, Ric Ocasek’s gift and scoring their second hit after 28 years

By Joe Bosso published

He says the group's long-running success came from learning to fill a small room rather than half of a big room

Adrian Belew performs on stage during Guitar BCN 2016 at Sala Bikini on March 2, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain

"As much as I love gear and gadgets, there’s no substitute for what you can do with your fingers." Adrian Belew reveals six ways to change your guitar game right now, for free

By Joe Bosso published

The guitarist also explains how he made a new instrument out of a child’s toy and used it on his latest album

Nancy Wilson of Heart at The Oakland Coliseum in 1977 in Oakland, California.

Nancy Wilson tells how blazing guitars, powerhouse riffs and Yes combined to make Heart's monster hit "Barracuda"

By Joe Bosso published

The guitarist also recalls the controversial history behind the group's 1977 classic rocker

Eddie Martinez poses for a portrait in New York City, March 3, 1989.

“He said, ‘Come by the studio tomorrow and bring your guitar.’ All at once, my life changed.” How an unknown guitarist turned a lunch date into session work on the biggest hits of the 1980s

By Joe Bosso published

Eddie Martinez’s chance encounter made him a go-to session player for Mick Jagger, Steve Winwood, Robert Palmer and others

Guitarist Tim PIerce

Session guy Tim Pierce on his hits with Bon Jovi, Crowded House, Goo Goo Dolls and more

By Joe Bosso published

Tim Pierce on the Goo Goo Dolls' Iris and the Michael Jackson hit inspired by Motley Crue

Steve Stevens of the Billy Idol band performs during the second annual Rock for Recovery benefit concert at The Fonda Theatre on September 16, 2017 in Los Angeles.

"It's probably the greatest electric guitar solo of all time.” Steve Stevens talks Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and the 10 albums that changed his life

By Joe Bosso published

The guitarist behind Billy Idol's groundbreaking albums reveals the albums that shaped him as a musician

Steppenwolf pose circa 1969. (left) Rushton Moreve, Michael Monarch, Jerry Edmonton, John Kay and Goldy McJohn.

"The words just popped into my head!" Guitarist Mars Bonfire reveals the strange story behind “heavy metal thunder” and Steppenwolf's “Born to Be Wild”

By Joe Bosso published

Mars Bonfire says his song was rejected by numerous publishers before Steppenwolf turned it into a hit rock and roll anthem

Davey Johnstone (left) and Elton John perform onstage circa 1974.

Davey Johnstone explains his greatest guitar moments from Elton John’s ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’

By Joe Bosso last updated

Johnstone tells the story behind the album's key guitar tracks, including "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"

Vinnie Moore performs with the hard-rock group UFO on the Main Stage at Download Festival, June 15, 2013.

Kill your metronome. Vinnie Moore tells how his method of keeping time helps you find the groove and not sound mechanical

By Joe Bosso published

Moore also shares four other tips to help you play better solos, learn more chords and develop a signature style

Jake Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet performs at a sold out show at the Fillmore Detroit on May 25, 2018.

Jake Kiszka pulls his car off the road to listen every time this song comes on the radio

By Joe Bosso last updated

"Also, any early song by Fleetwood Mac," says the Greta Van Fleet guitarist, who reveals his biggest challenge, favorite guitarist and most useless gear purchase

The Beatles pose for a portrait in the studio in circa 1965.

“Why don’t you just play it the same way each time?” Paul McCartney asked Brian Ray why he performed a Beatles song like this. Here's what he said

By Joe Bosso last updated

The Paul McCartney guitarist shares his hard-won advice on how to perform any Beatles song perfectly

Peter Stroud (left) and Sheryl Crow perform onstage

Sheryl Crow guitarist Peter Stroud on why guitarists shouldn’t start on modelers, and how to complement a singer with your playing

By Joe Bosso published

How did Stroud become a right-hand man for Sheryl Crow, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, and many others? It took lots of talent – and these five rules...

Kenny Greenberg

Go-to guitarist for everyone from Willie Nelson to Taylor Swift, Kenny Greenberg shares his top 5 tips for session success

By Joe Bosso published

The in-demand session guitarist shares the advice that’s landed him spots with music royalty

John 5 performs onstage with Mötley Crüe at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on November 14, 2023

How John 5 battled through personal tragedy and mental health struggles to become a six-string sidekick for David Lee Roth, Lita Ford, and Rob Zombie, and Mick Mars' replacement in Mötley Crüe

By Joe Bosso published

John 5 can now be found shredding in stadiums around the world, but, as he tells GP, it took incredible perseverance, and an unbreakable passion for his instrument, to climb that mountain

John Osborne

How John Osborne overcame tinnitus and mental health difficulties to make a career-defining album with his brother TJ

By Joe Bosso published

The Brothers Osborne's self-titled LP was molded by trying times, but nonetheless finds the duo coming back stronger than ever, with some of John Osborne's tastiest playing to date

Reeves Gabrels

David Bowie and the Cure guitarist Reeves Gabrels on the joys of taking your tone into uncharted waters

By Joe Bosso published

Countless guitarists have gone on record badmouthing effects, citing them as – among other things – a crutch. For his part, alt-rock guitar legend Reeves Gabrels is having none of it

Glenn Tillbrook performs onstage with Squeeze at the Hammersmith Odeon in London in 1979

How Amos Garrett and switching away from a Strat helped Glenn Tilbrook write Squeeze’s Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)

By Joe Bosso published

Though most of Squeeze’s breakthrough US hit came easy for Tilbrook, its solo took the guitarist out of his usual comfort zone

John 5 performs onstage

John 5's top tips for beginner, and veteran, guitarists

By Joe Bosso published

A master of many styles who's played with Lynyrd Skynyrd, David Lee Roth, Rick Springfield, and, currently, Mötley Crüe, John 5 has pointers for players that go far beyond how to practice

Peter Frampton performs onstage

Peter Frampton reveals the stories behind five of his classic tracks

By Joe Bosso published

Well over 50 years into his career, the Les Paul-wielding guitar hero has covered amazing stylistic ground, and worked with the best of the best. Learn how he crafted some of his most timeless tunes

Gary Clark Jr. plays his first guitar, a ’90s Ibanez Blazer

Gary Clark Jr. never asked to be a guitar savior

By Joe Bosso published

Though he sometimes considers his own solos to be “gross,” the often-pigeonholed player took inspiration from the original G3 trio – alongside a potent cocktail of hip-hop, jazz, soul, R&B, and funk – on his stellar new album, JPEG Raw

Guthrie Govan performs onstage with the Aristocrats at the Assembly in Leamington Spa, United Kingdom on February 19, 2014

“There’s a riff that represents my twisted idea of how Aerosmith might sound in 5/4”: How Guthrie Govan channeled his inner Steve Reich, and Steve Cropper, on the Aristocrats' humorous, musically dazzling new album, Duck

By Joe Bosso published

Re-teaming with his fellow virtuosos for another roller coaster ride of an album, Govan was unafraid to explore yet more musical avenues and instruments, but in the end, it all always came back to his signature Charvel

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