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

Pete Thorn shares the tip that convinced Joe Satriani he was the right guitarist for the SatchVai Band
By Joe Bosso published
The L.A. session ace told us the five rules he thinks every player should follow for a successful career

For Pete Thorn, making stars’ dreams come true is the secret to success
By Joe Bosso published
As the veteran sideman to countless artists, Thorn says, “You have to be Clark Kent most of the time, but onstage you get to be Superman for short periods”

Tom Morello on building the perfect shredder — his 13-year-old son, Roman
By Joe Bosso published
The father-and-son combo have been performing onstage together. Says Dad, "Now he’s just another guy in the band who I can count on."

How Jeff “Skunk” Baxter ruled the 1970s session scene with Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers
By Joe Bosso published
The guitar ace brought his Burns Bison and a six-pack of beer when he cut one of his most legendary tracks

11-year-old shredder blows away the competition with medley of AC/DC, Van Halen and Queen songs
By Joe Bosso published
The young guitarist has been playing since he was seven and learned with the help of his grandfather

Mike Campbell shares the struggles and joys of his years as Tom Petty’s guitar partner
By Joe Bosso published
'Heartbreaker' comes out March 18 from Hachette Book Group

He was demonstrating four-track recording when he wrote a 3 million-selling hit song
By Joe Bosso published
Hooters guitarist Eric Bazilian imagined “One of Us” as a song for the Crash Test Dummies. Instead it became Joan Osborne's 1995 triple-Platinum breakthrough

Mike Campbell says it's the original Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers sound, and the guitar he can't live without
By Joe Bosso published
Campbell played the Fender Broadcaster on "American Girl" but retired it from the road when a shipping incident convinced him touring life was too risky for the rare guitar

Nita Strauss recalls her worst gig of all time — and the good that came from it
By Joe Bosso last updated
The guitarist also told us how her first show with Alice Cooper was nothing but a dream

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"

Joe Bonamassa says he's played over 3,500 shows. This was his worst
By Joe Bosso last updated
"I think I got a Diet Coke out of it," the guitarist says. "And that was it."

Oz Noy explains the one thing every guitar player needs to unlock fretboard knowledge
By Joe Bosso published
The guitarist also tells why it's important to tune your guitar by ear, along with five other top tips

How Andy Summers used chord fragments and an Echoplex to change the sound of rock guitar
By Michael Molenda, Joe Bosso published
The former Police guitarist told us how the group's evolution in the midst of punk led him to his breakthrough achievement as a singular guitar stylist

Bumblefoot says his top guitar tips will help you break out of ruts and engage with the music
By Joe Bosso published
The shred virtuoso also talks about working with Steve Vai and Brian May for his new album, 'Bumblefoot....Returns!'

Kiki Wong shares the five guitar tips behind her Smashing Pumpkins success
By Joe Bosso published
The social media influencer reveals how her attitude and work ethic eased the struggles in the worst of times

“The best Van Halen album — period.” Lzzy Hale tells us the 10 records that changed her life
By Joe Bosso published
“It’s one of the magical things about music,” she says. “If it gets inside you, it’s yours, and nothing can take that away”

How Andy Summers made a massive Police hit using a hand-wrenching guitar figure and a Telecaster with a mysterious history
By Christopher Scapelliti published
The guitarist says “It’s a famous riff, and I have to admit, it’s hard to play. You have to be a real guitarist to do it well."

Eric Gales shares his secret for developing your own guitar style
By Joe Bosso last updated
The guitarist's five tips focus on inspiration and perseverance to keep guitar playing fun, even when we get down

Rick Derringer recalls a young Eddie Van Halen and performing with Johnny Winter
By Joe Bosso last updated
Since his first hit with "Hang on Sloopy" in 1965, the guitarist has been among the most active players in rock — on stage, in the studio and behind the board

Samantha Fish talks Guns N' Roses, B.B. King and the 10 albums that changed her life
By Joe Bosso published
The blues guitarist reveals the albums that shaped her as a musician

John Rzeznik reveals how his odd alternate tuning resulted in a song that's reached 2 billion streams
By Mark McStea published
The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” has become one of the most played songs in the world

His song about a killer and a haunted lake launched an urban legend. Thirty years later, some fans still think "Possum Kingdom" is true
By Joe Bosso published
The Toadies' hit gripped listeners, whose elaborate theories about the song involved tales of serial killers and the occult

“Bobby came in and he went, ‘Da-da-da-da-da-da-da DUH-daaa!’ I said, ‘That’s the only thing you think I should do?’” George Benson tells how one small change turned the song “Breezin’” into an instrumental guitar sensation
By Christopher Scapelliti last updated
The guitarist also shares how he got his Gibson Johnny Smith guitar for a steal
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