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
![The Pursuit of Happiness (Moe Berg, Chris Abbott, Dave Gilby, Leslie Stanwick, Johnny Sinclair) pose for a portrait at the Fine Line in Minneapolis, Minnesota circa 1989.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fqku7hHk2v2anXw6iZccqh-320-80.jpg)
"Your solos are terrible!" How Todd Rundgren's harsh advice helped The Pursuit of Happiness’ She's So Young become a power-pop smash
By Joe Bosso published
Moe Berg looks back to the birth of The Pursuit of Happiness’ 1988 hit song
![Dave Alvin Performs at Pappy & Harriet's on July 01, 2022 in Pioneertown, California.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fCrmBdc3uRBuf3whuWR7n4-320-80.jpg)
“I couldn’t even touch a guitar string because the pain was so bad… I had to re-establish the connection between my brain and my fingertips.” The Blasters' Dave Alvin on the highspots and the horrors of his career in five songs
By Joe Bosso published
As he returns to the road after a fight with cancer, Dave Alvin reflects on the tracks that defined his time with The Blasters
![Alex Skolnick with ESP Guitar](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/53jbCWrgMRaHD9P5oHu6hV-320-80.jpg)
"Everybody was going crazy about Yngwie Malmsteen. Joe Satriani told me, ‘Don’t get too into him...'" Alex Skolnick's Top Five Tips to becoming a better guitarist
By Joe Bosso published
Testament's Alex Skolnick on why you should be honest with yourself, never listen to negativity and focus on creating your own identity as a guitar player
![Nita Strauss](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SEwJPh7PxfiWEnsHRDWBMj-320-80.jpg)
“I Write Very Emotional Music, and Most of the Time It’s Pretty Angry”: Nita Strauss Drops Her Unapologetically Shred Sophomore Album, ‘The Call of the Void’
By Joe Bosso published
The reigning queen of shred metal riffs on stress, solos and the importance of heeding Yngwie
![Ally Venable](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pM9xXAexPheoBxnAW7cv4U-320-80.jpg)
“I Want to Be an Inspiration to Young Girls”: Blues Phenom Ally Venable Steps up to the Big Leagues With New Album, ‘Real Gone’
By Joe Bosso published
“If I can be a role model to girls and get them to pick up the guitar, then I’ll feel like I made a real impact,” says the Les Paul-toting Texan
![Eddie 9V](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c8g5Y4uquCDFGB8CR2soA4-320-80.jpg)
“If You Think You’re Going to Get Better by Watching 30-Second Instagram Clips of Guitarists Playing as Fast as They Can, Think Again”: Eddie 9V Shares the Advice That Made Him Blues-Rock’s New Guitar Star
By Joe Bosso published
From breathing to talking, fast-rising blues powerhouse Brooke Mason reveals five nuggets of wisdom
![Alice Cooper and Nita Strauss live in Birmingham, U.K. in 2022](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z86N9SnSZymcULFNscyXbL-320-80.jpg)
“Wow… Bob Ezrin Just Told Me I Don’t Know How to Play Rock Guitar”: Nita Strauss Recalls How the Straight-Talking Producer Inspired the Hard Work Needed to Earn a Gig With Alice Cooper
By Joe Bosso published
“I need to figure out what he means – a ‘rock guitar player,’” said the reigning queen of shred metal (before taking her first guitar lesson!)
![Holiday plays his custom semi-hollow Kauer Super Chief double-neck 12-/ six-string, at the Fillmore in Detroit, October 27, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Zcg4sAwH5NRRVf3KoWGuLW-320-80.jpg)
“I’m Not Looking to Overplay to Boost My Ego; I Want Innocence and Discovery”: Scott Holiday Reveals the Surprising Inspirations and Killer Guitar Gear Behind Rival Sons’ Latest Album, ‘Darkfighter’
By Joe Bosso published
Back in the spotlight following a four-year absence, Rival Sons’ surrealistic, Zep-flavored mini-epic ‘Darkfighter’ will be followed up in October by ‘Lightbringer’
![GRACE POTTER](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qGKz58P2DUyE54VGgfRZxj-320-80.jpg)
“There’s Nothing Better Than Writing a Cool Riff. But These Songs Were Crying out for Something Different”: Grace Potter Talks Charismatic New Album, ‘Mother Road’
By Joe Bosso published
The maestro reveals what she learned from playing on nylon strings – and why a Flying V is still the best rock and roll guitar
![Jake Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tbnFrNjGrGvUPb7mG2ozrF-320-80.jpg)
“Led Zeppelin? Not Something We Grew up Listening to”: Jake Kiszka Talks Hot Gear, Vintage Tone, and What Everyone Gets Wrong About His 1970s Hard-Rock Renaissance
By Joe Bosso published
“To be considered a guitar hero for my generation is a lifetime achievement,” says the Greta Van Fleet guitarist
![Nili Brosh](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TeaqMc5dqNryZJYpa7shp4-320-80.jpg)
“The Reality Is, the Most Expensive Guitar in the World Isn’t Going to Improve Your Playing”: Nili Brosh’s Top Tips for Guitarists
By Joe Bosso published
The versatile virtuoso has performed with the likes of Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert and Jennifer Batten, and has some choice bits of wisdom to share with players
![American musician Tommy James of the band Tommy James and the Shondells playing a Fender Jaguar in the Allegro Sound recording studio in New York City, circa 1970.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SnNUrWPmx5HHcHgnFFXS3K-320-80.jpg)
“We Played the Song on ‘Ed Sullivan,’ and the Next Day It Hit Number One”: Tommy James Reveals the Magic Combination Behind the Shondells’ Timeless Psychedelic Hit “Crimson and Clover”
By Joe Bosso published
Later covered by Joan Jett, Cher and Prince, the pop icon’s 1968 smash was recorded using a Fender Jazzmaster through an Ampeg Gemini amp
![Randy Bachman performs at the Mod Club in Toronto with Bigsby vibrato-equipped Gibson Les Paul Standard](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WEtwNMbsza7C4umTitZqjd-320-80.jpg)
“The Audience Was Going Nuts. They Could Feel the Electricity Happening”: Randy Bachman Reveals How a Broken Guitar String Led to the Guess Who’s 1970 Smash “American Woman”
By Joe Bosso published
Decades on, this accidental hit song remains a benchmark of guitar tone and continues to inspire
![Sadler Vaden of Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit performs during 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at Fair Grounds Race Course on April 30, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3SxubUzJ5rzETzQUwuKsDG-320-80.jpg)
“Put the Guitar Down”: Sadler Vaden’s Top Five Tips for Guitarists
By Joe Bosso published
On his solo recordings or with Jason Isbell, Sadler Vaden lives by these pointers
![Musician Dave Alvin, founding member of The Blasters, performs onstage during the Wild Honey Foundation's benefit for Autism Think Tank at Alex Theatre on February 29, 2020 in Glendale, California.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Syt2K46mYGTqd3bdSMzuJE-320-80.jpg)
“Dwight Yoakam Said, ‘F**k Country Radio!’ I Was Like, ‘No, No, No, Not With My Song’”: Dave Alvin Opens up About His Ode to Hank Williams, “Long White Cadillac”
By Joe Bosso published
“It did really well, and it got me out of debt,” says the songsmith
![Billy Dawson and 'Warrior Life' album artwork](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u5oonFKMsp7e5SeTD7jxr-320-80.jpg)
“The Album Is My Way of Honoring the Men and Women Who Think Nothing of Putting Their Lives on the Line to Protect Our Freedoms”: Billy Dawson Honors Members of the U.S. Military With ‘Warrior Life’
By Joe Bosso published
The Nashville maestro makes a musical tribute that supports soldiers and service dogs, with help from Billy Sheehan and others
![Angela Petrilli](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zEnMarVG6CZH8oWRro6CpB-320-80.jpg)
“I Think Tone Is in the Hands – From the Hand to the Heart”: Angela Petrilli Talks Guitar Tone and Recording at the Fabled Sunset Sound Studios
By Joe Bosso published
“I try to keep it as clean and direct as possible,” says the guitarist as she emerges from grief with a new band, a new EP and an inspired outlook
![Steve Morse](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zgNWnmn5pPjKxkpVyNuZED-320-80.jpg)
Master Guitarist Steve Morse’s Top Five Tips on How to Improve Your Playing
By Joe Bosso published
Feeling stuck in rut? Steve Morse has five ways to get you back in action and playing better than ever
![Hector Tellez Jr.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SZSfFgn7RfgD4zBodL3ErP-320-80.jpg)
Peter Buck and Krist Novoselic Pick Their Gigs Carefully, but Hector Tellez Jr. Got Both Rock and Roll Hall of Famers
By Joe Bosso published
The Cuban blues hound reveals how the R.E.M. and Nirvana legends helped record his dynamite debut album, ‘The Great Unknown’
![U2 'War' album artwork](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qp2vCQUqRWJyE7DcpT9MzN-320-80.jpg)
“’Sunday Bloody Sunday’ Was an Absolutely Pivotal Song for Us”: Three Albums Into Their Career, U2 Found Their Triumphant Sound and Activist Voice on ‘War’
By Joe Bosso published
Forty years on, The Edge and producer Steve Lillywhite discuss the album on which the group built its legacy
![U2 'Songs of Surrender' album artwork](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bybTARa7gPUK8AratQMZ3J-320-80.jpg)
“There Were No Rules With This Project”: The Edge Reveals the Secrets Behind U2’s New Album, 'Songs of Surrender' – a Whopping Collection of “Reimagined” Songs From Their Back Catalog
By Joe Bosso published
When it came to remaking 40 classic U2 tracks, The Edge was guided by his heart and one grand idea: “to make intimacy the new version of punk rock”
!["Captain" Kirk Douglas with his Gibson Signature SG in Ebony](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mKNghYQpf9HsLEyKZGesgX-320-80.jpg)
“Captain” Kirk Douglas’s Top Five Tips for Guitarists
By Joe Bosso published
These habits have helped the Gibson signature artist to stay on course with the Roots and his 'Tonight Show' gig
![The Guess Who circa 1970. (from left) Randy Bachman, Burton Cummings, Jim Kale and Garry Peterson](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7mCoM6GLHcHCNRcv9BKWnN-320-80.jpg)
“On Paper, the Song Shouldn’t Have Worked at All”: How Randy Bachman Wrote His Favorite Guess Who Track, “Undun”
By Joe Bosso published
The guitarist reveals the influence of Lenny Breau, Bob Dylan and the Zombies in the 1969 hit
![Guitar Player issue 734 featuring The Edge](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uF4wWjjX4pgxfvFT2HNbeA-320-80.jpg)
“For the First Time in a While, I’m Very Excited About Electric Guitar Again”: The Edge Talks Rekindling His Passion for Tone
By Joe Bosso, Christopher Scapelliti published
Don’t miss our June issue celebrating U2’s latest album, ‘Songs of Surrender,’ and the 40th anniversary of their milestone 'War' LP
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