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
“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
“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!)
“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’
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
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
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’
“’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
“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’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
“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
“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
“Saviors of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Måneskin Are Introducing American Ears to Their Infectious Brand of Glam-Rock Revivalism
By Joe Bosso published
“We’re young, but as musicians we understand what the Beatles did,” says bassist Victoria De Angelis
“Finding the Right Lineup Is the Single Most Important Thing in a Band”: Goose Guitarists Rick Mitarotonda and Peter Anspach Talk Band Chemistry as They Evolve From Underground Darlings to Major Venue Headliners
By Joe Bosso published
On ‘Dripfield,’ the jam-band breakouts let their muse lead them outside their comfort zone
"I Play Rock, I Play Soul, I Play Funk – That’s the Malina Moye Sound”: With ‘Dirty,’ the Strat-Wielding Lefty Leaves an Indelible Record of Her Singular Style
By Joe Bosso published
“People always tell you to pick a lane as an artist, but I was never comfortable with that,” says the pioneering guitarist
“Never Give up on Your Dream”: Steve Howe’s Top Five Tips for Guitarists
By Joe Bosso published
These are the habits that have made Steve Howe a stylistic and technical virtuoso
“It’s an Apocalyptic Vision of the World Crumbling Into Pieces”: David Crosby Reveals How “Wooden Ships” Came to Be
By Joe Bosso published
In his last ‘Guitar Player’ interview in November 2022, the late songsmith explained how he, Stephen Stills and Paul Kantner wrote this visionary classic
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!