Mark McStea

Mark McStea

Mark is a freelance writer with particular expertise in the fields of ‘70s glam, punk, rockabilly and classic ‘50s rock and roll. He sings and plays guitar in his own musical project, Star Studded Sham, which has been described as sounding like the hits of T. Rex and Slade as played by Johnny Thunders. He had several indie hits with his band, Private Sector and has worked with a host of UK punk luminaries. Mark also presents themed radio shows for Generating Steam Heat. He has just completed his first novel, The Bulletproof Truth, and is currently working on the sequel.

Latest articles by Mark McStea

Adrian Belew performs with 'David Bowie' at the Fresno Convention Center in Fresno, California on April 2, 1978.

“He Just Wanted Me to Go Wild on the Guitar”: Adrian Belew Reveals How David Bowie Helped Him Become a More Creative Player

By Mark McStea published

The guitarist recalls his “wild and unusual” approach to recording the final instalment of Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy, 'Lodger'

Robin Trower, formerly of Procol Harum, performs at Richards' Rock Club on April 22, 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Watch Robin Trower’s Spellbinding “Bridge of Sighs” BBC Studio Performance

By Mark McStea published

Video The British guitar legend performs a mesmerizing rendition of his signature track live in 1974

Video
Steve Vai

“This Album Is a Side of Vai That You’re Never Going to Hear Any Other Way”: Steve Vai Talks New Gash Record

By Mark McStea published

After sitting on a shelf for 30 years, Vai’s balls-out ode to the joys of riding is finally out. But the real surprise is the guy behind the mic

Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck during filming of the video "People Get Ready" in the mid 1980s

Jeff Beck’s 10 Greatest Collaborations

By Mark McStea published

From Jon Bon Jovi and Roger Waters to Ozzy Osbourne and Kate Bush, here are some deep cuts from the electric guitar master's extensive catalog of collabs

K.K. Downing (left) and Glenn Tipton perform at Rockford Speedway, Loves Park, Illinois, July 27, 1980.

“It Was Pretty Obvious It Was a Song That Was Going to Go a Long Way”: Glenn Tipton Explains How John Lennon’s Home Inspired Judas Priest’s 1980 Classic “Living After Midnight”

By Mark McStea published

“It was just born from nothing and worked immediately,” recalls the guitarist

The New Breed of Blues logo

21 Top New Blues Guitarists As Chosen By You

By Mark McStea, Jimmy Leslie, Joe Bosso, Matt Thayer published

Meet the young guitarists who are shaping the blues for a new generation of players

Marcus King

“Everything About This Record Captured the Essence of Who I Am”: Marcus King Takes the Brakes off for New Album, ‘Young Blood’

By Mark McStea published

Co-written with the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, this heartfelt rock and roll record is the guitar sensation’s most personal yet

Faherty with his Blue Teisco ET-440 Spectrum and Stubbs with his new Waterslide Guitars custom Telecaster. This was Faherty’s first Teisco, bought for the Hound Dog Taylor tribute album. “We did a lot of trial and error to find the guitar that got close to Hound Dog Taylor’s tone,” he says. He eventually sold it to buy a 1960s Kingston S4T and 1960s Kawai SD40.

“We Try to Always Make a Record That We Would Want to Listen to”: GA-20 Guitarists Matt Stubbs and Pat Faherty Show Us the Gear That Fuels Their Authentic Blues-Rock Tone

By Mark McStea published

Their stripped-down approach has propelled the “Lords of Lo-Fi” to the top of the blues charts

1983-Rock and roll musician/singer George Thorogood

George Thorogood’s Top Five Career-Defining Destroyers Tracks

By Mark McStea published

With more than five decades of road behind him, the Gibson ES-125TDC stalwart picks a handful of tunes that brought smiles to the miles

Marcus King

Marcus King’s Top Six Tips for Guitarists

By Mark McStea published

The electric-blues firebrand delivers a half-dozen pointers to help you become a singular player

Prince performs at the The 19th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in 2004

Watch Prince Rip One of the Greatest Guitar Solos in Music History During This All-Star Rendition Of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

By Art Thompson, Mark McStea published

Video Joined by Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood and Dhani Harrison, His Purple Highness blows the roof off the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Video
Stone Temple Pilots in 2001 (L-R): drummer Eric Kretz, guitarist Dean DeLeo, singer Scott Weiland and bassist Robert DeLeo

Watch Stone Temple Pilots Slay the Crowd With Their Alt-Rock Classic, “Interstate Love Song”

By Mark McStea, Rod Brakes published

Video This clip from 2001 captures the magic of an era-defining band during one of their best performances on film

Video
Lucem Paradox Custom

Watch Neo-Psychedelic Visionary Nick McCabe Demonstrate His Lucem Paradox Guitar

By Mark McStea, Guitar Player Staff published

Video The Verve and Black Submarine guitarist is a master of dreamy soundscapes

Video
Sean Lennon and Les Claypool visit the SiriusXM Studio on May 23, 2016 in New York City.

Watch the Claypool Lennon Delirium’s Deliriously Wonderful House of Blues Performance

By Mark McStea published

Video The quirky quartet puts on a dazzling display of supreme oddness

Video
Billy Duffy

“We’ve Never Done Anything That Hasn’t Been Totally Authentic”: Billy Duffy Talks Recording the Cult’s New Studio Album, ‘Under the Midnight Sun’

By Mark McStea last updated

After a six-year absence, the Cult are back with an LP that finds them returning to their mid-‘80s roots

Robert Smith

Revisiting the Cure’s Tripped Out “The Caterpillar” Music Video

By Mark McStea published

Video Robert Smith revels in exploring, expanding and demolishing the boundaries of what the Cure should sound like in this mid-‘80s classic

Video
XTC: L-R Colin Moulding, Dave Gregory, Andy Partridge and Terry Chambers

Here’s Why XTC Carried the Torch of Psychedelic Rock in the ‘80s

By Mark McStea published

Guitarists Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory turned the new wave rule book on its head

The Stone Roses pictured in 1989 when they released their self-titled debut album

Watch the Stone Roses’ Momentous “I Wanna Be Adored” Comeback Performance

By Rod Brakes, Mark McStea published

Video Reunited, the band are greeted on stage with rapturous applause

Video
Stu Mackenzie of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, 2022

Watch King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s Kaleidoscopic “Head On/Pill” Live Performance

By Mark McStea published

Video For lovers of the unconventional and unpredictable, this Australian band’s music is endlessly rewarding

Video
Steve Vai performs live on stage during a concert at the Columbia Theater on July 8, 2022 in Berlin, Germany

Steve Vai Names His Top Five Career-Defining Tracks

By Mark McStea published

From freight trains to wild horses, Vai reveals the influences behind some of his most significant cuts

Scrote (left), Todd Rundgren (center) and Adrian Belew (right) perform onstage during the 'Celebrating Bowie Tour' at Saban Theatre on October 07, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California

“I Remember Hearing ‘Heroes’ for the First Time… 18 Months Later, I Was Playing It Live With David”: Adrian Belew, Todd Rundgren and Scrote Salute David Bowie

By Mark McStea published

The guitarists discuss their epic ‘Celebrating David Bowie’ show

The Flaming Lips Tiny Desk performance

This Surreal Flaming Lips Performance Is One of the Most Tripped-Out Gigs on the Internet

By Mark McStea published

Video The neo-psychedelia stalwarts have remained unwaveringly true to their original artistic vision

Video
Steve Clark (left) and Phil Collen perform with Def Leppard in 1983.

“It Took Us to a Whole Other Level in the States”: Phil Collen Reveals the Short, Sweet Creation of Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me”

By Mark McStea published

Find out what went on in the studio as the British band crafted their 1987 hit

Vince Gill on stage at New York City’s Beacon Theatre, May 15, 1991

Vince Gill Picks Five Landmark Tracks From His Celebrated Career

By Mark McStea published

With 22 Grammys, 20 studio albums and more than 40 charting singles under his belt, the country music legend says, “I’ve always wanted to be moved by music rather than impressed by it”

Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi

"Your Recorded Music Is Your Legacy": Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Reveal the Guitar Secrets Behind ‘I Am the Moon’

By Mark McStea published

Their expansive quadruple album project explodes with joy, power and positivity

1 2 3 4 Archives