Phil Weller
A freelance writer with a penchant for music that gets weird, Phil is a regular contributor to Prog, Guitar World, and Total Guitar magazines and is especially keen on shining a light on unknown artists. Outside of the journalism realm, you can find him writing angular riffs in progressive metal band, Prognosis, in which he slings an 8-string Strandberg Boden Original, churning that low string through a variety of tunings. He's also a published author and is currently penning his debut novel which chucks fantasy, mythology and humanity into a great big melting pot.
Latest articles by Phil Weller
![Chris Poland/Marty Friedman](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QTrwYaYQmL2WDCkFpDavaf-320-80.jpg)
Marty Friedman and Chris Poland admit Megadeth learned a lot from Metallica
By Phil Weller published
The former Megadeth guitarists believe any bitterness between Mustaine and his old band was blown out of proportion
![Rudy Sarzo, Ozzy Osbourne, and Randy Rhoads](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/T2h2jRLDSvj8eomwStaS7a-320-80.jpg)
Rudy Sarzo on declining the chance to join Ozzy’s band — and how Randy Rhoads' persistence paid off
By Phil Weller published
The bassist was recommended for the gig by his former Quiet Riot bandmate, Randy Rhoads, whose persistence saved Sarzo from his error
![Jeff Tweedy from Wilco performs on stage at the Loaded Festival on June 11, 2022 in Oslo, Norway.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cjQVdzDTmVTmRPu7eFKk2P-320-80.jpg)
Jeff Tweedy tells how his mother scored rare guitars for him at farmer's auctions
By Phil Weller published
In the same interview with Reverb, the Wilco guitarist revealed how a childhood lie forced him to learn to play guitar
![Zakk Wylde](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/apFE2Ebur7y29btA3KgZ7B-320-80.jpg)
Zakk Wylde says his job “wouldn’t be as much fun” without this must-have pedal in his setup
By Phil Weller published
Whether playing in Ozzy, Black Label Society, or Pantera, this pedal has been a mainstay in Wylde's gear arsenal
![Brian May and Rory Gallagher](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p6pufEN9DC7DLJBecbWa4C-320-80.jpg)
Brian May recalls meeting Rory Gallagher in the late ‘60s and how it changed his tone forever
By Phil Weller published
He’s also revealed how he had initially craved a second guitarist in Queen but moved away from the idea after learning how “to make people feel they’d heard an orchestra”
![Rudy Sarzo, Ozzy Osbourne, and Ronnie James Dio](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Hwew8PdrQbvS3UmJEj9SRN-320-80.jpg)
Rudy Sarzo on the differences between Ozzy and Dio — and the Dio rarities tour that never was
By Phil Weller last updated
He played with the two iconic Black Sabbath singers at very different points in his career. One stood well above the other
![Billy Gibbons](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3fXQVhzw7qhUBUL9HLFhp6-320-80.jpg)
Billy Gibbons explains the role Cream and Jimi Hendrix played in the creation of ZZ Top
By Phil Weller published
The fuzz blues icon was pushing a psychedelic sound when the opportunity to tour with Hendrix shaped the future of the Texan trio
![Joe Satriani and Jeff Beck](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CmG4smhNaWXZLuf7tuuZuY-320-80.jpg)
Joe Satriani reveals that a G3 tour with Jeff Beck nearly happened – only for him to pull out last minute and suggest Prince filled his spot
By Phil Weller published
Satriani has recruited some of the biggest-name players in the world on his virtuosic merry-go-round tours, but there’s one name he’s never been able to cross off his bucket list
![Eric Johnson and Stevie Ray Vaughan](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MCrwVjv5ZWVvLVEnWK8gin-320-80.jpg)
Eric Johnson on the one thing that took Stevie Ray Vaughan’s playing to the next level
By Phil Weller published
The guitarist has reflected on their brief time touring together and recognized the detail that made him so unique
![Nita Strauss](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mc6dNLVFVUnUvrv2uDF8DX-320-80.jpg)
Nita Strauss opens up about the support of her guitar hero, Steve Vai, and her hopes to inspire more female guitar players
By Phil Weller published
She also credits Jennifer Batten as a female guitarist who "checked the boxes for me" at a time when few women were playing guitar
![Dweezil Zappa](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4LRAnKyTCkTEQjoj83cQyG-320-80.jpg)
Dweezil Zappa laments the absence of riffs in modern music and what it means for future guitar players
By Phil Weller published
He’s mused on how songwriting has changed over the years, which has come at the expense of the riff and people’s exposure to the instrument
![Brian May and Jimi Hendrix](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nv4Dw5mA5kx8uhJdHZf7uF-320-80.jpg)
Brian May details his disastrous experiment with a Marshall stack — and how Jimi Hendrix then showed him up with it
By Phil Weller published
He tried out the amp in front of 7,000 people before Jimi Hendrix showed him how to make it sing
![Framus John Lennon Hootenanny Reissue](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6HHDFJytnxFvNTXcUhnWUJ-320-80.jpg)
John Lennon’s legendary Framus 12-string gets an official reissue just months after its landmark sale
By Phil Weller published
The guitar, used on a string of Beatles hits and missing for 50 years, has since become one of the most expensive guitars sold at auction
![(left) John 5 in concert at the Bare Pool Lounge at The Mirage Hotel & Casino, October 2, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (right) Steve Vai in an undated photo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pqxi5hfAdsAh8ui4UuExAY-320-80.jpg)
Can David Lee Roth pick guitarists? Just ask Steve Vai, Jason Becker and John 5
By Phil Weller published
Looking to go one better than Van Halen, the singer recruited the best guitar playing talents he could find
![Alex Skolnick](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/J9GT8CfC6ic9XbkBKEmtfR-320-80.jpg)
Alex Skolnick explains what everyone misses about Eddie Van Halen
By Phil Weller published
He’s pointed to two songs as evidence that there was so much more to Eddie’s skill set than shredding
![Johnny Marr with Sparkle Comet finish Jaguar](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DtYmYt9YzfSMCRChnNr5tA-320-80.jpg)
Johnny Marr trashes the satin-finished neck trend. Here's why you should go with gloss
By Phil Weller published
Satin necks have increased in popularity, offering a worn-in feel, but Marr believes all that players need is a gloss neck and a little elbow grease
![(NO TABLOIDS) Kurt Cobain of Nirvana during Nirvana in New York, New York.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SUFYjLovbT5JE8P5tSo6Bb-320-80.jpg)
Celebrated session player Tim Pierce explains how Kurt Cobain changed the guitar landscape – and boosted his career
By Phil Weller published
He says Nrivana’s success ushered in a “changing of the guard” in terms of what the world wanted from guitar players
![Ian Anderson](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jyDa7AuLS7CknQei3C5WUk-320-80.jpg)
Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson on the obscure jazz record which helped kickstart the British prog boom of the ‘70s
By Phil Weller published
The genre-mashing LP featured two would-be Cream members and unusual instrumentation, leaving a lasting impression on the prog rock icon
![In a screengrab from a Gibson TV video, Dweezil Zappa shows the Kramer guitar Eddie Van Halen gifted to him when he was 12](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bt6XMJME2pQZjAihsJsWUV-320-80.jpg)
Dweezil Zappa recalls when Eddie Van Halen came to his high school talent show and told him how to play "Runnin' With the Devil"
By Phil Weller published
The guitarist says Eddie's quickfire lesson is “burned into” his mind and reveals an important aspect of Van Halen's personality
![LEFT: American guitarist Steve Vai performs during a concert as part of the 'Inviolate Tour' at Auditorio Pabellon M on June 23, 2023 in Monterrey, Mexico. RIGHT: TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 17: Musician Marty Friedman performs on stage during his Japan Heritage Special Live concert at Haneda airport on July 17, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ecqQcsw7CBGrkFGtxrXGz4-320-80.jpg)
Steve Vai and Marty Friedman on John Sykes' influence and guitar skills
By Phil Weller published
Friedman has called the late guitarist a “game changer” when it came to solos, while Vai says he could never play guitar like him
![A Christie's art handler shows a Gibson Electric Guitar known as 'The Oxblood' during a photocall ahead of Christie's auction "Jeff Beck: The Guitar Collection", in London, on January 14, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7NuwzekHSXBAWbAVuBPK9T-320-80.jpg)
Jeff Beck’s guitar collection breaks records as it sells for more than $10.7 million
By Phil Weller published
His famed "Oxblood" Les Paul, featured on the cover of his 'Blow by Blow' album, is the record-breaking star of the show
![Jimmy Page performs onstage at the 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on November 03, 2023 in New York City.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UkGd2qwWEuJtosnyQdxmtC-320-80.jpg)
Jimmy Page and company recall Led Zeppelin's rise and first rehearsal in their new documentary
By Phil Weller published
The group had wrestled its way through a blues classic while discovering the extent of one another’s talents
![Guitarist Marty Friedman performs on stage at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville on April 14, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/39Zx8CJfqfzdV8Rp6LLZ8b-320-80.jpg)
Marty Friedman explains why he doesn't practice guitar at home — and why you shouldn't either
By Phil Weller published
The guitarist pushes live performance over practice, saying, "If you go out and do the real thing, you're going to get good at doing the real thing.”
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