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
![Brian Robertson (left) and Scott Gorham perform with Thin Lizzy at the Palladium, New York City, October 22, 1977.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dJZUj6JM44NcgeBxTD9Cg3-320-80.jpg)
Scott Gorham on the making of 'Jailbreak,' twin harmonies, and friendship with Phil Lynott
By Phil Weller published
After two failed albums, Vertigo Records was ready to drop the band. Their twin-guitar harmonies saved the day
![Daniel Knighton/Getty Images / Brian Cooke/Redferns](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Gaky3PaUdSDHcjV5reFphg-320-80.jpg)
Joe Bonamassa on the honor and pressures of his upcoming Rory Gallagher tribute shows in Ireland
By Phil Weller published
The modern-day blues icon will celebrate Gallagher’s legacy across three shows in his hometown next year
![Paul McCartney](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RKU5FpUjqUWR4emLNUpsE-320-80.jpg)
“Here to make its first stage appearance in 50 years is my original bass.” Paul McCartney’s iconic Höfner bass returns to the stage after being lost for over 50 years as he brings the Got Back tour to a star-studded close
By Phil Weller published
Ringo Starr and Ronnie Wood helped cap the curtain-closing show. But the reappearance of the bass was the biggest surprise of all
![Derek Trucks](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XQrYgvPWsFFVnD8ci92zi6-320-80.jpg)
Derek Trucks reveals how fretboard visualization helped him find harmonic possibilities all over the fretboard
By Phil Weller published
The guitarist also explains why open E remains his favorite tuning and how it pairs so well with standard tuning
![Steve Hunter and Aerosmith](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hzcRuY9fK6pzbeXNUdgUhm-320-80.jpg)
Steve Hunter tells how he spontaneously tracked the guitar solo for Aerosmith's "Train Kept a Rollin' "
By Gary Graff published
How the veteran session guitarist helped launch Aerosmith’s career
![Danelectro Spring King Junior](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZEwhdSUzyDd6rUP4d7EtVD-320-80.jpg)
Danelectro brings back its famed Spring King – a spring reverb pedal you can kick
By Phil Weller published
Downsized but tonally faithful to the original, the Spring King boasts a real spring reverb
![(left) Ozzy Osbourne performs at the Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, Chicago, Illinois, July 12, 1989. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)(right) Chris Impellitteri performs at the 6th Annual Metal Hall Of Fame Charity Gala at The Canyon, in Agoura Hills, California, January 26, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gR4DY3k5tdhueEZuxSrPcF-320-80.jpg)
Chris Impellitteri reveals his 1988 invitation to become Ozzy's guitarist
By Phil Weller published
When Jake E. Lee left the band, Impellitteri was at the height of his powers as a virtuoso speed-metal guitarist
![David Gilmour performs with his Black Strat at the Royal Albert Hall.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SvCpnqy8TavX89DcJqomhK-320-80.jpg)
Watch David Gilmour perform on a dulcimer as he hints at more to come in 2025
By Phil Weller published
The prog legend delivered his Christmas message alongside a special live version of a new standout track
![Joe Bonamassa and Rory Gallagher](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NwjjodcQRLdAbVkr5bnKx4-320-80.jpg)
Joe Bonamassa plays Rory Gallagher's "other" Strat. But his excitement isn't about the guitar
By Phil Weller published
The blues guitarist was given a chance to play a pair of the Irish rocker's prized Fenders ahead of their auction
![Olivia Rodrigo performs onstage for the kick off of GUTS World Tour at Acrisure Arena on February 23, 2024 in Palm Springs, California.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/emqcViynBBQjGtxocUhiBY-320-80.jpg)
Why 2024 was the year pop music fell in love with guitar solos again
By Phil Weller published
The artistic decisions of the world’s top pop stars may turn the tide for guitar in music's future
![American Blues musicians Buddy Guy (left) and Derek Trucks play guitars as the perform onstage at the former's nightclub, Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago, Illinois, January 25, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3yFdFAy5G6XWNoUnDZ3GNP-320-80.jpg)
Derek Trucks says playing with Buddy Guy taught him the secret power of turning down your amp
By Phil Weller published
Trucks joins Eric Clapton, Quinn Sullivan and Christone "Kingfish" Ingram in praising Guy's influence
![Mike Rutherford and Eddie Van Halen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rGmyb79Uy4Qkt7uW6B5oCn-320-80.jpg)
Mike Rutherford reveals his secret recording sessions with Eddie Van Halen
By Phil Weller published
The former Genesis guitarist says he found one element of working with Ed difficult
![Adrian Smith](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Tf6UyspGqseGETaNwjh4gB-320-80.jpg)
Adrian Smith reveals the two lucky breaks that resulted in a pair of Iron Maiden classics
By Phil Weller published
The tracks, from 1986’s 'Somewhere In Time,' came to him with the help of an oddball guitar and, even stranger, heavy sedation
![Portrait of American blues rock musician Joe Bonamassa photographed with a vintage 1952 Gibson Les Paul at John Henry's rehearsal space in London, on June 16, 2014.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vQghkRaXXB5VKWVp5JuTMc-320-80.jpg)
Joe Bonamassa and Jared James Nichols have found their favorite alternative to the humbucker
By Phil Weller published
Once the “underdog” pickup of the Les Paul universe, P90s are making a comeback among some of today's top players
![English musician, singer-songwriter, and producer George Harrison (1943 - 2001) performing on stage playing his 'Rocky' Sonic Blue Fender Stratocaster during his 'George Harrison and Ravi Shankar's 1974 North American tour' also known as the 'Dark Horse Tour' in North America, 1974.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/smy4cW6Afa4qSFrY24BiKP-320-80.jpg)
Jeff Lynne explains why a "campfire classic" proves George Harrison's slide playing was second to none
By Phil Weller published
The ELO frontman and producer shared his comments in a post to Harrison's Instagram page
![Warren Haynes of the American band Govt Mule performs live on stage during a concert at the Huxleys on November 3, 2017 in Berlin, Germany.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7QJXPXsnGJAuiqTxsss8aa-320-80.jpg)
Warren Haynes says it's the greatest overdrive pedal and tells why the Ibanez Tube Screamer can't beat it
By Phil Weller published
The green screamer was a key part of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s tone, but Haynes explains why the Klon does the job far better
![Orianthi performs onstage at The Canyon Club on October 18, 2024 in Agoura Hills, California.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BxGs7v5jk82UxHTjfQLMdJ-320-80.jpg)
Orianthi reveals how an invitation from Alexander Dumble shaped the tone of her signature Orange combo
By Phil Weller published
Her Oriverb took two years to dial in as she sought to replicate the tone of Dumble's debut build
![Jimi Hendrix performs at the Royal Albert Hall in London, February 18, 1969. David Redfern Premium Collection. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter onstage at The GRAMMY Museum, Los Angeles, December 8, 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FugFAkFPrRr5zhVCdDivmL-320-80.jpg)
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter recalls the questionable deal he made with Jimi Hendrix in the mid 1960s
By Phil Weller published
The guitar icon says the swap angered his bosses, but it started a friendship with a guitarist that he knew was destined for bigger things
![Joe Satriani](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CZQY9EsybpEjZ4C9HwkAmg-320-80.jpg)
Sammy Hagar says Joe Satriani was “not a perfect match” for the Best of All Words tour, but one factor set him apart
By Phil Weller published
The outspoken frontman says dozens of 12-year-olds can play like Eddie, but he wasn’t after pure mimicry
![Warren Haynes photographed before a live performance with Gov't Mule at Under The Bridge in London, on July 4, 2013. Haynes is best known as a long-time member of The Allman Brothers Band, as well as a founding member of Gov't Mule.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XgtMkZwqAMwFD5MiLmzQf3-320-80.jpg)
Warren Haynes explains the two things every guitarist should do to stop sounding like an amateur
By Phil Weller published
The blues powerhouse says he started out as a singer and that it paid dividends when he began to play guitar
![Guitarist Vernon Reid of the rock band Living Colour performs at The Fillmore on August 14, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gJ9GPcEyFHiuxWkDxX9mqU-320-80.jpg)
Vernon Reid on the one Hendrix song that doesn’t get the credit its due
By Phil Weller published
The Living Colour guitarist has praised a side of the virtuoso that many overlook
![Jake E. Lee and Red Dragon Cartel perform at club Webster Hall in New York City, December 2, 2014.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TBY9F8T75ireKWBt8d4fHN-320-80.jpg)
Jake E. Lee clarifies the events leading up to his shooting and gives a health update
By Phil Weller published
Lee explains the timeline and verbal altercation that led to his shooting in October
![Jimi Hendrix, 1969](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KmhkY4BdypZRTN9nuUX7xk-320-80.jpg)
Jimi Hendrix predicted the rock guitar act that would lead "mind-blowing" music into the future. He wasn't wrong
By Phil Weller published
Hendrix’s comments strike up an interesting debate about what makes an artist “mind-blowing”
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