Players “They were chasing success.” Michael Schenker brought UFO global fame. He had other plans As the guitarist releases his new album of UFO covers, he recalls the forces that led to his departure “Bobby came in and he went, ‘Da-da-da-da-da-da-da DUH-daaa!’ I said, ‘That’s the only thing you think I should do?’” George Benson tells how one small change turned the song “Breezin’” into an instrumental guitar sensation The guitarist also shares how he got his Gibson Johnny Smith guitar for a steal Guitarist Bill Kelliher on why Mastodon was never the same after 'Crack the Skye' The guitarist also details the unusual guitars behind the group's 2009 breakout album Latest Players Scott Henderson on trombone-emulating pedals, and balancing dense arrangements with blues progressions By Bill Milkowski published 1 July 24 Scott Henderson spent lockdown training his ears and building improv skills. As his new album, Karnevel!, shows, his jazz chops reached new heights, but his blues-rock roots remain as strong as ever Walter Trout is healthier and playing better than ever, but he’s still being dragged down by the world around him By Mark McStea published 27 June 24 On Broken, Trout – with some help from Dee Snider and a ’60s Coral electric sitar – tries to bring hope in a divided world through some of the most fiery licks of his career Blue Öyster Cult's Buck Dharma on the stories behind (Don’t Fear) The Reaper, and other BÖC classics By Gary Graff published 24 June 24 Less cowbell, more songs – the Blue Öyster Cult guitarist goes deep on the writing and recording of some of the band's greatest tunes How Amos Garrett and switching away from a Strat helped Glenn Tilbrook write Squeeze’s Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) By Joe Bosso published 21 June 24 Though most of Squeeze’s breakthrough US hit came easy for Tilbrook, its solo took the guitarist out of his usual comfort zone David Gilmour reflects on Syd Barrett, and Pink Floyd's Live 8 reunion By Mark Ellen published 27 May 24 “The years in what is now considered to be our heyday were 95 percent musically fulfilling and joyous and full of fun and laughter – and I don’t want to let the other five percent color my view of what was a long and fantastic time together” Betty Davis's self-titled debut album is essential funk guitar listening By Jim Campilongo published 17 May 24 This oft-overlooked, and recently-reissued, album sprang from the early '70s Bay Area music scene, which featured some of the best funk ever played by human hands With a spunky vintage National resonator, Tinsley Ellis has finally gone acoustic By Gary Graff published 16 May 24 Though he often feels, when called to the stage to start a solo show, “like the executioner has arrived to take me to the gallows,” Ellis's new acoustic album, Naked Truth, finds the veteran guitarist right at home without accompaniment Marshall Crenshaw looks back on the making of his masterpiece, Field Day By Christopher Scapelliti published 14 May 24 With the help of producer-of-the-moment Steve Lillywhite, Marshall Crenshaw made the guitar album of his dreams. Critics, however, panned its production, halting his rising career. Four decades later, Field Day is finally being reappraised How Guitar Player's Spotlight column made Yngwie Malmsteen a guitar hero overnight By Matt Blackett published 14 May 24 “It wasn’t just the notes in his playing, but the energy and the attitude behind them,” tastemaker and Spotlight author Mike Varney told GP Meet Max Light, the jazz guitarist who loves Coltrane, Miles, and Meshuggah in equal measure By Bill Milkowski published 9 May 24 The Brooklyn-based virtuoso is unafraid to challenge himself – see his mind-boggling re-interpretation of Coltrane’s 26-2, and tunes so challenging he could only get through one take in the studio – but is nonetheless a “serial monogamist” when it comes to his beloved Collings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives Get The Pick NewsletterAll the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors LATEST ARTICLES1“They were chasing success. I had my own vision, and after 'Strangers in the Night,' I split.” Michael Schenker brought UFO global fame. He had other plans for himself2“He let everyone know he was the new dangerous kid on the block. It started me on a relentless mission to find out just who this man was”: Eric Clapton reveals the guitarist that inspired him to quit the Bluesbreakers and form Cream3I’ve been playing guitar for 20 years – discover why I switched to Til guitar lessons and get $20 off your first lesson from a pro tutor4"When you look at his 18-page discography, the enormous impact he and his guitar have had on the world of music becomes clear." Learn these 10 techniques that made Steve Lukather a legendary studio ace5"I placed the DeArmond pickup near the bridge. I put a crushed cigarette packet underneath it. That helped to get that round sound.” Vic Flick, guitarist behind the iconic James Bond theme, has died. Read our historic interview with him
Scott Henderson on trombone-emulating pedals, and balancing dense arrangements with blues progressions By Bill Milkowski published 1 July 24 Scott Henderson spent lockdown training his ears and building improv skills. As his new album, Karnevel!, shows, his jazz chops reached new heights, but his blues-rock roots remain as strong as ever
Walter Trout is healthier and playing better than ever, but he’s still being dragged down by the world around him By Mark McStea published 27 June 24 On Broken, Trout – with some help from Dee Snider and a ’60s Coral electric sitar – tries to bring hope in a divided world through some of the most fiery licks of his career
Blue Öyster Cult's Buck Dharma on the stories behind (Don’t Fear) The Reaper, and other BÖC classics By Gary Graff published 24 June 24 Less cowbell, more songs – the Blue Öyster Cult guitarist goes deep on the writing and recording of some of the band's greatest tunes
How Amos Garrett and switching away from a Strat helped Glenn Tilbrook write Squeeze’s Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) By Joe Bosso published 21 June 24 Though most of Squeeze’s breakthrough US hit came easy for Tilbrook, its solo took the guitarist out of his usual comfort zone
David Gilmour reflects on Syd Barrett, and Pink Floyd's Live 8 reunion By Mark Ellen published 27 May 24 “The years in what is now considered to be our heyday were 95 percent musically fulfilling and joyous and full of fun and laughter – and I don’t want to let the other five percent color my view of what was a long and fantastic time together”
Betty Davis's self-titled debut album is essential funk guitar listening By Jim Campilongo published 17 May 24 This oft-overlooked, and recently-reissued, album sprang from the early '70s Bay Area music scene, which featured some of the best funk ever played by human hands
With a spunky vintage National resonator, Tinsley Ellis has finally gone acoustic By Gary Graff published 16 May 24 Though he often feels, when called to the stage to start a solo show, “like the executioner has arrived to take me to the gallows,” Ellis's new acoustic album, Naked Truth, finds the veteran guitarist right at home without accompaniment
Marshall Crenshaw looks back on the making of his masterpiece, Field Day By Christopher Scapelliti published 14 May 24 With the help of producer-of-the-moment Steve Lillywhite, Marshall Crenshaw made the guitar album of his dreams. Critics, however, panned its production, halting his rising career. Four decades later, Field Day is finally being reappraised
How Guitar Player's Spotlight column made Yngwie Malmsteen a guitar hero overnight By Matt Blackett published 14 May 24 “It wasn’t just the notes in his playing, but the energy and the attitude behind them,” tastemaker and Spotlight author Mike Varney told GP
Meet Max Light, the jazz guitarist who loves Coltrane, Miles, and Meshuggah in equal measure By Bill Milkowski published 9 May 24 The Brooklyn-based virtuoso is unafraid to challenge himself – see his mind-boggling re-interpretation of Coltrane’s 26-2, and tunes so challenging he could only get through one take in the studio – but is nonetheless a “serial monogamist” when it comes to his beloved Collings
