Rookie

PUT ON YOUR JUMPSUITS, HOP IN THE ’79 EL CAMINO AND LET THIS CHICAGO SIX-PIECE WHISK YOU AWAY TO A LAND RULED BY BIG STAR, THE EAGLES, CHEAP TRICK AND TOM PETTY

LOCAL COLOR

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE’S JOHN CIPOLLINA, A BOLD, ORIGINAL AND UNHERALDED STYLIST WHOSE PLAYING ANTICIPATED THE FUTURE OF ROCK

JOHN PETRUCCI REACHES TERMINAL VELOCITY

Dream Theater’s resident lord of the strings uses the lockdown as an opportunity to record some sick instrumentals — with a little help from former bandmate Mike Portnoy

HEARTBEAT

CARS SIX-STRING INNOVATOR ELLIOT EASTON TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO THE GEAR AND GUITAR SOLOS THAT DRIVE THE EMPTY HEARTS’ PERSONALITYPACKED SECOND ALBUM.

Gettin' Deep with Steve Morse

THE DEEP PURPLE GUITARIST — NOW IN HIS 26TH YEAR WITH THE LEGENDARY U.K. BAND — TALKS SCREAMING PRODUCERS, HIS UNUSUALLY BUSY DOWNTIME AND PURPLE’S SMOKING NEW ALBUM, WHOOSH!

Gain and Glory

REDSEVEN LEVIATHAN

What We Do in the Shadows

Volbeat's Rob Caggiano talks ongoing projects his current rig and his new signature workhorse model, the Jackson Shadowcaster

When Less Is More

Alt-country rocker Jason Isbell discusses his "clean and loud" approach to recording, the magical union of a strat and a Roland Jazz Chorus – and his latest album, the masterful reunions.

KVELERTAK

ON THE UBER-DYNAMIC SPLID, NORWAY’S FINEST RETURN WITH THEIR THREE-GUITAR ATTACK, A NEW SINGER AND A NON-STOP ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ASSAULT. BJARTE LUND ROLLAND AND VIDAR LANDA TELL ALL!

STEVE HOWE TRACK BY TRACK

THE YES LEGEND UNCOUPLES FROM THE MOTHERSHIP TO DRIFT THROUGH EVER-SHIFTING LANDSCAPES, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL, ON HIS FIRST SOLO ALBUM IN NINE YEARS

Right-Hand Man

FUNK RHYTHM MASTER CORY WONG GOES DEEP ON GEAR, PLAYING WITH VULFPECK AND THE FEARLESS FLYERS — AND HIS UNDYING FENDER STRAT LOVE

Swan Dive

CATCHING UP WITH DANCE GAVIN DANCE’S WILL SWAN: “I DON’T WANT TO SOUND LIKE LIAM NEESON HERE, BUT I REALLY DO HAVE A SPECIFIC SET OF SKILLS!”

Kathleen Edwards

AFTER A SIX-YEAR BREAK SERVING UP COFFEE, SANDWICHES AND MUFFINS IN ONTARIO, THIS RESILIENT CANADIAN ALT-ROCKER IS BACK WITH A FRESH NEW RELEASE, THE APTLY TITLED TOTAL FREEDOM

DevilDriver

GUITARISTS NEIL TIEMANN AND MIKE SPREITZER DISCUSS THEIR LESS ”SHREDDY” APPROACH TO THEIR NEW DOUBLE ALBUM — AND WHY YOU NEED A 5150 IN YOUR ARSENAL

L.A. Witch

GUITARIST SADE SANCHEZ EXPLAINS HOW THIS BURGEONING SO-CAL TRIO WENT FROM GETTING FIRED TO THEIR REVERB-DRENCH LATEST, PLAY WITH FIRE

Sweet Sassafras

ERIC JOHNSON ON HIS GENTLE NEW ALBUM, EJ II, HIS NEW FENDER “VIRGINIA” SASSAFRAS STRAT AND SEARCHING FOR THE STILL POINT

Shred-nado

EVH STRIPED SERIES SHARK

Peter Green (1946-2020)

HE TURNED HIS BACK ON FAME, FORTUNE AND SANITY TO BECOME A BLUES-ROCK LEGEND

The Changeling

WITH THE RITUAL BEGINS AT SUNDOWN, ROBBY KRIEGER OPENS THE DOORS TO HIS JAZZ MUSE

Brad Gillis

THE LONGTIME NIGHT RANGER GUITARIST TALKS UPCOMING SOLO ALBUM, THE STORY BEHIND HIS MODIFIED ’62 STRAT — AND ONE PARTICULARLY HAIR-RAISING OZZY OSBOURNE GIG

Joint Effort

MARTIN SC-13E ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC

“A Guitar is Like a Mini Orchestra”

From Jeff Buckley to gods and monsters and beyond, Captain Beefheart Alum Gary Lucas celebrates his diverse career on an impressive new compilation.

Dave Mustaine – "I think people do expect me to be invincible."

Fans were stunned when Dave Mustaine was diagnosed with cancer. Below, we find out how the Megadeth frontman took on his biggest battle yet – and won.

Joe Bonamassa's Tele Vision

JIMMY BRYANT, JAMES BOND AND OL’ BLUE EYES: THE BLUES-ROCK MAESTRO EXPLAINS HOW HE TEAMED UP WITH HELLECASTERS GUITAR WIZ JOHN JORGENSON TO RECORD A PROPER “TELECASTER ALBUM” INSPIRED BY THE LATE, GREAT DANNY GATTON

PLAYING THE PART

TWO COOL KYSER QUICK-CHANGE PARTIAL CAPOS

Rising Sun

DETROIT’S SAMMY BOLLER — WHOSE POPULAR GUITARWORLD.COM LESSONS HAVE MELTED A MIND OR TWO — EXPLAINS WHY 2020 IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR MODERN INSTRUMENTAL GUITAR MUSIC

THE WAVE FILES

After the “soul-crushing” slog of Hemispheres, the planets seemed to align for Rush when it came time to record their next album, 1980’s Permanent Waves.

Sparta

AT THE DRIVE-IN REFUGEE JIM WARD DIVES INTO TRUST THE RIVER, SPARTA’S FIRST ALBUM IN 14 YEARS

OPEN MIKE

LONGTIME TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS “CO-CAPTAIN” MIKE CAMPBELL UNLEASHES WRECKLESS ABANDON, THE DEBUT ALBUM BY HIS VERY PATIENT SIDE PROJECT, THE DIRTY KNOBS

GW LESSON LICKS OF THE BLUES GIANTS GROOVE MASTER

A brief, insightful tribute to GARY CLARK JR.’s multifaceted lead and rhythm-playing approaches and ways in which the guitarist tastefully combines elements of blues, rock, funk and soul