
Alan di Perna
In a career that spans five decades, Alan di Perna has written for pretty much every magazine in the world with the word “guitar” in its title, as well as other prestigious outlets such as Rolling Stone, Billboard, Creem, Player, Classic Rock, Musician, Future Music, Keyboard, grammy.com and reverb.com. He is author of Guitar Masters: Intimate Portraits, Green Day: The Ultimate Unauthorized History and co-author of Play It Loud: An Epic History of the Sound Style and Revolution of the Electric Guitar. The latter became the inspiration for the Metropolitan Museum of Art/Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibition “Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock and Roll.” As a professional guitarist/keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist, Alan has worked with recording artists Brianna Lea Pruett, Fawn Wood, Brenda McMorrow, Sat Kartar and Shox Lumania.
Latest articles by Alan di Perna

'Imagine' This: How John Lennon and George Harrison Teamed Up to Record a Classic Album in 1971
By Alan di Perna published
“I think my greatest pleasure is writing a song — words and lyrics — that will last longer than a couple of years.”

Stephen Malkmus Talks Pavement-Era Gear, Alternate Tunings and New Jicks Album, 'Sparkle Hard'
By Alan di Perna published
He made alternative rock history with Pavement and the Jicks, but what do Guitar World readers really want to know about Stephen Malkmus?

The 10 most important electric guitars: from their 1930s invention to '80s hot-rod era
By Brad Tolinski published
10 major milestones in the electric guitar's journey from novelty to high-performance rock machine

Jack White Breaks Down His Ambitious New Album, 'Boarding House Reach'
By Alan di Perna published

Fanny: The Female Rock Pioneers Are At It Again with Help from the Runaways, Go-Go's and Bangles
By Alan di Perna published

Ritchie Blackmore: Talking Tone, Gear, Deep Purple Years and a Rocking Rainbow Revival
By Alan di Perna published

Phil Manzanera Talks Roxy Music History, Gibson Firebirds and His Neighbor and Occasional Bandmate, David Gilmour
By Alan di Perna published

Honoring George Harrison: Randy Bachman's Track-by-Track Breakdown of New Album, 'By George, By Bachman'
By Alan di Perna published

Jimi Hendrix Jams with Johnny Winter, Stephen Stills and More on a New Album, 'Both Sides of the Sky'
By Alan di Perna published

AC/DC: Young Lust
By Alan di Perna published
Ballbreaker, AC/DC’s Angus and Malcolm Young demonstrate yet again that they are randy as a pair of billygoats, out of their minds with lurid desires and obscenely concupiscent.

Tom Petty: Tribute to an American Icon Who Made the Rock World a Better Place for 40 Years
By Alan di Perna published

Walter Becker (1950-2017): Paying Tribute to the Steely Dan Legend and Reluctant Guitar Hero
By Alan di Perna published
Reclusive, elusive and sardonically self-effacing, Walter Becker was not your typical guitar hero.

Lee Ranaldo Talks 'Electric Trim,' New Gear and Chances of a Sonic Youth Reunion
By Alan di Perna published
One of the key guitars in my career has been an early-Seventies Fender Telecaster Deluxe that I had before Sonic Youth started, and that I played pretty much throughout Sonic Youth.

Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie Talk Debut Duo Album
By Alan di Perna published
The classic Fleetwood Mac lineup always was an odd bunch.

Carlos Santana Teams with the Isley Brothers to Celebrate the 'Power of Peace'
By Alan di Perna published

Chris Cornell 1964-2017: Paying Tribute to the Legendary Soundgarden Frontman
By Alan di Perna published
We will never know what went on in the mind of Chris Cornell after he left the Detroit Fox Theater on the night of May 17.

Strokes' Nick Valensi Gets Back to Small-Club Roots with CRX
By Alan di Perna published
“CRX is probably an odd choice for a band name, but to me it sums up what our music sounds like.” Strokes guitarist Nick Valensi is explaining the origins of the name for his new side band.

Andy Summers Reflects on His Years with (and Before) the Police and His Most Trusted Guitars
By Alan di Perna published

Buddy Guy Talks Muddy Waters, Fender Strats and Touring with the Stones
By Alan di Perna published

Bullet for My Valentine Discuss the Anger That Fuels Their New Album, 'Venom'
By Alan di Perna published
On their fifth album, Venom, Bullet for My Valentine bare their fangs and get back in touch with the angry metalcore that put them on the map.

Steve Vai’s New Guitar Camp Experience and DVD Offer Up-Close Encounters with a Guitar Icon
By Alan di Perna published

Joe Satriani, Tosin Abasi and Guthrie Govan Join Forces for 2015 G4 Experience — Video
By Alan di Perna published
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