Latest articles by Jackson Maxwell
“Big riff energy is in this kid’s blood – and he might even solo better than his dad…” June 2024 Guitar World editor’s picks
From all-star offspring to returning noise-rock icons, a punk trailblazer’s first album in 53 years and the future of blues, this month had it all
The unsung guitarist who transformed James Brown’s music, and laid a funky path for Nile Rodgers, John Frusciante, Cory Wong and countless others
Overshadowed by the flamboyant frontman for whom he worked, Jimmy Nolen created a singular rhythm style that can still be heard all over pop and rock radio today
Prince’s Cloud 3, which went for less than $10,000 in 2005, sells at auction for $900,000 more – and breaks a world record
The distinctively-shaped, extensively-used six-string eclipsed its initial estimated value by hundreds of thousands of dollars
“There can be no more fitting sendoff to this uncompromising sonic innovator”: May 2024 Guitar World editors’ picks
From acoustic wizards to bedroom pop mainstays, prog-metal masters and fallen heroes – here are our standout guitar tracks from the past 31 days
Steve Albini, punk guitar icon, dies at 61
Guitarist and frontman for hard-edged alt-rock titans Big Black and Shellac, Albini was also a famed producer, most famously manning the boards for Nirvana's In Utero
Duane Eddy, rock guitar pioneer, dies at 86
Hugely influential to the likes of George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and John Fogerty, the Gretsch-wielding legend was known for his unmistakable, twanging tone and smash instrumental hits like Rebel Rouser
April 2024 Guitar World editors' picks
From fast-rising indie rock acts and heavy playing pioneers to Beyoncé and beyond – here are our standout guitar tracks from the past 30 days
“Connecting with Joe on this track is perhaps the most rewarding musical collaboration I’ve ever engaged in”: Joe Satriani and Steve Vai reveal their first ever collaborative song – a track 50 years in the making
The Sea of Emotion is the first of a three-part musical journey that features just about everything a guitar lover could dream of
“Is it just me, or is that Stone Gossard and/or Mike McCready doing The Gojira Pick Scrape™?” March 2024 Guitar World editors’ picks
From indie folk, full-throttle blues rock and flamenco-meets-fusion to the guitar crossover episode you never knew you needed – here are our standout guitar tracks from the past 30 days
“His music was determinedly and insistently unconventional”: Steve Harley, Cockney Rebel singer and guitarist, dies at 73
Harley wrote and sang the glam-rock band's mid-'70s smash, Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
“One of the finest musicians I've ever known”: Karl Wallinger, guitarist and singer of World Party, dies at 66
A highly-regarded multi-instrumentalist and arranger, Wallinger was also a key early member of the Waterboys
“An important piece of the low end theory”: T.M. Stevens, bass legend and session pro who performed and recorded with the likes of Steve Vai, James Brown, Bootsy Collins, and the Pretenders, dies at 72
Stevens manned the low-end on Vai's Sex & Religion album, and played on James Brown's latter-day hit, Living in America
“Let's do that again!” This compilation of fiery Sister Rosetta Tharpe guitar solos shows how her revolutionary playing inspired blues-rock greats like Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and the Rolling Stones
Though she passed away five decades ago, footage of Tharpe's aggressive, virtuosic and precise fretwork, thankfully, remains
“This song presents a kind of revisionist history where guitar solos were cool after all in the early noughties”: February 2024 Guitar World editors' picks
From neoclassical tapping clinics to cosmic, spaghetti western-esque guitar soundscapes, this month has provided an embarrassment of six-string riches
“The Bulls loved it immediately. Michael Jordan loved it”: He appeared on smash hits by Kate Bush and Paul McCartney, but this unsung session guitar hero's most popular solo can be heard in one of the most iconic sports anthems of all time
The late Ian Bairnson spent decades as a first-call session man, but his most famous turn came on the Alan Parsons Project tune Sirius
Wayne Kramer, influential MC5 guitarist, dies at 75
With his six-string brother-in-arms, the late Fred “Sonic” Smith, Kramer was the architect of the MC5's tough, years-ahead-of-its-time sound, best exemplified on their legendary 1969 debut album, Kick Out the Jams
NAMM 2024 live: this year’s biggest guitar news as it happens
Everything you need to know direct from the show floor at the world’s no. 1 guitar gear show
NAMM 2024: all the latest guitar news, rumors and predictions from the greatest gear show on Earth
The guitar, amp and pedal news you need to know about, all in one place
NAMM 2024: “Pairing technology with timeless style and tone”: Martin expands its revolutionary SC acoustic-electric line with new, top-of-the-line models
The new SC-18E and SC-28E feature some serious tonewood and electronics upgrades
“A stylish and functional way to proudly display gear”: Fender seeks to elevate the humble guitar and amp stand with new line of “gear furniture”
No, you didn't accidentally click on IKEA's website – Fender's latest batch of accessories aims to check both the style and substance boxes
“Engineered for blazing guitar work”: Jackson brings its Randy Rhoads model to the mid-priced Pro Plus series, with some electrifying finishes
The Pro Plus Series Rhoads RR24 is a head-turner that comes in a pair of loud looks, and is outfitted with two Seymour Duncan Distortion 'buckers – but how do its other features stack up to the rest of Jackson's Rhoads lineup?
“I’m a sloppy guitar player! I’ll be the first to admit that… In retrospect, I should have practiced more”: Ace Frehley isn't going to apologize for his loose playing style – but he also doesn't recommend that players follow in his footsteps
The former Kiss guitarist has often been accused of sloppiness, a label he says he doesn't mind at all
Black Keys, Black Crowes and the next in line for Mastodon’s mind-expanding metal crown: this week’s essential guitar tracks
The must-hear licks, riffs, solos and six-string moments from BIG|BRAVE, Bring Me The Horizon, Dead Poet Society, Bodega, Slift, Waxahatchee, and more
“He was a superb craftsman who loved what he did”: Tony Iommi pays tribute to ‘Old Boy’ SG luthier John Diggins, who has died
Diggins began his career working for John Birch – the Birmingham, UK-based luthier who partnered with Iommi early in the Black Sabbath legend's career – and later struck out on his own, founding Jaydee Custom Guitars
“Django Reinhardt was our god – I played a Selmer Maccaferri-style guitar, grew a mustache, wore a suit... the whole thing”: Big Thief’s Buck Meek names 10 guitarists who shaped his sound
The understated indie guitar hero is well-versed in blues and jazz tradition, but also takes inspiration from Marc Ribot, Connie Converse... and The Shaggs’ Dorothy “Dot” Wiggin
