Janelle Borg
Janelle is a staff writer at GuitarWorld.com. After a long stint in classical music, Janelle discovered the joys of playing guitar in dingy venues at the age of 13 and has never looked back. Janelle has written extensively about the intersection of music and technology, and how this is shaping the future of the music industry. She also had the pleasure of interviewing Dream Wife, K.Flay, Yīn Yīn, and Black Honey, among others. When she's not writing, you'll find her creating layers of delicious audio lasagna with her art-rock/psych-punk band ĠENN.
Latest articles by Janelle Borg
Mikael Åkerfeldt explains why a Fender Telecaster was the only guitar he used on Opeth’s new album
By Janelle Borg published
Åkerfeldt had secretly used a Tele when he recorded the soundtrack to Netflix's 2022 miniseries Clark, but never wielded one with Opeth before recording The Last Will and Testament
Eric Clapton, Trey Anastasio, Bob Weir, Van Morrison, Mike Campbell, Lucinda Williams celebrate Robbie Robertson at epic Martin Scorsese-curated tribute
By Janelle Borg published
The nearly five-hour tribute concert took place on October 17 at Los Angeles' Kia Forum and included tracks from The Band and Robertson's post-Band career
Orianthi showcases her latest PRS custom build as she soundtracks the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show with two rock classics
By Janelle Borg published
The guitarist delivered solo-fueled renditions of I Love Rock 'N' Roll and Are You Gonna Go My Way as she accompanied some of the world's most high-profile supermodels down the catwalk
“The best news I have heard all year”: Rory Gallagher’s prized 1961 Strat to be donated to the National Museum of Ireland
By Janelle Borg published
Joe Bonamassa, who threw his weight behind the movement to keep the guitar in Ireland, publicly expressed his approval of the decision
Nikki Sixx reflects on Mötley Crüe's decision to oust Mick Mars
By Janelle Borg published
Initial statements that Mars decided to retire due to ongoing health issues were refuted by the guitarist, saying he was forced out and immediately replaced by John 5
Marcus King and Grace Bowers team up for a surprise solo-fueled rendition of a Kris Kristofferson classic on stage in New York
By Janelle Borg published
Bowers and King joined forces to pay tribute to the late country icon with a cover of Me & Bobby McGee
The Last Dinner Party's Emily Roberts moonlighted as Brian May in a Queen tribute band – now the guitar legend is endorsing her band
By Janelle Borg published
The Queen legend attended The Last Dinner Party's London show at the Eventim Apollo, praising their “good ol' dose of Rock Tonic”
The Doors’ Robby Krieger ditches his Gibson SG for a cardboard Telecaster to deliver his own take on a blues classic
By Janelle Borg published
Krieger debuts what looks like Cardboard Sessions' first-ever cardboard-built Tele, and trades solos with his son Waylon, who joins him on a matching cardboard Strat
“The paint was starting to come away in chips – he was almost crying”: How Rory Gallagher's 1961 Strat got its now-iconic relic’d finish
By Janelle Borg published
Gallagher's brother, Dónal, recalls the time Rory noticed that the paint on his beloved guitar was chipping away
Alex Van Halen reveals the real reason why the Van Halen tribute didn’t happen – and the advice Brian May gave him about the tour
By Janelle Borg published
Van Halen says that David Lee Roth's refusal to pay tribute to Eddie during the proposed tour was the straw that “broke the camel's back”
Former Primal Scream guitarist Barrie Cadogan reacts to playing Rory Gallagher's golden-era Gibsons
By Janelle Borg published
Cadogan notes how Gallagher managed to create such a distinct sound, even with relatively simple gear, as he tries out the legend's 1963 Gibson Melody Maker
Never-before-heard Jimi Hendrix demos are up for auction – and expected to sell for $260,000
By Janelle Borg published
The rare tape includes demos of key tracks from The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s sophomore album, Axis: Bold as Love – alongside other documents like dry-cleaning bills and tour itineraries
Nuno Bettencourt’s custom Washburn N-8 double-neck was stolen from an arena stage – but made a remarkable return
By Janelle Borg published
While in the middle of an Extreme tour, Bettencourt found himself without his prized custom Washburn guitar, with suspicion falling on his crew
This Taylor Swift-signed guitar was smashed at auction and went viral – now it has been sold at an even higher price
By Janelle Borg published
Texan Gary Estes insisted that the guitar smashing move was just a joke, whereas later reports suggested it was an obvious political statement
Joe Perry explains how he ditched his Les Pauls and Strats to write one of Aerosmith's best-known riffs
By Janelle Borg published
Perry had been eyeing the Fender Bass VI for quite some time – which turned out to be the perfect instrument to write 1976's Back in the Saddle
Martin Barre explains why his early days with Jethro Tull were a trial by fire
By Janelle Borg published
Jethro Tull went on tour with Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Vanilla Fudge right after Barre joined the band
The Band's Jim Weider on how he bagged his career-defining Fender Telecaster
By Janelle Borg published
After spending years searching for his dream '52 Telecaster, Weider describes how he finally managed to get his hands on the one that would accompany him throughout his illustrious career
Brian May explains why he was reluctant to share a solo with Billy Gibbons – and what changed his mind
By Janelle Borg published
May and Gibbons were recruited by session icon Steve Cropper to add their guitar star power to his latest release, Friendlytown
Yes, Rick Rubin played the opening riff on Beastie Boys’ No Sleep Till Brooklyn – he looks back at recording a classic
By Janelle Borg published
While Kerry King's searing solo is the star of the show, Rubin sets the tone with his rhythm guitar work on the iconic rap rock track
Olivia Rodrigo guitarist Daisy Spencer reveals how a stroke of good luck landed her the 1972 Fender Strat she plays onstage
By Janelle Borg published
Spencer is currently touring the world as Olivia Rodrigo's rhythm guitarist – and the 1972 Fender Strat is one of the many guitars in her arsenal
George Benson is selling his studio-and-tour-used rare and vintage guitars
By Janelle Borg published
The jazz icon's Reverb collection includes his Gibson Johnny Smith, which he played on the 1976 triple-platinum album Breezin'
“I don’t think he was very happy about the situation”: Crowded House’s Neil Finn on replacing Lindsey Buckingham in Fleetwood Mac
By Janelle Borg published
Finn also discusses the challenge of learning the guitar and vocal parts of iconic Fleetwood Mac songs like Go Your Own Way
Watch Neil Young and John Mayer trade solos in a ferocious rendition of Rockin’ In The Free World with Stephen Stills
By Janelle Borg published
Young and Stills performed a 13-song set brimming with classics, including a song they haven't performed in over 50 years, and another one that was never actually recorded
Joe Bonamassa fits a budget Squier Tele with his new Seymour Duncan 1950 Broadcaster pickups – and tests it against the vintage Fender original
By Janelle Borg published
The new signature pickups are modeled after Joe Bonamassa's Broadcaster – the very rare Tele predecessor, of which only 250 were made
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!