Joe Bosso
Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar World, Guitar Player, MusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.
Latest articles by Joe Bosso

He's a hitmaker who owned Eric Clapton's “The Fool” SG, produced Meat Loaf, and played with Ringo Starr
By Joe Bosso published
Todd Rundgren has just about done it all, but he does regret missing out on the chance to produce the Talking Heads and the Who...

They flew high with the help of the Beatles, and a few hits, then collapsed in a mess of mismanagement and tragedy
By Joe Bosso published
Their story is often cited as one of the saddest in rock, but Badfinger were also one of the sharpest guitar pop acts of their era. Here, the late Joey Molland recounts their rollercoaster ride of a career from his perspective

Watch Al Di Meola play Race with Devil on Spanish Highway with Steve Vai
By Jackson Maxwell published
This intimate rehearsal clip shows the fretwork of both guitar legends up-close

Randy Jackson on how forgotten '80s heroes Zebra earned their stripes as the people's power-trio
By Joe Bosso published
Led by singer/guitarist Randy Jackson, Zebra kept the spirit of Zeppelin, Hendrix and Cream alive. These days, family man Jackson is busy shaping up the group’s first album in two decades

Justin Hayward on the life, times and tones of the Moody Blues, and the undisputed power of a dimed AC30
By Joe Bosso published
The iconic Moody Blues guitarist revisits obscure Moodies tracks and discusses the gear and thought processes behind his gear, tone and criminally unsung riffs

Les Dudek on playing with the Allman Brothers and getting no credit, Cher and his 2 hours in Journey
By Joe Bosso published
“I’m a legend that nobody knows,” says the journeyman guitarist, who played alongside Dickey Betts on Ramblin’ Man and Jessica, worked with Steve Miller, got scolded by Mike Bloomfield and was almost a founding member of Journey (but wait, there’s more…)

Grace Bowers on her dizzying rise as the world’s next guitar hero and breaking the law to get better
By Joe Bosso published
The 18-year-old might be the greatest thing to come out of Nashville since Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint but she's keeping her feet on the ground, hands on her SG, as everyone else stands in awe of her prodigious talent

“I got a call: ‘I’m putting a super band together’”: How Les Dudek joined Journey “for two hours”
By Jackson Maxwell published
Recruited due to his stellar resume – which included studio work with the Allman Brothers Band and Steve Miller – Dudek turned down the gig to pursue a solo career

Pat Travers on his chemistry with Pat Thrall, punk and EVH’s ‘70s arrival and Snortin’ Whiskey
By Joe Bosso published
The Canadian-born virtuoso discusses the rise and fall of the Pat Travers Band, witnessing the U.K. punk revolution and the riotous roots of Snortin’ Whiskey

How Les Dudek ended up on the Allman Brothers Band's Ramblin’ Man
By Jackson Maxwell published
“Dickey was thinking about harmony guitars, like what he did with Duane,” the veteran guitarist recounted to GW

Why Grace Bowers prefers the Gibson SG to the Les Paul
By Jackson Maxwell published
Though her preference was originally based on aesthetics and weight, her reasons have – as she's grown more seasoned – expanded to feel and tone

How Justin Hayward ended up with Lonnie Donegan’s 12-string – before Donegan took it back
By Jackson Maxwell published
Decades later, the guitar would once again end up in Hayward's hands, this time for good

“‘What are you doing?’” When Les Dudek guested with Mike Bloomfield (without him knowing)
By Jackson Maxwell published
Caught up in the music and the moment, the veteran guitarist – who played on Allman Brothers Band's Ramblin' Man and Jessica – ran onto the stage while Bloomfield was at the keys, none the wiser

Pat Travers recalls how Eddie Van Halen gave rise to caricature impersonators
By Matt Owen published
Travers witnessed Van Halen at the peak of his powers, but was able to appreciate aspects of his trailblazing playing style that often went under-appreciated by Eddie's peers

Following mega-tours with Muse and Royal Blood, sister act The Warning are riff rock’s next big success story
By Joe Bosso published
From Metallica covers to U.S. network television and a searing third album powered by the creative heat of fuzz and distortion, Daniela and Alejandra Villarreal Vélez are going places fast, and hungry for more

The Hooters’ Eric Bazillian on ‘80s mega-hits and helping Cyndi Lauper find a career-defining hit
By Joe Bosso published
The Hooters frontman/guitarist has had a career like no other, scoring hit after hit as a session player, nailing solos in one take. This is how it all went down...

When his keys player quit, McKinley James had to rethink his playing style – and he did it without turning to pedals
By Joe Bosso published
Now touring as a father-and-son duo, the Dan Auerbach-championed blues rocker just keeps on rolling…

Mark Tremonti weighs in on the biggest bands of the ’90s (including Creed)
By Joe Bosso published
As Creed return, Tremonti shares his thoughts on Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and a host of other ’90s icons

“I always loved Leslie’s beefy sound”: Jamie West-Oram on Mountain, The Fixx and his journey in tone
By Joe Bosso published
West-Oram's guitar tone is reference for a whole generation. Here we discusses its evolution from mono to stereo, and the songwriting approach behind his new solo album, Skeleton Key

Mark Tremonti and Scott Stapp on the unlikely rebirth of Creed – and why they’ve always been cool
By Joe Bosso published
Thanks to a pair of sports franchises, a bizarre Super Bowl commercial and some shows that sold out in record time, Creed are back. Here, Stapp and Tremonti tell us how it all went down

The 30 best guitarists from New Jersey – from Al Di Meola and Richie Sambora to Gibson's best-selling signature artist
By Joe Bosso published
We gone and made a list of our favorite Garden State guitar heroes... Do write in for which state you'd like to read about next. One way or another, it won't have better pizza

Meet Tristan Auman, the wildly inventive guitarist behind Sometime In February’s gonzo shred
By Joe Bosso published
Ambient beauty abuts technical excellence in the South Carolina prog outfit, but founder Tristan Auman promises us that no matter how crazy the musical ideas the song comes first

Bryan Adams guitarist Keith Scott on being a low profile multi-platinum guitar hero – and the hits no one saw coming
By Joe Bosso published
From Cuts Like a Knife to Summer of ’69, the Canadian guitar great discusses the gear and solos that have fueled Bryan Adams’ music for more than 40 years
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