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

Swiss country ace Andrea Benz: “I was already playing the guitar as a hobby, but when I saw Brad Paisley, I said, ‘That’s what I’m going to do’”
By Joe Bosso published
Benz's debut album continues in the classic country tradition, with playing informed by Paisley, Brent Mason, Danny Gatton et al

Starcrawler’s Henri Cash on why he plays a three-string guitar: “I’m basically doing a Keith Richards thing without the top strings”
By Joe Bosso published
With just three strings and a lot of attitude, Cash's guitar gives Starcrawler’s pure rocking sound a touch of Nirvana and a hint of the Byrds

The 32 greatest Texas guitarists of all time
By Joe Bosso last updated
Featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan, Dimebag Darrell, St. Vincent and 29 more Lone Star superstars

Måneskin’s Victoria De Angelis and Thomas Raggi on Eurovision glory, supporting the Stones and making guitar-driven rock with zero limits
By Joe Bosso published
In this exclusive interview, GW tracks down guitarist Raggi and bassist De Angelis to find out exactly what makes the Måneskin steamroller rock (and roll)

John Petrucci shares his top 3 tips for better guitar tone
By Joe Bosso published
The Dream Theater prog-metal guitar kingpin might have a signature guitar with boost and piezo, but listen to the man when he says keep it simple – it might just save your tone

Polyphia’s Tim Henson and Scott LePage sit down with Steve Vai to discuss their epic collaboration, the evolution of awe-inspiring technique and a one-of-a-kind guitar gift
By Joe Bosso last updated
The Polyphia x Steve Vai collaboration on Ego Death is one of the standout guitar moments of 2022. This is the story of how it all came together, from the first encounter to chopping up the guitar master's solo – and how the prog prodigies plan to tackle it all live…

Josh Klinghoffer: “I’ve never lost this sense that I’m a beginner, and I think that gives me a more primal approach to the guitar”
By Joe Bosso published
Josh Klinghoffer was a Red Hot Chili Pepper – and now he records with Eddie Vedder and performs with Pearl Jam. What is it about him that all these (hugely successful) acts want?

Tim Henson and Scott LePage on how Polyphia made the wildest guitar album of 2022: “We were like, ‘F**k. Did we just blow out Steve Vai’s speakers?’”
By Joe Bosso published
In this in-depth exclusive, the instrumental provocateurs talk secret signature models, their all-star collaborators, how much they really practice – and why they wouldn’t describe what they do as ‘shred’

Hear Polyphia channel Dimebag and Deftones in their heaviest song yet, the Chino Moreno-featuring Bloodbath
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Eight-string chugs abound as Scott LePage unleashes a scorching metal lead his bandmate Tim Henson dubs “my favorite Scott solo ever”

Mick Mars on his favorite Mötley Crüe solo, how he (unintentionally) ended up on Aerosmith's Pump, and the Dr. Feelgood Garnet amp
By Joe Bosso published
In this classic edition of Dear Guitar Hero, Mars answers fan questions, and reflects on his decades-long tenure with one of rock's wildest bands

Josh Klinghoffer says playing with the Red Hot Chili Peppers was "enormously stifling creatively": "They’re an established band with an established sound"
By Jackson Maxwell published
Though he said his decade-long tenure with the stadium-conquering funk rockers was "a blessing and a beautiful experience,” Klinghoffer felt his attempts to push the band in new sonic directions were met with little enthusiasm

Lari Basilio on channeling joy through guitar playing, working with Leland Sklar and discovering 7-strings
By Joe Bosso published
The Brazilian guitar ace helps listeners cut through pandemic-fueled depression with hopeful tunes and her customary kickass playing

How Lexi Rose amassed 500,000 fans on social media and caught the attention of her idols – and all it took was one Kings of Leon concert
By Joe Bosso published
Eschewing formal lessons, Rose schooled herself on YouTube guitar performance videos and tutorials and is now at the crux of a dilemma: form a band or join one?

Leo Nocentelli and Farees on the far-reaching influence of Jimi Hendrix and recording with $50 amps
By Joe Bosso published
The Meters funk guitar legend has found a like-minded soul in the multi-instrumentalist – here, they share musical philosophies, talk gear, and hint at more music to come

Reb Beach guides you through his latest pedalboard
By Joe Bosso published
The longtime Winger/Whitesnake guitarist reveals his compact 'board for fly-in dates – and the pedal he can’t be without

Horsegirl: “If you want to be rebellious, there’s still nothing better than picking up a guitar”
By Joe Bosso published
Penelope Lowenstein and Nora Cheng on why the guitar remains the number one musical tool for disaffected youth – and how the Electric Bass VI expands the Chicago indie-rockers' sound

Eric Johnson on digging into the vault to turn up two albums bursting with guitar gold
By Joe Bosso published
The Texas guitar great returns with a pair of new records and sits GW down to walk through the gear, tones and process behind them

Eric Johnson reveals his at-home pedalboard
By Joe Bosso published
What the groundbreaking Texas virtuoso sees when he looks down while practicing and writing

Warren DeMartini, Steve Stevens, Lita Ford and an all-star panel share their guitar highlights of the ‘80s
By GuitarWorld Staff last updated
Some of the biggest names in guitar look back on the era of big solos and even bigger hair to share their favorite riffs, shredders and, yes, haircuts of the decade

Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell and Phil Collen on writing rock for a stadium audience and learning from ‘80s spandex cringe
By Joe Bosso published
Collen and Campbell take you behind the scenes of their first album in seven long years, Diamond Star Halos, and talk Marc Bolan, David Bowie, Mick Ronson and Lou Reed

Warren DeMartini on the ‘80s: “Everybody wanted to play like Eddie, and every band wanted to hit it big like Van Halen”
By Joe Bosso last updated
The former Ratt guitarist looks back on a decade in which competition spurred players on to new heights, and recalls adventures with Van Halen, and Grover Jackson's kindness

Ross “the Boss” Friedman: “The Ramones were like our brothers... We were very different bands, but we both had the swagger and attitude”
By Joe Bosso published
The Dictators and Manowar co-founder on SGs, bad photos and manly stacks, the influence of Wes Montgomery and how the Monkees kicked this wild, crazy musical adventure off

Johnny Marr: “If there’s a room full of guitar players, I’m the last to leave, man. I’m just as hooked as everybody else, and I have been since I was 5 or 6”
By Joe Bosso last updated
The British guitar legend on his enduring love affair with the instrument, choosing projects and chasing tones, and why there is something noble about the idea of a guitar hero

Guns N' Roses' Slash and Izzy Stradlin: "We wanted the necessary studio polish, but with the live, raw feeling intact"
By Joe Bosso published
In this 1989 GW interview, Slash n' Stradlin reflect on the tough circumstances and jam sessions that helped form Guns N' Roses' blockbuster debut, Appetite for Destruction
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