Mark McStea
Mark is a freelance writer with particular expertise in the fields of ‘70s glam, punk, rockabilly and classic ‘50s rock and roll. He sings and plays guitar in his own musical project, Star Studded Sham, which has been described as sounding like the hits of T. Rex and Slade as played by Johnny Thunders. He had several indie hits with his band, Private Sector and has worked with a host of UK punk luminaries. Mark also presents themed radio shows for Generating Steam Heat. He has just completed his first novel, The Bulletproof Truth, and is currently working on the sequel.
Latest articles by Mark McStea

J Mascis: “I still use the Marshall and Hiwatt stacks... I just like the feeling of the guitar kind of hitting you in the back”
By Mark McStea published
The Dinosaur Jr. frontman talks capos, the beauty of small amps in the studio, and the positivity in the alt-rock pioneers' new album, Sweep It Into Space
Gilby Clarke: "I’m a big believer in doubling guitar parts with a different amp and guitar. It’s not just a bigger sound – it gives so much more separation"
By Mark McStea published
The former Guns N' Roses guitarist unleashes some straight ahead rock 'n' roll on his first solo album in 20 years

Tony Visconti reflects on the genius of T. Rex's Marc Bolan
By Mark McStea published
“Marc is criminally underrated as a guitarist. All rock ’n’ rollers love T. Rex, and there’s a little bit of T. Rex in every rock ’n’ roll band”

Tyler Bryant: “I get bored with guitar solos that are just about speed and technique. I like there to be something musical and memorable“
By Mark McStea published
Nashville’s blues-rock sensation talks solos, pandemic recording, and explains why the Shakedown is a team effort

Jeff Bridges: “What's great about the guitar is that it's very honest. The more you put in, the better you get“
By Mark McStea published
We meet the original Dude to talk songwriting and his new Breedlove signature acoustics

Tony Visconti recounts the making of David Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World
By Mark McStea published
50 years on from its release, the former David Bowie bassist and uber-producer tells the story of one of Bowie's greatest albums, and the enduring influence of Mick Ronson

Sin Shake Sin: "People on social media are calling this album the soundtrack to the pandemic"
By Mark McStea published
Released just before COVID-19 hit its initial peak, Stacy Hogan discusses his eerily relevant new album, The Mess We've Made

Death Valley High's Reyka Osburn: “It’s hard for a guitar player to be a great frontman and really work the audience“
By Mark McStea published
Five questions with the Death Valley High frontman

George Lynch: “There’s so much to say without playing endless streams of notes – I’m always aware of the value of subtlety and silence”
By Mark McStea published
George Lynch discusses the fate of his classic-era guitars, his never-ending Led Zeppelin love and his new album with Dino Jelusick

Joey Zampella: "Music has lost a lot of mystery now with YouTube and the internet. The value of music has to return - or else there’ll be no music business"
By Mark McStea published
The Life Of Agony guitarist talks melodic solos, his unusual approach to recording and the band's latest album, The Sound of Scars

Konvent's Sara Nørregaard: "I like to keep everything raw; having too many effects detracts from the power"
By Mark McStea published
From doom metal to Squier Jagmasters to realizing dreams, the guitarist unpacks the Konvent story so far...

Tiger Army's Nick 13: "'50s rock is so great - it just needs another generation to rediscover it"
By Mark McStea published
The psychobilly frontman on the band's fittingly titled sixth studio record, Retrofuture, and the possibility of another country-driven solo album

Lillie Mae: "I might write a melody on the fiddle. But I've loved the guitar since day one - everything comes from that"
By Mark McStea published
The Americana singer/songwriter talks image-based prejudices in Nashville, and signing with Jack White's label, Third Man Records

Olivia Jean: "I always wanted to play a Gretsch 6120, but with the amount of dirt I use, that was never going to work!"
By Mark McStea published
From Garage Bats to Night Owls, this quirky rock ’n’ roller’s new album is packed with animal magnetism - not to mention some dangerously catchy riffs

Payton Smith: "It’s really important to me that people realize I’m a guitarist as much as a singer"
By Mark McStea published
The up-and-coming country singer-songwriter discusses the importance of building his audience steadily and why nothing beats a Gibson into a Marshall Plexi

Jeff Schroedl: "I like to think of my style as guitar gumbo - I focus on the things that set me apart"
By Mark McStea published
The bluesman serves up some of the genre's most satisfying licks on Altered Five Blues Band's new album, Ten Thousand Watts

Jäger Volant's Ronnie Day: "The key to a great guitar sound is in how you play and how you phrase"
By Mark McStea published
After meeting each other on an online-collaboration site, this international foursome is out to rid the world of “dumbed-down, lowest-common-denominator music”

Alan Merrill tells the story of I Love Rock 'n' Roll in his final Guitar World interview
By Mark McStea published
The Arrows frontman muses on his career in music in this never-before-published conversation

Dear Guitar Hero - DragonForce's Herman Li answers your questions: "I am a specialist in my own weird guitar sound"
By Mark McStea published
The shredder on the band's latest album Extreme Power Metal, his favorite EVH solo and how he developed his mind-bending sweep-picking ability

Michael Schenker: "Rudolf doesn’t have much talent as a guitarist - I needed to pave the path for him. I’m saying that with an open heart"
By Mark McStea published
Whether he’s talking about the Scorpions, UFO, his new album or the 'distortion of his image', the German guitar legend is as candid as ever

*repeat repeat's Jared Corder: "College only offered jazz or classical guitar, and the guys in classical were all metalheads, so I chose that"
By Mark McStea published
The guitar playing half of the US-based duo talks Glazed, *repeat repeat’s guitar-packed (and catchy-as-hell) new album

Laura Palmer: "I was a shy kid unable to perform, now I own my own label and front Screamin' Rebel Angels"
By Mark McStea published
The Brooklyn, NY-based singer, guitarist, upright bassist and businesswoman recounts how rock 'n' roll inspired her to venture out of her comfort zone

Michael Sweet on his star-studded solo album Ten, what's next for Stryper, and why he should have been a leftie
By Mark McStea published
The Stryper frontman on his wife being his writing mediator and the lasting influence of Elvis on his style as a guitarist

Kenny Wayne Shepherd: those SRV clone accusations came from a jealous place
By Mark McStea published
There aren’t many roads this Strat-wielding blues whiz hasn’t been down, but his new album, The Traveler, still breaks new ground

Gov't Mule's Warren Haynes: "When I switch to my ’59 Les Paul, there’s something magical there that you just can’t replicate"
By Mark McStea published
Warren Haynes dishes on how he's kept Gov't Mule together for 25 years, and offers an interesting take on the regime of self-improvement as a guitarist
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