Michael Astley-Brown
Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.
Latest articles by Michael Astley-Brown
Harley Benton’s new pedalboards feature a built-in power supply – and rechargeable battery
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The affordable gear champ’s new Spaceship PowerBar fuels your rig but doesn’t need to be plugged into the wall
Mojotone unveils the British Neo, a neodymium amp speaker that promises classic tone without the weight
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The company’s first neodymium speaker is the result of years of research and development
John Frusciante’s guitar teacher once told him he wasn’t a good guitarist – so he learned to play like Steve Vai: “No-one was going to say that to me again”
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The Red Hot Chili Peppers guitar hero recalls being criticized because he couldn’t play the blues scale fast enough: “It was about the worst feeling I could imagine”
Silver Sky meets Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jonny Greenwood goes stoner rock: this week’s essential guitar tracks
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Fresh cuts from Baroness, The Smile, Slowdive, Cannibal Corpse, Rocco, Lance Lopez, Ichika Nito, Laurence Jones and a heck of a lot more…
How the guitarist from Incubus ended up writing one of the biggest riffs of the 21st century… with Avicii
By Michael Astley-Brown published
It may not fit into conventional riff territory, but Mike Einziger’s infectious guitar line in Wake Me Up is among the most widely heard refrains of the past two decades – yet, as the guitarist admits, he “had no idea it would do what it did”
The ultimate analog delay pedal? Boss unveils the all-powerful DM-101 Delay Machine
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The feature-stacked stompbox combines all-analog repeats with modern CPU control – and it could be a game-changer in the world of analog delays
“I hadn’t heard such clarity and definition before”: Tosin Abasi overhauls his backline with new stereo tube amp rig
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The Animals as Leaders mastermind – and former Axe-Fx devotee – has switched to Bad Cat Amps for his tour with Dream Theater and Devin Townsend
Dynamo Amplification launches its first-ever bass amp, a hand-built all-tube head that promises “unmatched clarity”
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The GT Bass is only the tip of the iceberg as the Texas firm targets the bass guitar market
2023’s most jaw-dropping metal solo? Gina Gleason proves Telecasters can shred on new Baroness single Last Word
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The first taste of sixth album STONE is essential listening for anyone who thinks metal solos have nothing new to say
Forget broken guitars – what the TSA did to Vernon Reid’s pedalboard is something else
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The Living Colour legend had his rig torn apart ahead of a recent flight, and touring guitarists can’t believe the state it’s in
This week’s essential guitar tracks: from a former Megadeth shredder’s Pink Floyd cover to Dumble-assisted slide brilliance
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Fresh six-string inspiration from Joe Bonamassa, Voice of Baceprot, Cory Wong, Alice Cooper, Rivers of Nihil, Duff McKagan and oh so many more
Slash and Tom Morello recreate their epic Guitar Hero duels in live shred-off
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The pair unleashed solo fireworks aplenty as they gave their 2020 collaboration Interstate 80 its live debut
Fed up with Gibson SG neck dive? An ingenious new guitar strap could be the answer
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Frantone mastermind Fran Blanche claims to have solved SG headstock drooping once and for all
This radical winged headstock design promises improved sustain, easier bending and enhanced tuning stability – and it just got a new look
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Morifone Guitars has given its Aileron headstock a refresh as it launches its second electric guitar model, the Spada
Muse fans are going crazy for Matt Bellamy’s astonishing mirror mask guitar – we found out how Manson made its most ambitious design yet
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Inspired by the mask worn by the Muse frontman in recent videos and live performances, the Manson team built an instrument like no other – and one day you might be able to buy your own
Tool’s Adam Jones unveils new version of the best Epiphone Les Paul on the market
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The fourth incarnation of the hugely impressive Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection is here – and it features, er, “ironic rococo surrealism with a social-satirical twist”
This week’s essential guitar tracks: thrash wigouts that sound like Tool on acid and the best MTV video pastiche you’ll see all month
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Unmissable new jams from King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Gov't Mule, Nita Strauss, Towa Bird, Empire State Bastard, My Ugly Clementine and LOADS MORE
Godin just unveiled its best-appointed Session guitar yet – and it could give Fender and Ibanez a run for their money
By Michael Astley-Brown published
With a Canadian build and choice Seymour Duncan pickups, the Superstrat-styled Session T-Pro has serious potential
Zakk Wylde’s latest Pantera guitar is a tribute to Dimebag Darrell’s Dean From Hell – is a new guitar line in the works?
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The lightning bolt-finished Wylde Audio Warhammer pays homage to Dime’s iconic Dean ML design – and could point towards a new range of guitars inspired by the late guitar hero
Nuno Bettencourt explains what’s underrated about Tom Morello’s guitar playing – and why it “pisses me off a little bit”
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The Extreme virtuoso voiced his thoughts on his Rage Against the Machine guitar buddy in a recent joint press conference
Can’t wait for Dave Grohl’s DG-335? Emily Wolfe just dropped the best-looking Epiphone semi-hollow of the year
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The blues-rocker’s new “White Wolfe” Sheraton is a stone-cold stunner
MXR might have just made the most versatile Fuzz Face ever – and it only has two controls
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The Hybrid Fuzz combines germanium and silicon transistors for one era-spanning fuzz pedal
We don’t know anything about Sleep Token, but at least we have some idea of what guitar gear they’re using
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Jackson Guitars has gone behind the scenes with metal’s most mysterious band to uncover the rig that powers IV’s crushing live tones
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