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
Wait, Polyphia are using Marshall amps now?
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Digital modeling enthusiasts Tim Henson and Scott LePage have been spotted with JCM800s – but is everything as it seems?
This week's essential guitar tracks: from the biggest rock band on Earth to Nuno Bettencourt's favorite solo
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Songs you gotta hear from Rockin’1000 ft. Chris Robertson, Extreme, Elegant Weapons, Foo Fighters, Code Orange, ONI feat. Jared Dines and oh so many more
Fender debuts limited-run Sakuraburst MIJ Hybrid II Stratocaster – and this one’s actually available outside of Japan
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Previously a Japan-only exclusive, could the arrival of this fresh ’burst herald a change in tack from Fender?
This week's essential guitar tracks: two of YouTube's biggest shred heroes team up and a slide titan pays tribute to a Southern rock guitar legend
By Michael Astley-Brown published
This week has played host to some of 2023's most exciting tracks so far from Sophie Lloyd and Cole Rolland, Royal Blood, Starbenders, Evile, Mutoid Man, Duane Betts ft. Derek Trucks, Buck Meek and a whole lot more
TC Electronic debuts the Infinite Mini Sample Sustainer, shrinking John Mayer’s favorite infinite sustain pedal
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The new design delivers the same organic infinitely looped layers but in a pedalboard real estate-saving enclosure
Tom Morello’s guitar rig is now a Neural DSP plugin – watch the Rage Against the Machine firebrand demo his signature software… with a wrench
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Archetype: Tom Morello crams the iconic pedalboard and long-serving Marshall JCM amp into your computer – but does it nail those trademark Whammy tones?
This week's essential guitar tracks: alt-rock heroes return and a virtual metal band team up with a thrash legend
By Michael Astley-Brown, Jackson Maxwell, Matt Owen, Matt Parker published
Unmissable new cuts from Queens of the Stone Age, Nili Brosh, Alex Skolnick, Black Stone Cherry, Tash Sultana, Asking Alexandria and… Dolly Parton?!
This week's essential guitar tracks: from Smashing Pumpkins' shredding metal turn to solos from the son of a session legend
By Michael Astley-Brown, Jackson Maxwell, Matt Parker published
All the guitar-driven songs you need to hear this week
Kiesel unveils the Sophie Lloyd Signature Series – signature guitars you can spec yourself
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The social media virtuoso and Machine Gun Kelly guitarist has kitted her signature model out with some fun appointments – and aesthetics you can customize
Dustie Waring steps down from Between the Buried and Me tour following sexual assault allegations
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The prog-metal outfit have confirmed a session guitarist will step in for Waring
Guitarists rally round Ice Nine Kills’ Dan Sugarman as medical scare forces him to pull out of Metallica support slots
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Kiko Loureiro, Angel Vivaldi and Robb Flynn have expressed their support for Sugarman, who will be replaced by Bad Wolves’ Doc Coyle and Miles Dimitri Baker for the shows
Fender’s latest Tom DeLonge Starcaster features actual meteorite dust in its finish – a potential first for guitar building
By Michael Astley-Brown published
A production-line version of the Blink-182 guitarist’s signature model is looking more likely than ever – minus the space dust
Keanu Reeves picks up the bass guitar again as his band Dogstar ready new music and live dates
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The Hollywood star is up to his old Ma-trix
Watch Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt play the Rise solo live for the first time
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Spoiler alert: it’s scary clean
Incubus announce new bassist for 2023 tour dates
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The seasoned session player will follow in the footsteps of Tal Wilkenfeld as a fill-in for longstanding Incubus bassist Ben Kenney
James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett debut new ESP and Gibson guitars at first show of M72 world tour
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Papa Het has a fresh Vulture, while Hammett’s uber-rare ’59 Les Paul got its first-ever runout for the set’s surprise opener
This week’s essential guitar tracks: from lead guitar lightning to one of the most violent riffs of the year
By Matt Owen, Matt Parker, Jackson Maxwell, Michael Astley-Brown published
Everything you need to hear this week, featuring Vexed, Jason Isbell, Avatar, Plush, Tommy Emmanuel, Des Rocs and oh so very many more – now with Spotify playlist!
That time Guthrie Govan covered Rage Against the Machine’s Bulls on Parade and took Tom Morello’s solo to mind-boggling new heights
By Michael Astley-Brown published
Some groundbreaking lead work – including two-hand tapping with a glass slide – highlighted the virtuoso’s awe-inspiring performance
Essential guitar tracks – hear our bumper edition of the latest six-string bangers, all wrapped up in a Spotify playlist
By Michael Astley-Brown, Matt Owen, Jackson Maxwell, Matt Parker published
As we recover from the NAMM melee, explore this 26-track pick of the pickers from recent weeks
Chris Cornell’s final Soundgarden recordings will finally see the light of day – but what will the material sound like?
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The iconic grunge band’s surviving members and the Estate of Chris Cornell have settled their long-running lawsuit
NAMM 2023 live: all the biggest news as it happened
By Jackson Maxwell last updated
All the guitar gear and goings-ons you need to know about – direct from the show floor
Watch Tom DeLonge’s new Fender Starcaster make its live debut at Blink-182’s surprise Coachella set
By Michael Astley-Brown published
A production-line signature model could well be on the cards
NAMM 2023 news: all the latest guitar news, rumors and predictions
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
Everything launched this year at the world’s biggest guitar gear show
NAMM 2023: Seagull celebrates over 40 years of its classic S6 acoustic with the affordable new S6 Collection 1982
By Michael Astley-Brown published
The new S6 promises to encapsulate the best of Seagull designs, including a wealth of desirable tone woods, for less than the price of the original
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