“I always wanted to write with Bob Dylan. A crazy idea. Why would he pay attention to a peanut like me?”: Gene Simmons recalls how he ended up writing a song with Dylan – and names the one Kiss song he is most proud of
“He put the tape on and says ‘Who engineered this!?’ Everything is recorded way too loud.’ We said ‘We did! That’s the way Prince records’”: Janet Jackson is celebrating 40 years of Control, but Jam and Lewis made a rookie mistake when they produced it
Kirk Hammett and Jason Newsted almost formed a blues band with members of Sepultura, Sacred Reich – and a blues player who died too young…
“Not everybody’s designed to run a marathon…” Gene Simmons on Ace Frehley’s three departures from Kiss
“I had a guitar stolen. We pulled over to a Guitar Center and there was a used Les Paul Custom on the wall”: Bill Kelliher on what started Mastodon’s Silverburst love affair
Fender launches first Squier Paranormal signature guitar, the Troy Van Leeuwen Telecaster XII: “That guitar can always be heard in the mix”
“This guy dutifully opened the case. I can still smell it. It was this otherworldly object, like something out of Raiders of the Lost Ark”: Johnny Marr on the guitars he’s loved and is about to lose at auction – and the one that started it all
“He helped define the format with landmark videos and live concert recordings”: Billy Joel announces death of bandmate and collaborator
“Gibson wasn’t the only company to lose its mind in thrall to technology”: The 21st century guitar innovations that never caught on
“I think they’ve been forgotten about in our generation”: Why Greta Van Fleet’s Jake Kiszka thinks more guitarists should be using combo amps
“I hate it, and I wrote it – this was the only time we HAD to turn out a single whether we wanted to or not”: How this chart-angled Depeche Mode cut signalled the band’s innovative future
“There was this D-Day where everybody in rock music got dropped except for us and Beck. I felt the immediate hatred in town”: Weezer’s Brian Bell on polarizing fans (and the band), proving the critics wrong, and making the Gold Album
“He turns up 20 minutes before the gig – ‘Alright, what’s the catering like?’”: Liam Gallagher missed the final rehearsal before opening night of the Oasis reunion tour
“Maybe it was a guy on smack who got paid $50”: This Funkadelic solo was one of the band’s best – but who really played it?
“A dude with an enormous heart that could always put a smile on my face. Rest in peace brother”: Rocker and wrestler Andy ‘The Butcher’ Williams dies after bout in Pennsylvania
“Show more compassion and wisdom as we move forward in life. Use my sister’s life as an example for tolerance and respect to towards others”: Stella Parton urges people to stop creating AI and “endless garbage” about her late sister
“We could do more to realise the full potential of talented creators”: Arts Council England launches fund for up-and-coming musicians and artists
“The very day when I’m supposed to go into the studio to record this song, I hear that he’s passed away. Immediately I thought, ‘This song has to be a memorial for Steve’”: Brian May on his heartfelt tribute to Steve Cropper
