Whenever the topic of great guitar shredders arises, Steve Vai’s name inevitably comes up, usually first. Even as a central figure in the height of the Eighties shred movement, he was always more comfortable in a supporting role, admittedly happier when driving the sound of Whitesnake and The David Lee Roth Band while the flamboyant [...]

My First Guitar By Julia Crowe (ECW Press) Anyone who loves guitars and guitar players (whether or not you’re a player yourself) will love looking through this book. Who wouldn’t want to sit down with their favorite performers and listen to them talk about the instrument that had the most profound influence on their life [...]

When I was 16, I bought my first Led Zeppelin greatest hits CD and I was instantly awestruck. I got off on sparking up a Camel Light to the opening riff of “Black Dog,” and I listened to “Stairway To Heaven” twice on my 16 minute commute to school every morning. As a budding guitarist [...]

The epic cornerstone to the Zepplin rock legacy.

For this shortened week’s blog, we look at one record. Photo: Rebecca Gillespie STREAM: It’s hard to glean a lot off the internet about the man who, in Nashville, they call Willy T. (Good luck finding his MySpace page, though if you want a hint, try “historyismystery”.) But despite the set of common names, William [...]

Jimmy Page is set to release his first autobiography. However, don’t expect any words of wisdom from the Led Zeppelin legend—it’s a 500-page collection of more than 650 photographs. Limited to 2,500 autographed copies, the hand-bound books are available for preorder at £445 each (approximately $685), shipping and handling not included. Page worked closely with [...]

BOSS FUZZ FZ-5 LIST PRICE: $163.50 WWW.BOSSUS.COM Rating: The first fuzz pedals, like so much in the annals of rock history, were an accident. Legend has it that Grady Martin, one of the rotating members of Nashville’s top session men, The A-Team, first happened upon the effect after running his guitar direct to the console [...]

According to Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, British singer-songwriter Gemma Ray’s music is “not to be missed.” We concur. On May 18, Bronzerat Records will release It’s A Shame About Gemma Ray, an all-covers album who’s range veers from Sonic Youth to George Gershwin. But don’t expect the songs to sound like the source material: [...]

Zeppelin Ready to Hit the Road, Leaving Plant Behind?

…No Led Zeppelin Reunion or New Album