Latest articles by David Mead
One for the road - Robin Trower: “I was playing with Jack Bruce and my amp caught fire. That was a bit Spinal Tap”
Heavenly gigs and horror stories
One for the road - Midge Ure: “I had access to everything from The Carpenters to Led Zeppelin, and that was my musical apprenticeship”
We talk first gigs, guitars and live advice with the Ultravox man
Barrie Cadogan: “I’m trying to show Danny Kirwan a bit of love, really, because he’s been grossly overlooked”
The Little Barrie frontman on the former Fleetwood Mac guitarist, his touring rig and losing drummer Virgil Howe
Oz Noy: “The main problem with teaching guitar today is YouTube. People try to take shortcuts”
The dedicated teacher and fusion maestro
The workshop: Manson Guitar Works
The British maker that can boast of builds for Matt Bellamy, John Paul Jones and Dave Grohl
One for the road - Dave Davies: “I think the guys who wrote This Is Spinal Tap must have been to a few Kinks concerts”
On first shows, live flops and just how long it takes to get to Exeter
The workshop: Laney Amplification
A guided tour of the British amp builder's Custom Shop
One for the road - Martin Barre: “Spinal Tap moment? We used to dress up in animal suits and have four-hour shows”
The ex-Tull man on live mishaps, infestations and the benefits of running
The Bootleg Beatles: “The Beatles could overdub as much as they like. We don’t have that luxury live on stage”
The Fab Four tribute act on learning left-handed, tackling tones and the White Album
Kirk Fletcher: "Seeing Robben Ford was the thing to make me go, 'Okay, I wanna play for real…'"
One of blues guitar's hottest players on his journey so far
One for the road - Rich Robinson: “I think there’s enough pandering in the world... We’re ‘entertained to’ enough”
The former Black Crowe on playing live and tour stories
One for the road - Steve Hackett: "Songs only become classic with the passing of time"
Stage falls, live rigs and bad plane rides
One for the road - Chris Spedding: “Spinal Tap moments? I’ve appeared in a Womble suit… that probably covers that one”
First gigs, stage rigs and nightmare journeys
Kris Barras: “I think I was always looking for more with guitar and I wanted something that really taxed me”
It's not every day that you hear about an ex-cage fighter becoming one of the most talked about blues rock guitarists on the UK touring circuit…
10 questions for Steven Van Zandt: "Acoustic around the campfire? That’s just never going to happen…"
He’s Springsteen’s right-hand man in The E Street Band - but how will he handle the 10 questions we ask everyone?
One for the road: The Cars' Elliot Easton - "The registration desk had bulletproof glass in front of it"
The Cars’ Elliot Easton reflects on the wisdom of checking the setlist before embarking on Townshend-style guitar demolition…
10 questions for Greg Koch: “Think of improvising in terms of building a conversation rather than just talking”
He’s Milwaukee’s hottest guitar export and fusioneer deluxe - but how will Greg Koch deal with the 10 questions we ask everyone?
One for the road - Gus G: “My whole career has been full of Spinal Tap moments!”
The former Ozzy Osbourne sideman reveals how a guitar’s kill switch can literally destroy the vibe…
Ariel Posen: “People started to take notice once we finally started just playing like ourselves”
One of Canada’s finest exports, Ariel Posen tells us how he dials in the golden tones of his stunningly expressive slide work - and how to inspire emotion on guitar...
