Simon Bradley
Simon Bradley is a guitar and especially rock guitar expert who worked for Guitarist magazine and has in the past contributed to world-leading music and guitar titles like MusicRadar (obviously), Guitarist, Guitar World and Louder. What he doesn't know about Brian May's playing and, especially, the Red Special, isn't worth knowing.
Latest articles by Simon Bradley
"I’m telling you, I have a hit record here. I’m going to tour the world for the longest time and if you don’t give this to me, I have another company that will!”: Triple-neck guitars, modern-day cowboys and the story of Bon Jovi's Wanted Dead Or Alive
By Simon Bradley published
"It was quite a process and I believe that each triple-neck is worth about $50,000 – not in materials, but as far as what it costs the company to make them"
Floyd Rose: "Many people ask if this would have happened without Eddie Van Halen and I think it would have, but certainly not as quickly"
By Simon Bradley published
A rare 2010 interview with the locking tremolo innovator
6 songs guitarists need to hear by… Thin Lizzy
By Simon Bradley published
Phil Lynott's band left a sprawling and glorious legacy with an all-star cast of guitarists – here's where to start
Brian May on 9 Queen guitars that aren't his Red Special (plus his Vox AC-30)
By Simon Bradley published
From the archive: The guitar legend on the electrics, acoustics and amps that also helped make Queen tick
5 songs guitarists need to hear by… Brian May
By Simon Bradley published
The guitar connoisseurs' guide to the Queen legend
Epiphone Slash 'AFD' Les Paul Special-II
By Simon Bradley last updated
The AFD Les Paul also comes as part of Epiphone's excellent AFD Performance Pack, but here we're focussing on the guitar itself, which is aimed at guitarists taking their first steps in rock
The 10 different ways Eddie Van Halen made guitar great
By Simon Bradley, Rob Laing last updated
From two-hand tapping to engineering tone and his rhythmic excellence – EVH leaves an incredible legacy
6 songs guitarists need to hear by… Judas Priest
By Simon Bradley last updated
Come gather and worship at the alter of heavy metal as Priest give us an essential sermon
5 songs guitarists need to hear by… AC/DC (that aren't Back In Black)
By Simon Bradley published
The Aussie quintet have produced some of the best out-and-out rock music in history; here are the best places to start
Brian May rig tour: “Brian’s not going to use a Fractal rackmount and in-ears; he wants to hear three screaming AC30s behind him thumping him in the back”
By Simon Bradley published
Brian May’s long-standing tech Pete Malandrone takes us on an intimate tour of the Queen guitarist’s current touring rig
6 songs guitarists need to hear by… Def Leppard
By Simon Bradley last updated
Highlights of a glittering, and sometimes tragic, career
5 songs guitarists need to hear by… Eddie Van Halen
By Simon Bradley published
Paying tribute to one of the greatest guitarists of all time
6 songs guitarists need to hear by… ZZ Top
By Simon Bradley published
The greatest moments of Billy Gibbons
6 songs guitarists need to hear by… Iron Maiden
By Simon Bradley published
Where to start with the quintessential heavy metal band
5 songs guitarists need to hear by… Michael Schenker
By Simon Bradley last updated
The moments of greatness from the man who influenced Hetfield, Hammett and Randy Rhoads
5 songs guitarists need to hear by… Gary Moore
By Simon Bradley published
From hard rock to blues and beyond with a guitar icon
5 songs guitarists need to hear by… Brian Setzer
By Simon Bradley last updated
He's one of the all-time great guitar players, but where do you start? Here!
5 songs guitarists need to hear by… Rush
By Simon Bradley last updated
Songs in the key of Lifeson
Ibanez Announce Left-handed JEM and JS Models
By Simon Bradley last updated
Who says Southpaws are overlooked when great rock guitars are designed? OK, it may have taken a while (try 20 years!) but Ibanez have announced left-handed versions of the JEM and JS...
How to play like Brian May
By Simon Bradley published
Our insider’s guide to emulating the unmistakable style of Queen’s legendary guitarist
A-Z of classic rock guitar
By Chris Bird, Simon Bradley, Rob Laing, Stuart Williams, Henry Yates published
Music styles don't come much wider, cooler or more inspirational than the behemoth that is classic rock
LTD EC-1000 EverTune
By Simon Bradley published
A classic design, with one potentially game-changing innovation: it will never go out of tune. That can't be right, can it?
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