Latest about best of 23
Gibson unveils head-turning refresh of its most famous electric guitar with the launch of the slimmed-down (and more affordable) Les Paul Modern Lite
The Modern Lite has a thin mahogany body with a belly cut for comfort, and comes in fresh solid-colour finishes with matching headstocks – and with a refreshing $1,499 price tag
“I didn’t want to have anything to do with the song. To me, it was like: ‘Are we turning into Depeche Mode?’”: Europe’s John Norum says he thought The Final Countdown was “dreadful” at first
It would go on to become the Swedish rockers’ biggest track but Norum took some persuading that all those synths would work with guitar
"The way that Control sounds is an accident because we didn’t know what we were doing": why Jam and Lewis recorded Janet Jackson’s breakthrough album ‘wrong’, and why it’s all Prince’s fault
Best of 2023: Because learning from the best beats reading manual, every time
"I said, 'I wish Sting was here', and they said 'He is, he’s here on holiday!'": Mark Knopfler, George Martin and more on 10 years, 70 albums, massive hit singles, a hurricane and a volcano – the incredible story of AIR Studios Montserrat
Best of 2023: The Police, Dire Straits, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Duran Duran are just a few of the AAA names who enjoyed the most idyllic of recording studios, but it didn't end well for this particular AIR
Paul McCartney on bass: "When we met Elvis, I was like, ‘You’re trying to learn bass, are you, son? Sit down, let me show you a few things’"
Classic 1994 interview: "Once I got over the fact that I was lumbered with it, I did get quite proud to be a bass player"
Making Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers: "We've got no boundaries anymore. We can do whatever we want, whenever we want, however we want it"
Best of 2023: We dive into the key moments of sampling and production that shaped Kendrick Lamar's deeply confessional fourth studio album
“We are the most difficult simple band. I’ve often heard guys coming up to us saying, ‘You guys are just playing barre chords!’ I am glad you think it is that simple!”– Troy Van Leeuwen on QOTSA's musical illusions and gear secrets
Best of 2023: Troy Van Leeuwen checks in from The End Is Nero Tour to talk fuzz favourites, filling in for Dave Navarro in Jane's Addiction, and why no one pedal alone can recreate Queens Of The Stone Age's guitar tone
16 famous musicians who almost joined very famous bands
Best of 2023: What could have been: featuring The Rolling Stones, Guns N' Roses, Beatles, Van Halen, The Doors, Led Zeppelin and more
“I’ve been chasing this sound for so long and it’s finally here now”: YouTuber spends 6 months making a replica of the aluminium guitar Kurt Cobain used to record In Utero, and it sounds incredible
Aaron Rash is an In Utero tone obsessive and having tracked down the amps and pedals behind Cobain's guitar tone on the album he took it into his own hands to build a Veleno clone
