News Latest News from Ultimate-Guitar.Com. en-US Copyright 1998-2026 Ultimate-Guitar.Com. All rights reserved. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/modules/rss/news.xml.php?artist=12743 Thu, 15 May 2025 16:14:49 -0400 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:48:13 -0500 60 Ultimate-Guitar.Com https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/static/_img/logo_trans.png https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/modules/rss/news.xml.php?artist=12743 144 44 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/retrospective/they-arent-known-as-good-songwriters-theyre-just-going-off-on-guitar-why-al-di-meola-never-considered-himself-a-shredder https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/retrospective/they-arent-known-as-good-songwriters-theyre-just-going-off-on-guitar-why-al-di-meola-never-considered-himself-a-shredder Retrospective: "It's that word shred that I'm not crazy about."]]> Thu, 15 May 2025 16:14:49 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/retrospective/the-kinks-you-really-got-me-inspired-this-jazz-fusion-guitar-classic-the-basis-of-the-song-is-that-riff https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/retrospective/the-kinks-you-really-got-me-inspired-this-jazz-fusion-guitar-classic-the-basis-of-the-song-is-that-riff Retrospective: "This might surprise some people."]]> Sat, 05 Apr 2025 22:02:01 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al-di-meola-reveals-key-thing-to-keeping-a-steady-rhythm-for-most-guitar-players-its-not-achievable https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al-di-meola-reveals-key-thing-to-keeping-a-steady-rhythm-for-most-guitar-players-its-not-achievable Music News: "You have to try it, but it can be a thing that just might not be able to get."]]> Sun, 09 Mar 2025 19:30:10 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/the_record_industry_is_dead_or_close_to_dead_al_di_meola_on_why_young_artists_will_have_a_more_difficult_time_than_he_did.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/the_record_industry_is_dead_or_close_to_dead_al_di_meola_on_why_young_artists_will_have_a_more_difficult_time_than_he_did.html Music News: "And, of course, the record companies are not going to put money into building a career and support a tour."]]> Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:13:31 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/a_lot_of_electric_players_just_cant_play_a_nylon_al_di_meola_explains_why_he_prefers_to_practice_on_acoustic_guitar.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/a_lot_of_electric_players_just_cant_play_a_nylon_al_di_meola_explains_why_he_prefers_to_practice_on_acoustic_guitar.html Music News: "There [are] certain limitations if you do play a nylon."]]> Thu, 03 Oct 2024 23:25:37 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/theyre_not_there_yet_al_di_meola_reveals_what_modern_guitarists_lack_names_most_explosive_period_for_rock_and_pop_music.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/theyre_not_there_yet_al_di_meola_reveals_what_modern_guitarists_lack_names_most_explosive_period_for_rock_and_pop_music.html Music News: "Today, I don't know if there's anything that blows me away."]]> Sun, 29 Sep 2024 13:22:05 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_says_youll_accomplish_more_as_a_musician_if_you_do_this_its_just_mindblowing.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_says_youll_accomplish_more_as_a_musician_if_you_do_this_its_just_mindblowing.html Music News: "It's amazing what you can accomplish."]]> Mon, 05 Aug 2024 14:57:09 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/he_didnt_learn_the_lines_but_al_di_meola_recalls_what_jaco_pastorius_was_really_like_to_work_with_in_studio.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/he_didnt_learn_the_lines_but_al_di_meola_recalls_what_jaco_pastorius_was_really_like_to_work_with_in_studio.html Music News: "It's unbelievable, what he brought to it."]]> Sun, 28 Jul 2024 17:19:58 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i_love_the_vibrato_bar_but_al_di_meola_reveals_biggest_problems_of_guitars_with_tremolo_bridges.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i_love_the_vibrato_bar_but_al_di_meola_reveals_biggest_problems_of_guitars_with_tremolo_bridges.html Music News: "You do lose some sustain capabilities."]]> Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:04:42 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/theyre_super_great_but_al_di_meola_reveals_one_thing_younger_guitarists_are_lacking_explains_why_its_harder_for_new_musicians_today.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/theyre_super_great_but_al_di_meola_reveals_one_thing_younger_guitarists_are_lacking_explains_why_its_harder_for_new_musicians_today.html Music News: "You can't be playing licks all night, two hours, and the composition is weak."]]> Wed, 17 Jul 2024 17:43:48 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_names_one_thing_matteo_mancuso_is_lacking_technique_is_not_enough_even_though_its_the_best_of_this_generation.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_names_one_thing_matteo_mancuso_is_lacking_technique_is_not_enough_even_though_its_the_best_of_this_generation.html Music News: "That's a big thing we're forgetting."]]> Mon, 27 May 2024 23:05:39 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_announces_first_studio_album_in_four_years_releases_lead_single_fandango.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_announces_first_studio_album_in_four_years_releases_lead_single_fandango.html Music News: "This fusion of flamenco and jazz is just the beginning of the beautiful wild meadow I've cultivated over the last four years."]]> Wed, 06 Mar 2024 21:35:33 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_suffered_heart_attack_at_recent_live_show.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_suffered_heart_attack_at_recent_live_show.html Music News: UPDATE: Al shared a statement on the matter. ]]> Thu, 28 Sep 2023 17:03:49 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_recalls_les_paul_being_impressed_by_his_playing_it_was_almost_like_a_dream.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_recalls_les_paul_being_impressed_by_his_playing_it_was_almost_like_a_dream.html Music News: Les Paul the person, not the guitar.]]> Thu, 27 Apr 2023 20:40:34 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_names_one_thing_most_super_phenomenal_players_online_lack.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_names_one_thing_most_super_phenomenal_players_online_lack.html Music News: "I see a lot of young players online with such super-phenomenal technique and in many cases, super-phenomenal lines"]]> Wed, 12 Oct 2022 21:23:30 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_explains_why_its_torture_to_record_an_album_today_talks_unusual_way_how_he_developed_palm_muting_technique.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_explains_why_its_torture_to_record_an_album_today_talks_unusual_way_how_he_developed_palm_muting_technique.html Music News: He also reveals a guitarist who gave him "ultimate picking lessons."]]> Tue, 08 Mar 2022 20:43:54 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_remembers_weird_way_how_he_got_a_gig_with_chick_corea_it_was_through_a_tape_where_he_was_tripping_on_acid.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_remembers_weird_way_how_he_got_a_gig_with_chick_corea_it_was_through_a_tape_where_he_was_tripping_on_acid.html Music News: Turns out his New Jersey friend is to blame.]]> Wed, 02 Mar 2022 14:52:21 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_explains_his_problem_with_shredders_names_surprising_connection_with_iconic_rock_song.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_explains_his_problem_with_shredders_names_surprising_connection_with_iconic_rock_song.html Music News: "They're just going off on the guitar. I come from a compositional background."]]> Tue, 04 Aug 2020 12:22:08 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_recalls_what_made_paco_de_lucia_nervous_beyond_belief__what_he_had_to_do_to_relax_talks_competition_with_john_mclaughlin.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_recalls_what_made_paco_de_lucia_nervous_beyond_belief__what_he_had_to_do_to_relax_talks_competition_with_john_mclaughlin.html Music News: "His friend said, 'He really can't relax unless he has some pot.'"]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2020 12:10:15 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_explains_struggle_of_covering_the_beatles_names_song_that_was_surprisingly_super-hard_to_play.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_explains_struggle_of_covering_the_beatles_names_song_that_was_surprisingly_super-hard_to_play.html Music News: "There was no intent to make it better than The Beatles at all."]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2020 11:16:57 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_to_younger_guitarists_learning_from_teacher_is_only_part_of_the_game.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_to_younger_guitarists_learning_from_teacher_is_only_part_of_the_game.html Music News: "When I was young I had a great guitar teacher," the musician says.]]> Thu, 02 Jan 2020 15:02:04 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_speaks_up_on_catastrophic_tinnitus_diagnose__how_it_affects_his_playing.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_speaks_up_on_catastrophic_tinnitus_diagnose__how_it_affects_his_playing.html Music News: The guitarist says he's about 30% deaf, also talks about "discovering" Jaco Pastorius.]]> Sun, 24 Nov 2019 00:32:21 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_names_the_1_thing_that_he_doesnt_like_about_todays_killer_young_guitarists.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_names_the_1_thing_that_he_doesnt_like_about_todays_killer_young_guitarists.html Music News: "You see a lot of hot players online, young guys that are doing some really great stuff," the guitarist says.]]> Mon, 28 Oct 2019 08:59:56 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/al_di_meola_streaming_new_single_broken_heart_new_album_opus_due_next_month.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/al_di_meola_streaming_new_single_broken_heart_new_album_opus_due_next_month.html New Releases: "For the first time in my life, I have written music being happy."]]> Wed, 24 Jan 2018 17:47:59 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_my_no_1_tip_for_getting_a_good_live_guitar_sound.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_my_no_1_tip_for_getting_a_good_live_guitar_sound.html Music News: "If you have an ambient sound, it makes your instrument sound 10 times bigger than it actually is."]]> Fri, 24 Nov 2017 11:59:58 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/an_interview_with_guitar_legend_al_di_meola_-_part_2.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/an_interview_with_guitar_legend_al_di_meola_-_part_2.html Interviews: In Part II of our lengthy conversation with the great Al Di Meola, he looks at working with Paco de Lucia, a close encounter with Les Paul and how New Wave music back in the 1980s almost spelled the death knell for his kind of music.]]> Sat, 25 Jun 2016 11:22:16 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/an_interview_with_guitar_legend_al_di_meola_-_part_1.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/an_interview_with_guitar_legend_al_di_meola_-_part_1.html Interviews: Al talks about his earliest days with Return to Forever, feeling the ghosts of the Beatles and trading licks with John McLaughlin.]]> Fri, 24 Jun 2016 11:30:31 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_once_said_saying_that_one_note_says_so_much_more_than_100_is_bullshit.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_once_said_saying_that_one_note_says_so_much_more_than_100_is_bullshit.html Music News: "I always laugh at idiots who make that claim..."]]> Mon, 06 Jun 2016 13:03:26 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_kendrick_lamar_is_a_joke.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_kendrick_lamar_is_a_joke.html Music News: Guitar icon outraged by the fact that Paul McCartney was denied entry at Grammy afterparty.]]> Wed, 17 Feb 2016 18:29:31 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_assembles_winter_trek.html https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_di_meola_assembles_winter_trek.html Music News: Guitar virtuoso Al Di Meola and his new band, World Sinfonia, will kick off the New Year with a US tour and live album release.]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:48:13 -0500