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?p=37 Sat, 13 Jun 2026 04:19:29 -0400 Mon, 08 Jun 2026 01:02:01 -0400 60 Ultimate-Guitar.Com https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/static/_img/logo_trans.png https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/modules/rss/news.xml.php?p=37 144 44 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/alex-lifeson-explains-why-he-returned-to-gibson-after-years-playing-prs https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/alex-lifeson-explains-why-he-returned-to-gibson-after-years-playing-prs Gear: "That blew me away. I almost started crying."]]> Sat, 13 Jun 2026 04:19:29 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/retrospective/pete-townshend-thought-mick-jagger-was-horrible-until-one-show-left-him-stunned https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/retrospective/pete-townshend-thought-mick-jagger-was-horrible-until-one-show-left-him-stunned Retrospective: "I think we learned more about rock theater that night than…well, I've never, ever, ever been zapped like that."]]> Sat, 13 Jun 2026 02:02:01 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/hillel-slovak-built-the-blueprint-that-john-frusciante-turned-into-his-own-voice-187013 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/hillel-slovak-built-the-blueprint-that-john-frusciante-turned-into-his-own-voice-187013 Features: "I was still using his style as the basis for what I did. His style is the centre of my own."]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:44:12 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/tab_spotlight/nirvanas-about-a-girl-hides-a-beatles-trick-two-simple-chords-and-a-melody-that-wont-sit-still https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/tab_spotlight/nirvanas-about-a-girl-hides-a-beatles-trick-two-simple-chords-and-a-melody-that-wont-sit-still Tab Spotlight: Cobain wrote the song in, as he said, about three hours, with "Meet the Beatles!" on repeat. The song was part of the sludgy-sounding 1989 Nirvana debut "Bleach."]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:23:06 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/why-chris-stapletons-country-tone-comes-from-his-amp-not-his-fender-jazzmaster https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/why-chris-stapletons-country-tone-comes-from-his-amp-not-his-fender-jazzmaster Gear: The wide pickups give him single-coil bite without a Telecaster's ice-pick, while a brown 1962 Princeton's tube tremolo supplies the movement and warmth most players try to wring out of the guitar itself. Listen to "Parachute" or "Second One to Know" and the lesson lands: stop asking your guitar to do everything, and let a good amp carry the personality.]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:17:28 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/new-rush-drummer-anika-nilles-says-learning-neil-pearts-parts-was-unlike-anything-shes-done-before-you-cannot-really-write-it-out-a-lot-of-it-is-kind-of-a-feeling https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/new-rush-drummer-anika-nilles-says-learning-neil-pearts-parts-was-unlike-anything-shes-done-before-you-cannot-really-write-it-out-a-lot-of-it-is-kind-of-a-feeling Music News: "I learned those songs in a completely different way. My preparation was so different from how I prepare myself usually."]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 02:46:34 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/lifted-note-for-note-no-credit-jack-gardiner-confronted-giacomo-turra-over-selling-his-stolen-solos-a-week-later-turra-was-back-at-it-again https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/lifted-note-for-note-no-credit-jack-gardiner-confronted-giacomo-turra-over-selling-his-stolen-solos-a-week-later-turra-was-back-at-it-again Music News: "I think he's still releasing music; I saw one video where he's miming to a track that's being played in the background."]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 01:41:28 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/dean-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-after-series-of-legal-battles-and-reported-debt-of-up-to-50-million-calls-it-a-proactive-step https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/dean-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-after-series-of-legal-battles-and-reported-debt-of-up-to-50-million-calls-it-a-proactive-step Gear: Dean's parent company "Armadillo wishes to assure both its retail and consumer partners that all existing orders, dealer relationships, and customer commitments will continue to be honored."]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:25:33 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/how-a-forgotten-musician-helped-create-cream-graham-bond-put-jack-bruce-and-ginger-baker-in-a-room-together-186752 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/how-a-forgotten-musician-helped-create-cream-graham-bond-put-jack-bruce-and-ginger-baker-in-a-room-together-186752 Features: Voted Britain's New Jazz Star in 1961, Bond promptly abandoned jazz for the scruffier thrill of R&B and built a band around his roaring Hammond, pioneering tricks like pairing it with a Leslie speaker and cutting some of the earliest records with a Mellotron. He gave a young John McLaughlin an early stage and handed Jon Lord the blueprint for Deep Purple's keyboard sound. He taught the players who taught everyone else, and the industry still let him die all but anonymous.]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:32:08 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/how-neil-pearts-arrival-turned-rush-from-a-led-zeppelin-clone-into-something-all-their-own-186992 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/how-neil-pearts-arrival-turned-rush-from-a-led-zeppelin-clone-into-something-all-their-own-186992 Features: On the 1974 debut, Geddy Lee's wail drew Robert Plant comparisons and Alex Lifeson's riffs echoed Jimmy Page so closely that critics wrote the trio off as imitators. Lee never denied it, recalling the three of them sitting in "utter awe" of Led Zeppelin's first record. The break came on "Fly By Night," where long-form ambition and a quieter, stranger streak started crowding the blues out.]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:02:02 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/travis-stever-says-coheeds-toughest-songs-to-play-live-are-the-ones-he-didnt-write-and-one-became-a-favorite https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/travis-stever-says-coheeds-toughest-songs-to-play-live-are-the-ones-he-didnt-write-and-one-became-a-favorite Music News: "I find the most challenging stuff for me is when it did not come from me."]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:02:01 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/bill-ward-never-played-paranoid-the-same-way-twice-i-wouldnt-know-how-to-he-says-most-of-black-sabbaths-show-was-improvisation https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/bill-ward-never-played-paranoid-the-same-way-twice-i-wouldnt-know-how-to-he-says-most-of-black-sabbaths-show-was-improvisation Music News: Ward also named one of his all-time Black Sabbath favorite songs, which he described as "just absolutely pinnacle metal."]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 01:47:06 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/alex-lifeson-sold-his-beloved-whitey-es-355-for-384k-and-called-it-one-of-the-most-difficult-things-hes-ever-done-now-epiphone-is-bringing-it-back-for-1499 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/alex-lifeson-sold-his-beloved-whitey-es-355-for-384k-and-called-it-one-of-the-most-difficult-things-hes-ever-done-now-epiphone-is-bringing-it-back-for-1499 Gear: "What I love about this Epiphone 'Whitey' recreation is how faithfully it captures that original spirit while still feeling fresh and alive in your hands," Lifeson said of the reissue.]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:16:39 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/tab_spotlight/soundgardens-my-wave-riff-how-kim-thayil-used-eebbbb-tuning-to-build-a-drone-heavy-groove https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/tab_spotlight/soundgardens-my-wave-riff-how-kim-thayil-used-eebbbb-tuning-to-build-a-drone-heavy-groove Tab Spotlight: "My Wave" is a riff in uncommon time, and an even more uncommon tuning, but it's a great intro to droning sounds, playing outside of 4/4, and strong muting that gives a song its groove.]]> Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:48:38 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/they-played-punk-before-the-ramones-called-death-this-detroit-band-was-burried-for-34-years-186674 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/they-played-punk-before-the-ramones-called-death-this-detroit-band-was-burried-for-34-years-186674 Features: Columbia's Clive Davis liked the demos and helped fund the 1975 sessions, then asked for one thing: lose the name Death. David Hackney refused, the deal collapsed, and the brothers pressed just 500 copies of a single before splitting by 1977.]]> Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:16:35 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/where-blink-182-grew-up-25-years-ago-take-off-your-pants-and-jacket-is-more-than-its-glossy-hits-186950 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/where-blink-182-grew-up-25-years-ago-take-off-your-pants-and-jacket-is-more-than-its-glossy-hits-186950 Features: Behind "First Date" and "Rock Show," we can notice the band's first reach for something a bit heavier. "Online Songs" plays like the anxious evil twin of those singles, "Stay Together for the Kids" turns childhood divorce into the album's deepest wound, and Tom DeLonge's liquid, atmospheric guitar tones quietly point toward Angels and Airwaves. ]]> Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:02:02 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/kim-thayil-on-finishing-soundgardens-final-chris-cornell-album-its-emotionally-difficult-but-the-goal-is-gold https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/kim-thayil-on-finishing-soundgardens-final-chris-cornell-album-its-emotionally-difficult-but-the-goal-is-gold Music News: "The process is different and at times difficult. But the goal and the endgame of the project is the best that we can have."]]> Wed, 10 Jun 2026 03:02:02 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/gibson-launches-shred-focused-victory-floyd-rose-control-stability-and-performance-todays-high-energy-players-expect https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/gibson-launches-shred-focused-victory-floyd-rose-control-stability-and-performance-todays-high-energy-players-expect Gear: "It's a system built not just for tonal variety, but for creative exploration—designed to respond dynamically to the player's touch and adapt across styles, stages, and studio sessions."]]> Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:27:46 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/the-petty-backstage-volume-war-that-forced-jim-marshall-to-invent-the-iconic-4x12-amp-stack https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/the-petty-backstage-volume-war-that-forced-jim-marshall-to-invent-the-iconic-4x12-amp-stack Gear: "Townshend wanted a cabinet containing eight 12-inch speakers." ]]> Tue, 09 Jun 2026 21:44:59 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/it-was-bad-for-ozzy-to-be-around-tommy-lee-on-the-84-tour-that-ended-with-ozzy-crying-onstage https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/it-was-bad-for-ozzy-to-be-around-tommy-lee-on-the-84-tour-that-ended-with-ozzy-crying-onstage Music News: "It's just time for him to go home and get some rest."]]> Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:04:49 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/the-album-that-sent-queen-on-their-final-tour-with-freddie-mercury-a-kind-of-magic-still-has-its-magic-40-years-later-186965 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/the-album-that-sent-queen-on-their-final-tour-with-freddie-mercury-a-kind-of-magic-still-has-its-magic-40-years-later-186965 Features: Coming off the Live Aid performance that Brian May credited with handing the band its confidence back, Queen had every reason to keep pushing. The album doubled as the unofficial soundtrack to "Highlander," produced the towering ballad "Who Wants to Live Forever," and carried a grandeur few of their '70s peers could still summon in 1986.]]> Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:02:01 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/want-to-crank-your-tube-amp-into-distortion-without-neighbors-calling-the-cops-learn-what-headroom-is-first https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/want-to-crank-your-tube-amp-into-distortion-without-neighbors-calling-the-cops-learn-what-headroom-is-first Gear: Wattage is a lazy shortcut. Rectifier type, speaker efficiency, and power tubes are why two amps with identical specs can feel like different instruments. Pedal players want an amp that gets out of the way, and amp-tone players want one that breaks up before the neighbors call the cops.]]> Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:11:02 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/retrospective/chris-cornell-soundgarden-preceded-nirvana-and-pearl-jam-in-the-seattle-grunge-scene https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/retrospective/chris-cornell-soundgarden-preceded-nirvana-and-pearl-jam-in-the-seattle-grunge-scene Retrospective: "We were the ones on the road who saw the door opening a crack."]]> Tue, 09 Jun 2026 03:11:30 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/session-legend-lee-sklar-on-substance-vs-technique-and-the-one-downside-of-phil-collins-live-shows-if-you-cant-come-up-with-one-good-bassline-its-useless https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/session-legend-lee-sklar-on-substance-vs-technique-and-the-one-downside-of-phil-collins-live-shows-if-you-cant-come-up-with-one-good-bassline-its-useless Music News: "Content has to come first."]]> Tue, 09 Jun 2026 01:02:02 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-cried-dream-theaters-mike-portnoy-on-anika-nilles-playing-neil-pearts-parts-at-rush-comeback-show https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-cried-dream-theaters-mike-portnoy-on-anika-nilles-playing-neil-pearts-parts-at-rush-comeback-show Music News: The Dream Theater icon previously said he was "relieved" by not being selected to participate in Rush's reunion.]]> Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:49:54 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/taylor-momsen-was-warned-acdc-fans-would-boo-her-off-the-stage-i-havent-lost-yet https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/taylor-momsen-was-warned-acdc-fans-would-boo-her-off-the-stage-i-havent-lost-yet Music News: "AC/DC's audience is loyal and they only care about AC/DC."]]> Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:24:56 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/tab_spotlight/neil-youngs-down-by-the-river-anti-solo-is-almost-all-one-note-its-a-masterclass-in-feel-over-flash https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/tab_spotlight/neil-youngs-down-by-the-river-anti-solo-is-almost-all-one-note-its-a-masterclass-in-feel-over-flash Tab Spotlight: About a minute in, you brace for the flurry that never comes. Young instead digs into a single pitch, hammered out in stabbing staccato, and the restraint is exactly what gives it force.]]> Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:25:45 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/how-rock-lost-to-pop-according-to-todd-rundgren-boys-chose-video-games-and-taylor-swift-replaced-everything https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/how-rock-lost-to-pop-according-to-todd-rundgren-boys-chose-video-games-and-taylor-swift-replaced-everything Music News: "Usually, the public at large gets sick of a certain genre. It would usually be maybe a five year increment, or something like that."]]> Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:14:26 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/alex-lifeson-on-rush-guitar-parts-i-often-take-the-easiest-route-that-sounds-the-most-difficult-relearning-them-for-the-reunion-was-another-story https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/alex-lifeson-on-rush-guitar-parts-i-often-take-the-easiest-route-that-sounds-the-most-difficult-relearning-them-for-the-reunion-was-another-story Music News: "Like Adam Jones, for example, 'How does he play that?' And then, you know, you kind of figure it out, or he shows you. You go, 'Oh my god, that's way simpler than I thought.'"]]> Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:49:28 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/kim-thayil-chris-cornell-said-you-dont-need-me-hours-before-his-death https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/kim-thayil-chris-cornell-said-you-dont-need-me-hours-before-his-death Music News: "I just remember that I thought Chris looked pained."]]> Mon, 08 Jun 2026 01:02:01 -0400