Born in Spokane, Washington, and raised in Southern California, George Lynch endured several false starts before he found success with Dokken. His career and distinctive molten lead style are testaments not only to his talent but his worth ethic. Lynch, in the late 1970s, auditioned for the lead guitar role in former Sabbath frontman Ozzy …
Known as the Man in Black, The Outlaw, or even The Last Great American, Johnny Cash outlived his own ethos as one of the most sincere and powerful songwriters of all time. Few figures of the 20th century evoke a remote emotion the way Cash does. At a first glance of his career, his appeal …
Geezer Butler is, without a doubt, one of the most influential bass players of all time, and equally so, a splendid lyricist who is responsible for spooking a generation into the eerie charm of Black Sabbath. Starting his musical career as a guitarist, he switched over to bass in the late 1960s when he teamed …
It’s not easy to define what a “guitar hero” really is. However, with a player like Tom Morello, we get the privilege to witness some of the elements that make one. But we’re not just talking about the technique or how well a musician applies music theory in practice. Tom has always brought a unique …
Also known as the “Country Gentleman,” Chet Atkins was one of the people responsible for creating the legendary Nashville sound. Atkins was an artist that defined the music industry and the evolution of so many genres with little knowledge or even credit as he moved forward in his career. Chet’s first introduction to a stringed …
A man who needs little introduction. No matter what you call him, The Bard, The Voice of a Generation, Blind Boy Grunt, or Lucky Wilbury, there’s no mistaking the iconic sound of Bob Dylan. He is easily considered one of the best songwriters in history and a pioneer of folk music and has been placed …
From his eccentric guitar solo on Hotel California to 8 minutes of pure blues bliss on Life’s Been Good, Joe Walsh is nothing short of an American rock icon. As The Eagles’ lead guitarist, Joe has inspired millions of guitar players worldwide, including Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Pete Townshend (all of whom are legends …
Long before the advent of rock and roll, and high-speed shredding was a key part of any lead guitarist’s arsenal, there was jazz. Bold techniques, inspirational improvisation, and encyclopedic knowledge of music weren’t just desirable for post-war jazz musicians. They were a minimum requirement. Among the kings and key innovators in the genre was Wes …
Few guitar players have managed to redefine the boundaries of the art of guitar like Polyphia’s mastermind Tim Henson. Even fewer managed to do so in the twenty-first century, when it seemed like all that could be said on the electric guitar was already said. After all, didn’t Eddie Van Halen already redefine guitar as …
Within prog circles, Tool is an unavoidable name. And within Tool, we have one of the best bassists of present-day, Mr. Justin Chancellor. Although he’s technically the only non-original member, replacing Paul D’Amour, Justin’s introduction marked a huge change for the band. They found someone who could match their painfully detailed and meticulous creative process. …