Slash — armed with a Gibson ES-335 and a Magnatone amp — returns to his young-man blues roots with a star-studded album and the even more star-studded S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival tour. Samantha Fish and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram are a big part of the tour and also (coincidentally) this year’s Experience Hendrix trek. Featuring a bonus interview with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and more!
INSIDE THE MAG:
>>> Ahead of their joint Ashes of Leviathan tour, Lamb of God’s Mark Morton and Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher look back on having rocked the boat and torched the metal scene with their respective 2004 releases.
>>> Gary Clark Jr. — the one-time “savior of the blues” — has thrown off his many labels and delivered his most musically diverse offering yet.
>>> On his vintage-gear-fueled new album, former Megadeth man Marty Friedman promises “the absolute purest, highest-percentage, highest-calorie version” of who he is as an artist.
>>> Bruce Kulick — the steady-as-a-rock guitarist during Kiss’s non-makeup era — discusses the making of 'Crazy Nights,' 'Hot in the Shade' and 'Revenge' (and, um, not being asked to take part in the band's final shows).
>>> In Lost Classics, the Goo Goo Dolls’ John Rzeznik recalls the making of the band’s breakthrough album, 1998’s 'Dizzy Up the Girl.'
>>> The Gear Hunter meets two head designers at Blackstar Amplification.
>>> Andy Wood debuts his new monthly GW column, The Woodshed.
ALSO STARRING:
Towa Bird, Orianthi, Eric Gales’ pedalboard, Nick Johnston, Witherfall’s Jake Dreyer, Jamie Dickson, Blushing's Michelle Soto and Parlor Greens’ Jimmy James.