Inside this issue:

• Jeff Beck: One of rock and roll’s greatest virtuoso guitarists recalls his glory days and friendships with Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix.
• Dickey Betts: The former Allman Brothers guitarist talks about his partnership with the late Duane Allman and the making of the classic live album At Fillmore East.
• Ritchie Blackmore: A few years before forming the Renaissance-inspired Blackmore’s Night, the former Deep Purple guitarist recounted his career highlights, including the writing of “Smoke on the Water.”
• Eric Clapton: The guitarist formerly known as God speaks about Cream, Duane Allman and the sacred blues that inspires his playing.
• Kurt Cobain: As the heart and soul of Nirvana, he gave voice to a generation and brought punk into the mainstream.
• The Edge: His droning, echo-laden guitar tone is the backbone of U2’s distinctive sound.
• John Fogerty: The heart and soul of Creedence Clearwater Revival gives a revealing look into his influences and techniques.
• Ace Frehley: Kiss’ former Space Ace explains the origins of the group’s makeup and his smoking Les Paul effect.
• Billy Gibbons: ZZ Top’s eccentric ax slinger draws inspiration from the blues, rock and electro-pop.
• David Gilmour: The Pink Floyd guitarist talks about his influences and instruments and the making of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”
• Buddy Guy: The blues great who influenced Hendrix, Clapton, Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan talks about his own early years and the players that shaped this world.
• Jimi Hendrix: Seven days before his death in 1970, rock’s most influential guitarist shared some thoughts about his past and plans for the future.
• B.B. King: The legendary performer talks about the guitar influences that helped him become the King of electric blues.
• Robby Krieger: The Door’s legendary guitarist tells the stories behind the band’s greatest songs and how it was to work with Mr. Mojo Risin’.
• Alex Lifeson: The Rush guitarist explains the creation and recording of the band’s best-known tracks.
• Brian May: Queen’s guitarist talks about his distinctive tone and creating the hits “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Fat Bottomed Girls.”
• Ted Nugent: The Motor City Madman goes hunting to keep his passion for the guitar alive.
• Jimmy Page: Led Zeppelin’s mastermind talks about the making of the group’s landmark 1973 album, Houses of the Holy.
• Les Paul: The innovator of the electric guitar and recording technology sheds some light on the beginnings of his career as a player and inventor.
• Joe Perry: The Aerosmith guitarist talks about the hits that launched the group’s decades-long career.
• Keith Richards: Rock and roll’s stone survivor talks about the Rolling Stones’ late Sixties/early Seventies songs, albums and gear.
• Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd’s original street survivor reflects on Confederate flags, triple-threat guitars and the group’s enduring legacy.
• Carlos Santana: The rock-fusion legend talks about playing Woodstock and tells how he conjures up his supernatural solos.
• Tom Scholz: Back in the Seventies, Boston’s whiz kid foretold the future of home recording with a pair of hit albums.
• Pete Townshend: The rock and roll innovator tells all about his classic gear, his friendship with Hendrix and the Who’s greatest tracks and albums.
• Eddie Van Halen: The shred legend reflects on his technique and contributions to guitar virtuosity.
• Stevie Ray Vaughan: In this 1989 interview, the Austin powerhouse talks about the forces that shaped his music and helped him re-energize the blues.
• Angus Young: AC/DC’s diminutive riff-meister talks about starting out, playing live and creating the bard’s hard-rocking guitar sound.
• Neil Young: The multidimensional guitarist and songwriter surveys a decade of his long career via his 2009 Archives box set.
• Frank Zappa: The iconoclastic genius talks about the logistics of performing his intricate compositions and explains why Steve Vai is the best guitarist he ever hired.