The Latest Breaking News from Frank Zappa

New Van Halen documentary takes us back to the early ‘80s to tell the story of how Eddie built 5150 Studios as the band were coming apart

Or how Eddie Van Halen helped pioneer working from home, reinvented guitar, befriended Frank Zappa and ended up producing My Mother Is A Space Cadet for a young Dweezil Zappa

MusicRadar · May 30, 2023

Watch Dweezil Zappa nail Eruption with the Kramer guitar Eddie Van Halen gave him when he was 12 years old

It's clear that the vintage Kramer still has some mojo in it. Of course, Zappa's tapping and immaculate pickwork are pretty darn good, too

Guitar World · May 25, 2023

At 86, Brazilian composer Hermeto Pascoal continues to gloriously defy music genres

Bandmate Jovino Santos Neto claims Pascoal would doubtless be a Guinness World Records holder if his oeuvre could be accurately quantified, as he is, even at 86, constantly churning out new works.

Chicago Sun-Times · May 19, 2023

10 great heavy metal songs that came before Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath may have been the official ground zero for metal, but these heavy-as-lead bangers all predate that classic first album

Metal Hammer · Apr 27, 2023

Three of Jean-Luc Ponty's 80 and 90s albums to be reissued

Jean-Luc Ponty's Open Mind, No Absolute Time and Individual Choice will be reissued on vinyl over next three months

Louder · Apr 13, 2023

Seven-note groupings can add some serious spice to your solos – just ask Steve Vai

Looking to add the unexpected to your improv? Septuplets might be the answer, challenging the audience and yourself

Guitar World · Apr 5, 2023

10 things you didn’t know about Carol Kaye

She played for Elvis, Sinatra, Spector, the Beach Boys - but just how did she do it?

Guitar World · Mar 24, 2023

Disappearing into hunting shed antlers and finding a surprise

Part of the joy of hunting shed antlers is disappearing in a still time of the year; some times, like Saturday, there are surprising finds.

Chicago Sun-Times · Feb 1, 2023

Wildest celebrity baby names and the regretful star who changed her mind

Celebrities don't hold back when it comes to naming their offspring, finding inspiration in everything from My Little Pony to near-death disasters

Daily Mirror · Jan 31, 2023

Guitar wizard Mike Keneally, a member of 6 bands, starts new chapter with COVID-era solo album

SAN DIEGO — Guitar and keyboard wizard Mike Keneally has made several dozen albums as a band leader and has been featured on 200 or so more by other artists. His collaborators have ranged from Frank Zappa and the great soul singer Solomon Burke to avant-jazz trumpet great Wadada Leo…

Tribune News Service · Jan 13, 2023