July 1980, featuring Johnny Winter on the cover:

September 1980 with Pat Metheny. At this point, Guitar World was bi-monthly.

Cool thread!

http://www.greenday.net/guitarworld/guitarworld1.jpg

http://www.aeroforceone.com/af1/CMS/guitar_world_cover_perry_slash_2008.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Covers%20II/jimmycover.jpg

:rock:

Ah, Joe Perry. IMO, he will still be SEXY well into his 60's!!:grineyes: :kiss:

Al DiMeola, November 1980:

Very cool! :rock:

Eddie Van Halen, January 1981, the first of many with EVH. Check out that trippy guitar!!! :cool:

The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde on the cover of March 1981 issue:

Andy Summers of The Police on the May 1981 issue. This was the first issue with the updated logo which would appear for nearly the next ten years.

Guitar genius John McLaughlin, formerly of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, which was big in the 70's.

Jeff Beck on the cover of the September 1981 issue:

Alex Lifeson of Rush on the cover of the November 1981 issue. His hair seems a little darker than normal:

Neil Schon of Journey on the cover of the January 1982 issue:

Frank Zappa on the March 1982 cover:

Adrian Belew, former David Bowie and King Crimson guitarist, on the cover of the May 1982 issue.

Randy Rhoads "PRETENDER" to the Eddie Van Halen throne?? :confused: Gee, the guy had just died a few months earlier, and already, they're bashing him. :mad: ohno: Well, Rhoads' death hadn't occurred yet when they were putting together this issue. I guess we'd have to read the article to see what they really said. Probably was no bashing going on, though many did compare him to Eddie.

Sting of The Police on the July 1982 cover:

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of Steely Dan on the September 1982 issue:

Once again, Eddie Van Halen on the cover of the November 1982 issue:

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of Steely Dan on the September 1982 issue:

Actually, that looks more like Steve Howe.;) :D

Actually, that looks more like Steve Howe.;) :D
He does!! :rofl:

Robbie Krieger, former guitarist for The Doors, on the cover of the January 1983 issue:

Les Paul, the inventor of the legendary guitar which bears his name, is on the cover of the March 1983 issue. He is perhaps the oldest person to have ever been on the cover of Guitar World. The two guitars he holds are miniature Les Pauls which play an octave higher than normal.

One of my friends is a guitarist and has two beautiful Les Paul/Gibson electric guitars. I'll post a picture of them if I can.

Iconic jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius on the cover of the May 1983 issue. In spite of his genius on the bass, he was known to be severely bi-polar and often acted erratically. Tragically, he was savagely beaten by a security guard after he tried to sneak into a club in 1987 following being kicked out of a Carlos Santana concert. His injuries landed him in life support with massive brain damage. He died after his family decided to take him off life support. :(

Dixie Dregs guitarist Steve Morse on the cover of the July 1983 issue. In 1985 he briefly joined Kansas and is currently the guitarist for Deep Purple after Ritchie Blackmore left the band.

Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, who has also been an accomplished session guitarist, is on the cover of the September 1983 issue. Remember how Eddie Van Halen played one of the greatest solos of all time on Michael Jackson's
"Beat It"? Lukather played the main riff to the rest of the song.

^ I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing that info. :cool:

Pete Townshend of The Who on the cover of the November 1983 issue. The band had broken up (for the first time) the year before.

Also, an article on Iron Maiden guitarists Adrian Smith and Dave Murray being the fastest guitarists in metal!! :rock: What, weren't the up and coming thrash guitarists faster?? Well, maybe, but thrash was still an underground sensation in the Bay Area and elsewhere and hadn't caught the attention of the rest of the music scene. Of course, Iron Maiden and other bands of the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) movement were the inspiration behind thrash.

Eddie Van Halen once again on the cover of the January 1984 issue, which was largely devoted to HEAVY METAL in one of the most metal years on record!!!! :rock:

AC/DC's Angus Young on the cover of the March 1984 issue, which was also full of articles on metal--though Angus never really considered what he did as metal (and actually cringed at being considered such). He's shown here in jeans rather than his schoolboy shorts.

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top with his furry guitar on the cover of the May 1984 issue. In addition to more blues-based players covered, the issue features an article on Rush whom they describe as being
"metal", though the band never really considered themselves metal (but were clearly of great interest to metal fans).

K.K. DOWNING AND GLEN TIPTON OF JUDAS PRIEST on the July 1984 issue, the most METAL issue of Guitar World they had done so far!!!! :rock: Okay, so the cover and feature story on Yngwie Malmsteen was
metal, but Michael Sembello??? Naah, probably not the most metal issue, but the cover sure was!!! "She's a maniac, maniac...."

Hell, let's be METAL MANIACS!!!!!!!!!!!

The Cars' Elliot Easton on the cover of the September 1984 issue:

Carlos Cavazo of Quiet Riot on the cover of the November 1984 issue. The caption asks if he will be the next heavy metal gutar superstar. Well, considering lead singer (the late) Kevin Dubrow badmouthing rival bands and generally unprofessional behavior, we all know the answer to that one. He replaced Randy Rhoads in Quiet Riot, and though he could not really be compared to the legendary Ozzy guitarist, who knows what could have been for Cavazo. It could have been very possible for him to become huge.

AC/DC's Angus Young on the cover of the March 1984 issue, which was also full of articles on metal--though Angus never really considered what he did as metal (and actually cringed at being considered such). He's shown here in jeans rather than his schoolboy shorts.

I don't think I've ever seen Angus in any other clothes than his schoolboy outfit!!;)

Jeff Beck once again appears on the January 1985 issue:

Ron Wood of the Stones on the March 1985 issue. Check out the smiley-faced heart guitar!!

Also a story about Warren DeMartini of Ratt making "heavy metal sophisticated"?? :confused: So this must have been the point where metal was gaining "respectability"--by becoming poofy-haired pop?? :eek:

I was a fan of Ratt and DeMartini, btw.

Former Stray Cats guitarist Brian Setzer, who was embarking on a solo career.

Interesting cover story about jazz guitarist Pat Metheny "surviving in a heavy metal world?" Waah, waah, waah. :crybaby: That's it, don't cut metal any slack. What do you think made young people want to PLAY guitar in the 80's?? That's it: METAL!!!!! :rock:

Surprise, surprise!! Guess who's on the cover of the July 1985 issue!! Could it be, EDDIE VAN HALEN???

September 1985, the Fifth Anniversary issue, features Jimi Hendrix in a special retrospective:

Stevie Ray Vaughan on the cover of the November 1985 issue:

Surprise, surprise!! Guess who's on the cover of the July 1985 issue!! Could it be, EDDIE VAN HALEN???
Isn't that the guitar that the Best of Both World's box set cover art was modeled on?

Isn't that the guitar that the Best of Both World's box set cover art was modeled on?I'm sure it is, since those stripes are Eddie's trademark.

Neo-classical shred virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen on the cover of the January 1986 issue. By this time he had established himself as being the most influential guitarist of the 80's next to Eddie Van Halen.

Keith Richards of the Stones on the March 1986 issue.

Angus Young pulls the plug on Clapton and Eddie Van Halen?? I'm guessing he's ragging on both? That's probably understandable, at least in regards to Eddie, since Angus has never been a fan of the "technical" sounding guitarists.

Steve Stevens of Billy Idol's band. Not only is he a great guitarist, but check out that big hair!!! :eek: :cool:

Boy, it wasn't enough that Rush were "heavy metal" (which they aren't), but Geddy Lee "progressive pop"?? :confused: ohno:

Jimmy Page on the cover of the July 1986 issue. The former Led Zeppelin guitarist was now with The Firm, which featured former Bad Company vocalist Paul Rodgers.

Eddie Van Halen, in yet ANOTHER cover story, for September 1986. This one actually makes sense, because of the controversial dumping of David Lee Roth and hiring of Sammy Hagar in the past year. '5150' had just been released.

Wow, Eddie smoking on the cover. He's been the biggest tobacco advocate in guitar since Slash and
(the late) Frank Zappa. Gee, you'd think Phillip Morris should sponsor their tour? ohno:

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top on the cover of the November 1986 issue.

Yngwie Malmsteen again on the cover of the January 1987 issue:

Legendary bassist Billy Sheehan and guitarist Steve Vai, who were both in David Lee Roth's new band, competing for Eddie Van Halen's crown, on the cover of the March 1987 issue. If that lineup had lasted, who knows how that would have shaped the face of rock and roll? Both Sheehan and Vai were the dynamic duo of rock.

Former Police guitarist Andy Summers on the April 1987 issue. Is this where Guitar World was becoming something more than bi-monthly? All the previous months were odd-numbered months.

Frank Zappa: "Why I QUIT guitar"?? :eek: :confused: He was a guitar genius!! WHY QUIT??

The Randy Rhoads Commemorative Issue, June 1987. The sadly departed guitarist for Ozzy, and a raging talent, is given a fitting tribute in this issue which coincides with the release of the Ozzy Osbourne/Randy Rhoads tribute album. I have this issue. Check out his pictures with his past days with Quiet Riot, too insane!!! :crazy: He and Kevin Dubrow were glammed out to the max in the 70's!!

The Edge of U2, who were currently the biggest name in rock and roll, with the Joshua Tree tour that summer, on the cover of the July 1987 issue. I also have this issue.

The 1987 Buyers Guide:

Trevor Rabin, guitarist for the 80's version of Yes after replacing original guitarist Steve Howe, and Yes bassist Chris Squire, on the cover of the September 1987 issue. The band had just put out their 'Big Generator' album.

Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits on the cover of the November 1987 issue. Just curious, why are there all odd-numbered months, but few even-numbered months, covered in 1987? The year was more complete in its coverage, but some months are missing. Were there not issues for the missing months, or cannot the Guitar World staff even locate back issues of months that were published but remain missing?? :confused:

Joe Perry of Aerosmith on the cover of the December 1987 issue. Notice his familiar scowl. They had just put out their "comeback" album 'Permanent Vacation'.

Wow, ten years after his date with fame, Peter Frampton is even covered, after he played guitar on a recent David Bowie tour.

Legendary bassist Billy Sheehan and guitarist Steve Vai, who were both in David Lee Roth's new band, competing for Eddie Van Halen's crown, on the cover of the March 1987 issue. If that lineup had lasted, who knows how that would have shaped the face of rock and roll? Both Sheehan and Vai were the dynamic duo of rock.

I absolutely love the Jelly Belly pants that Steve is wearing!!;)

Trevor Rabin, guitarist for the 80's version of Yes after replacing original guitarist Steve Howe, and Yes bassist Chris Squire, on the cover of the September 1987 issue. The band had just put out their 'Big Generator' album.

Trevor Rabin - :loveya::grineyes:

I absolutely love the Jelly Belly pants that Steve is wearing!!;)Yeah, I just noticed that!! Yeah, that's Steve Vai, a guy with a zany kind of fashion! What sold him on the Ibanez guitar brand was the instructions to make one to his specifications--and oh, yeah: make it as UGLY as possible. That Christmas, in 1986, he opened his gifts to find a green and pink snakeskin paint job Ibanez Maxxus model guitar. He was stunned--and fell completely in love with it!! :eyes:

Former UFO and MSG guitarist Michael Schenker on the cover of the January 1988 issue. He had reformed the Michael Schenker Group to stand for McCauley Schenker Group, with the inclusion of new vocalist Robin McCauley. They were popular for a while, on MTV with power ballads and such.
He always painted his Flying V's black and white.

Metal "gets" respect?? Why in the world did it take almost the entire 80's for metal to "get respect", in the eyes of Guitar World?? :confused: Former Prince guitarist Wendy Melvoin looked hot. :drool:

Anyway, I have this issue. It's good. :cool:

Jimi Hendrix Commemorative Issue in March 1988. So what would the Monkees say about Jimi? He did after all, open up for them but were yanked off the tour when parents complained his act was "too vulgar". ohno:

How about that for a cover!! George Lynch of Dokken tears it up on the April 1988 issue. Check out that cool ESP Kamikaze guitar!!! :cool:

Steve Vai on the cover of the May 1988 issue. Beautiful Ibanez, he designed it with the "monkey grip" handle:

Once again, Yngwie Malmsteen on the cover of the June 1988 issue, at the height of the neo-classical shred movement:

And yet again, Eddie Van Halen on the cover of the July 1988 issue. There doesn't seem to be one year where he hasn't appeared on the cover:

1988-89 Buyer's Guiide:

Stevie Ray Vaughan on the cover of the September 1988 issue. For the next two years or so, Guitar World would devote a lot of issues to the blues revival:

Jimmy Page on the cover of the October 1988 issue.

Also, Iron Maiden's triple ax terror!! :rock: Funny, because Janick Gers hadn't joined the band until about a year or so later.

KIRK HAMMETT!!!! OF METALLICA!!!! :rock: on the cover of the November 1988 issue:

Keith Richards, again, on the cover of the December 1988 issue:

Blues guitarist Robert Cray on the cover of the January 1989 issue. He was big at the time, but I wasn't so crazy about his style, though he was good. He seemed too "corporate" pop-blues. He was from the Seattle area. I probably would have appreciated him more if I weren't working at a restaurant in Seattle back then which had tons of mediocre blues bands playing his song "Don't Be Afraid Of the Dark" each weekend.


Speaking of which, Iron Maiden's "Fear Of the Dark" is playing on the radio right now. Coincidence? I think not.

Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson of Night Ranger on the cover of the February 1989 issue. Interestingly, I bought this issue ten years later in 1999 at Emerald City Guitars in downtown Seattle back when I had a huge fixation on 80's "hair metal" and "butt-rock" (and still do :D ). I had a white Charvel, an 80's guitar on layaway there, and one of the clerks there said that he "hated" all that hair-metal and pretty much acted like he was glad it was gone. I couldn't figure out how people could hate it, it just seemed so trendy for Seattle guys to "hate" it and keep crowing about the whole grunge alternative deal. I was a rebel then--LET FLY THE BIG HAIR FREAK FLAG!!! :rock:


And now in the 2000's, there has been a renewed interest in 80's metal and pop-metal. So I was right. :cool:

Of course, this was what was REALLY going on at the end of the 80's: Izzy Stradlin and Slash of Guns N' Roses on the March 1989 issue:

In a special issue devoted to bass, former Cream bassist Jack Bruce and Billy Sheehan, who, having left David Lee Roth's band and now at that time with rising stars Mr. Big, are on the cover of the April 1989 issue:

Alan Holdsworth, an excellent yet vastly underrated guitarist who influenced
Eddie Van Halen and others, appears on the cover of the May 1989 issue:

Zakk Wylde, Ozzy's new guitarist, appears on the cover of the June 1989 issue with the "Young Guns of Metal", which included other newcomers including Winger's Reb Beach and Vito Bratta of White Lion. Strange though, that in order to feature Bratta's blazing guitar talent, they chose an acoustic ballad, "When the Children Cry", as one of the guitar transcriptions, rather than a solid rocking song by the band. :confused: Pretty awesome cover, though. :cool:

Stevie Ray Vaughan on the cover of the July 1989 issue. He had just released his new album, 'In Step', after successfully conquering alcohol and drug addiction. Unfortunately, this was his studio album. :(

1989-90 Buyer's Guide:

Vito Bratta of White Lion on the cover of the September 1989 issue. For everyone who liked songs like "Wait" and "When the Children Cry", there was a transcripton of their new song "Little Fighter", a true pop-metal classic which is dedicated to the Greenpeace boat Rainbow Warrior, which was attacked by the French navy at that time. It was interesting that a "hair metal" band actually lent its time to social causes, which was decent for White Lion. It's a great song with an excellent, meticulously executed solo by Bratta.

Unfortunately, no one would hear much from Bratta in the next few years, as a certain musical revolution involving flannel and teen spirit would obscure his fine playing. :eek: He gave up in disappointment.

I also have this issue, and one of the best things about it was that the ads were pretty hot with fine looking women. :grineyes: Ahhh, sex sold a lot of guitar gear back then.

Steve Stevens, who had just left Billy Idol's band, is featured on the cover of
the October 1989 issue. Let's just be glad that he's never been a victim of male pattern baldness, because we'd all KILL to have that huge hair!!! :cool:
:rock:

Joe Satriani on the cover of the November 1989 issue. He had just released
one of his best albums, 'Flying In a Blue Dream'. With that album, everyone was sure that the 90's was going to be the Decade of the Shred. :cool:

I also have this issue.

The Eric Clapton Commemorative Issue in December 1989 closes the 80's:

Steve Vai on the January 1990 issue, the first issue of the final decade of the
20th century. I have this issue, I should go for Vai's ten-hour guitar workout!! :cool:

Interesting story about the club scene in L.A. as well.

Eddie Van Halen, once again, on the cover of the February 1990 issue as Guitarist of the Decade. Decent retrospective of the 80's in this issue, with guitarists who shaped the 80's: AC/DC's Angus Young in 1980, for bringing back rock after a tragic setback with Bon Scott's death;
Randy Rhoads who gave Ozzy a new lease on life in 1981 with his phenomenal playing before dying in a plane crash in 1982;
U2's The Edge for bringing a different sound to new wave with his guitar playing on the pivotal 'War' album in 1983;
Stevie Ray Vaughan for resurrecting the blues in 1984 after his brief tenure with David Bowie;
Yngwie Malmsteen for jumpstarting the neo-classical school of shred guitar in 1985, becoming one of the decade's biggest players;
Steve Vai who followed in Eddie Van Halen's footsteps by becoming David Lee Roth's guitarist in 1986 and one of the biggest names in the business;
Joe Satriani, who, in 1987, became one of rock's biggest guitar talents with the release of his groundbreaking instrumental album;
James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica, the rising thrash titans who became the hope of metal's future during their slot on the Monsters Of Rock tour in 1988 when they outshined even Van Halen, Dokken, the Scorpions, and Kingdom Come;
and Izzy and Slash of Guns N' Roses, the drug-addled duo
who were also set to be the new gods of rock and roll in 1989, if they could live long enough to outlast the problems with drugs, booze, Axl, and other controversies. Well, we all know the answer to that one.

Joe Perry and Brad Whitford of Aerosmith on the cover of the March 1990 issue:

Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, not only teacher and student but the two biggest names in shred guitar, are featured on the April 1990 issue. Vai was huge that year with the release of one of the greatest guitar albums of all time, 'Passion and Warfare'.

Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme, Reb Beach of Winger, and aspiring shredder Ritchie Kotzen, the "young guns of metal", are featured on the May 1990 issue.

The issue also contains an article on the rising Seattle scene.

Zakk Wylde and Ozzy give revealing interviews in the June 1990 issue:

Guitar World's Ten Year Anniversary issue, July 1990:

Guitar World Buyer's Guide 1990-91:

Jeff Healey on the cover of the special Blues Issue, September 1990:

Reb Beach of Winger on the cover of the October 1990 issue. I was never a real fan of his particular custom-made Ibanez on the cover, the shape was a little weird, but he did come out with an even better signature model from Ibanez later on. He is an amazing guitarist. :cool:

George Lynch, formerly of Dokken who went on to form Lynch Mob, is on the cover of the November 1990 issue. Check out the skulls-and-snakes graphics on his ESP guitar!! :rock: He's also a great guitarist, and 'Wicked Sensation' is a killer album.

A tribute to the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan, who died in a helicopter crash a few months earlier, in the December 1990 issue: :(

A very cool Led Zeppelin Commemorative Issue with Jimmy Page on the cover in the January 1991 issue:

Former Deep Purple and Rainbow guitarist Ritchie Blackmore on the cover of the February 1991 issue. He caused a little controversy when he criticized the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. :eek: :confused: Angry letters began pouring in. Oh well, Ritchie is one of the most influential guitarists out there (and noooooo, NOT because of the riff to "Smoke On the Water").

Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top on the cover of the March 1991 issue:

Once again, Steve Vai on the cover of the April 1991 issue:

Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan of Mr. Big on the cover of the May 1991 issue.
The year before, I saw Mr. Big open for Rush and they were AWESOME!!!!
Paul Gilbert was using the power drill on his guitar, and played these amazing leads on guitar. During their song "Addicted To That Rush", Their lead singer Eric Martin said to the audience: "Are you addicted to RUSH????!!!!!!" The crowd went nuts!!!! :rock:

I used to read this magazine back in high school because there was a stack of back issues in the music room. I got bored in piano class sometimes and I liked looking at the tab sheets between articles.

Once again, Jimi Hendrix on the cover of the June 1991 issue:

Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy on the cover of the July 1991 issue, their annual Blues Issue:

Scotti Hill and Snake Szabo of Skid Row on the cover of the August 1991 issue.

The issue also featured a joint interview with Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Scott Ian, and Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman of Slayer during the Clash of the Titans tour that summer. They were content with the current state of thrash and not too concerned with how long it was going to be popular, they would just keep on doing their thing. Unfortunately, they were about to receive an unpleasant reversal of fortune (as evidenced by a certain four-piece band from Seattle whose popularity would soon eclipse them all...).

As usual, another issue featuring Eddie Van Halen on the cover, this time on the September 1991 issue. Eddie was great and all, but it seemed like they came out with an Eddie cover story each time he sneezed.

Also an article with Pantera's "Diamond" Darrell, who was called that for the longest time (probably because Dimebag was too un-PC. ohno: ).

JAMES HETFIELD AND KIRK HAMMETT OF METALLICA!!!!!!! on the cover of the
October 1991 issue!!!!! :rock: Awesome issue about the making of the so-called "Black" album and other Metallitrivia!!!!!

The November 1991 issue featured lost interviews with Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Duane Allman:

Marty Friedman and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth on the cover of the December 1991 issue. Not only does Dave grow facial fur, but he even smiles
in this photo. :) So much for being the mean bad boy of thrash!

The Guitar World 1991-92 Buyer's Guide:

Steve Vai on the January 1990 issue, the first issue of the final decade of the
20th century. I have this issue, I should go for Vai's ten-hour guitar workout!! :cool:

Interesting story about the club scene in L.A. as well.

Another pair of funky looking pants!!;)

I also got to see Steve when he was with Whitesnake(along with some of his solo shows).

Joe Perry and Brad Whitford of Aerosmith on the cover of the March 1990 issue:

I have this issue. Aerosmith, Rush & Queensryche all in the same issue!!:rock:

Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, not only teacher and student but the two biggest names in shred guitar, are featured on the April 1990 issue:

Have this one, too!!

Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan of Mr. Big on the cover of the May 1991 issue.
The year before, I saw Mr. Big open for Rush and they were AWESOME!!!!
Paul Gilbert was using the power drill on his guitar, and played these amazing leads on guitar. During their song "Addicted To That Rush", Their lead singer Eric Martin said to the audience: "Are you addicted to RUSH????!!!!!!" The crowd went nuts!!!! :rock:

I saw them on the Rush tour, too, and I remember Eric saying the same thing to us, too. He probably said that at every show!!:D

JAMES HETFIELD AND KIRK HAMMETT OF METALLICA!!!!!!! on the cover of the
October 1991 issue!!!!! :rock: Awesome issue about the making of the so-called "Black" album and other Metallitrivia!!!!!

I got this one, too. I love the picture of James & Kirk!!

Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme on the January 1992 cover:

Slash of Guns N' Roses on the cover of the February 1992 issue.

Plus, one of the first major GW articles on the rising Seattle grunge scene, with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden:

And, what's this?? Eddie Van Halen on the cover of the March 1992 issue?? Where did that come from?? :confused:

;)

David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls of Spinal Tap on the cover of the April 1992 issue, in time for the release of their new album, 'Break Like the Wind':

Randy Rhoads on the May 1992 cover, (around) the tenth anniversary of his death (it was in March 1982):

Kim Thayil of Soundgarden on the cover of the June 1992 issue, who was featured in a roundtable interview with Dimebag Darrell of Pantera and Scotti and Snake of Skid Row. All bands were touring at the time on the same bill.

Joe Satriani on the cover of the July 1992 issue:

One of the greatest issues of all time!!!!! TONY IOMMI OF BLACK SABBATH AND METALLICA'S JAMES HETFIELD on the cover of the August 1992 issue!!!!
That was one of the greatest issues, in addition to interviews of how Sabbath
and Metallica both rose from obscurity to conquering the world, it also featured articles about all things metal!!!! :rock:

Jimi Hendrix on the cover of the September 1992 issue (the logo is bigger than the picture):

Eric Clapton on the cover of the October 1992 issue:

New Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clark and Slash on the cover of the November 1992 issue:

And, at the close of 1992, Nuno Bettencourt appears on the cover of the December issue, as with the January issue at the beginning of the year.

Nice interview and all, where he discusses his views on music, but in the poster, he chose NOT to pose with his guitar. "I'm doing this to show I'm more than a guitar player!!" :confused: HUH?? Well, people LIKE to see guitarists with their instruments, like cool props for the photo. Interesting interview, very uplifting, he was a man with a social conscience, and he is a great guitarist. But give us a peek at yer guitar, Nuno!!!!

Guitar World 1992-93 Buyer's Guide:

Angus Young on the cover of the January 1993 issue. The band had just released a multi-disc live album.

February 1993 was an issue devoted to Pink Floyd:

Page Hamilton of Helmet on the cover of the March 1993 issue. The article had a joint issue with members of Ministry and Sepultura as all three bands were on tour together. Just like the back issue the year before with Kim Thayil on the cover, why does the "alternative guy" only get featured on the cover and the "metal dudes" remain invisible from the cover picture??
:confused: In the article with Kim Thayil, pics with Dime and Scotti weren't featured, and in this Hamiton pic, no members of Ministry and Sepultura, who were pretty big at the time as well, were featured on the cover. The GW staff seemed only interested in hyping the alternative deal. Kim Thayil is great, and though Helmet was a new punk-oriented band with metal overtones, Ministry and Sepultura represented a complete shift in metal as well. More industrial, more intense.

Vernon Reid of Living Colour on the cover of the April 1993 issue:

Jimmy Page and David Coverdale on the cover of the May 1993 issue. Was this matchup a perfect fit? It almost made sense. If the lead singer of Whitesnake was accused of being a "Robert Plant and Led Zeppelin imitator",
then why not have Pagey team up with him for a musical collaboration, Coverdale-Page? The song "Pride and Joy" was pretty decent. Robert Plant may have ragged on Coverdale as "David Cover-version", but Coverdale had been around for years and never once had anyone accused him of ripping off
Led Zeppelin. The only similarities were that Whitesnake was a blues based hard rock band, like Led Zeppelin, and that Coverdale had soaring vocals, like Plant. The criticisms seemed to have come after the huge success of the 1987 'Whitesnake' album.

Plant had better be careful. Led Zeppelin were often guilty of ripping off other people's songs, old blues classics.

Eric Clapton and Neil Young on the cover of the June 1993 issue which featured an article about the "Unplugged" phenomenon.

DANNY SPITZ AND SCOTT IAN OF ANTHRAX!!!!!!! :rock: on the cover of the July 1993 issue. Unfortunately, this would be the last we'd see of Danny Spitz for a while.

Ace Frehley, with Dime and Snake, on the cover of the August 1993 issue, where the former KISS guitarist criticizes his former bandmates for not giving him more recognition for his contributions to the group. Of course, there are many who feel that Ace squandered his place in the band, with drinking and general irresponsible behavior, but have to give credit where credit is due. Intriguing story.

Also an interesting article about Christian metal. Except the genre is depicted as a "metal with a happy face". :) HUH??? "NICE" headbangers??

Steve Vai and vocalist Devlin Townsend on the cover of the September 1993 issue. This was when Vai tried to come up with his own actual band, simply called Vai, and their album, 'Sex and Religion', with mixed results. Some great playing, but some things didn't work out as well as planned. Interesting hairdo by Townsend. He later went on to form Strapping Young Lad.

The October 1993 issue was devoted to classic rock:

Joe Satriani on the cover of the November 1993 issue, which announces,
"Shred is dead..." but opening up to a second cover page underneath, it reads, "NOT!!!"

The cover story discusses the alleged demise of shred guitar playing, and that in spite of many guitar magazines hailing the death of fast, technical guitar playing in the advent of grunge and minimalistic alternative guitar playing, shred is still very much alive in 1993, depending where you looked.

The inner cover features Satch happily jamming away on his Ibanez, as his new album, 'The Extremist' hit the stores. Interestingly, Satriani does not describe himself as a "shredder", for the most part.

Jimmy Page once again on the cover of the December 1993 issue. Weren't Zeppelin the COOLEST? :cool:

Wow, after having gone Eddie-less all year in 1993, there Eddie ("Mr. Nicotine") Van Halen is, on the 1993-94 Buyer's Guide!! More omnipresent in GW than God.

One of the greatest issues of all time!!!!! TONY IOMMI OF BLACK SABBATH AND METALLICA'S JAMES HETFIELD on the cover of the August 1992 issue!!!!
That was one of the greatest issues, in addition to interviews of how Sabbath
and Metallica both rose from obscurity to conquering the world, it also featured articles about all things metal!!!! :rock:

I still have this one!! Plus the ones with Nuno & the one with Kim.

Jimi Hendrix yet again on the cover of the January 1994 issue. Okay, quiz time: Who do you think has been on the cover of Guitar World the most? Give your guesses when we finish posting the issues.

Heck, guess now!! Jimi? Jimmy Page? Eddie? Vai?

Stone Gossard and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam on the cover of the February 1994 issue:

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top with a hot chick on the cover of the March 1994 issue:

Dimebag Darrell of Pantera on the cover of the April 1994 issue. Around that time, Pantera's 'Far Beyond Driven' had become one of metal's most commercially successful albums of the 90's, hitting #1 on the charts in 1994. :rock: It was a pleasant surprise, given the anti-metal climate of the time.

Kim Thayil and Chris Cornell of Soundgarden on the cover of the May 1994 issue.


Beavis and Butthead as two of the most important people in guitar?? :eek: :confused: I didn't even know they could even play!!!


;) :lol:

Pete Townshend of The Who on the cover of the June 1994 issue:

Dickie Betts and Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers on the cover of the July 1994 issue.

Also, the magazine eulogizes Kurt Cobain. :(

Dean and Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots on the cover of the August 1994 issue.


Cool!!! Death metal mega-lesson!!! :rock:

Another Pink Floyd cover story coinciding with the release of their long-awaited (and final) album, 'The Division Bell':

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on the cover of the October 1994 issue commemorating classic rock:

The Artist Formerly Known As Prince is featured on the cover of the November 1994 issue. A strange choice for a cover story?? Perhaps not. TAFKAPrince is well regarded as an excellent musical composer as well as an amazing showman, and his guitar abilities are very decent, on top of that. His being a flamboyant showman often eclipses that, but there's no denying his astounding musical abilities. He writes and records his own music. Sometimes the magazine has primarily catered to white rawk audiences, but it's nice to hear both sides of the musical spectrum.

However, the interview with TAFKAPrince were noted for being rather strange; he would often deliver cryptic answers and comments that were bizarre and incomprehensible. The only thing which compared to this were zany comments made by Robert Fripp of King Crimson in another guitar magazine. This is why many people become musicians. They cannot express themselves any other way except through music. They have a hard time communicating except through musical or lyrical means.

Eric Clapton once again on the December 1994 issue:

The 1994-95 Buyer's Guide:

The January 1995 issue, devoted to punk guitar, is decked out like the
infamous 'Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols' album cover, with the "low-budget" design and painfully bright pink and green colors:

Hey, there we go!! There's Eddie Van Halen on the cover of the February 1995 issue, with short hair and facial fur!! Wow, tres 90's!!

Plus, an article on shredders, who are apparently MIA, midway through one of the most depressing decades in guitar, where mindboggling playing and technical knowledge is jettisoned for sloppy, raw distorted power chords and "attitude". Hey, the flannel makes the man, right? :rolleyes: Though I haven't read the issue, it probably offered updates on guitarists who once stormed arenas and are probably are working as tax accountants or slinging fries somewhere, waiting for their second big break. The 90's sometimes blew Tender Chunks, though I didn't realize it until much later.

The late, lamented Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain posthumously makes his first appearance on the March 1995 issue. Interesting how he never made the cover while he was alive, considering that he was the biggest thing in rock for a few short years, the icon of the 90's.

Mike McCready of Pearl Jam on the cover of the April 1995 issue.

Also, stories of SEX, DRUGS, AND ROCK AND ROLL!!!! WHERE DO I FIND THIS ISSUE????!!!! :eyes: :rock:

The May 1995 issue celebrates the magazine's 15 year anniversary, with a Stratocaster burning like Jimi's famous Fender at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967:

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails on the June 1995 issue, which featured artists
of the new industrial rock era. Was this the wave of the future?

Even though it may have seemed predictable and redundant to feature Jimi Hendrix on the cover of the July 1995 issue, the story inside was about the battle over his estate, who owned his legacy. There was a struggle between members of his family and other parties as to owned his property, copyrights, and recordings, and how it should be marketed and such.

Dan Murphy and Dave Pirner, that mop-headed vocalist/guitarist, of Soul Asylum on the cover of the August 1995 issue:

Neil Young, considered "the Godfather of Grunge", appears on the cover of the
September 1995 issue:

Bruce Springsteen on the cover of the October 1995 issue:

Malcolm and Angus Young of AC/DC on the cover of the November 1995 issue.
Damn, I wanted to get that issue!!! :wallbang Fortunately, I was able to see them TWICE in concert the next year!! :rock: A thoroughly entertaining interview.

Also, "Women Re-write Rock"--HOLE?? Courtney Love?? Riiiiiiiiiiiight. ohno: Courtney Lovehole re-wrote rock, and the rest of the country used her pages to line catboxes.

James Iha and Billy Corgan on the cover of the December 1995 issue.

Rock and roll is dead, Mr. Kravitz?? Impossible!! We've got Slayer's "Seasons In the Abyss" right above
your song!! Well, actually, that would qualify as rock, or specifically metal, but yeah, were was ROCK AND ROLL?? :confused:

Andy Summers of The Police on the May 1981 issue. This was the first issue with the updated logo which would appear for nearly the next ten years.


Too cool, I was born in May of 81

Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains on the cover of the January 1996 issue.

A good question in early 1996, was the Seattle scene dead?? Ever since Kurt Cobain died, that question hung in the air. In spite of big albums by Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, and, of course, Alice In Chains.

Keith Richards of the Stones on the cover of the February 1996 issue which commemorates the five decades of rock and roll:

Dave Navarro, formerly of Jane's Addiction and then currently lead guitarist for
the Red Hot Chili Peppers, was on the cover of the March 1996 issue:

"Geek USA", indeed!! Shaven-headed Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins and Eddie Van Halen, with short hair, glasses, and beard, appear on the cover of the April 1996 issue. Revenge of the Nerds!!

It was also strange how many superstars of alternative music in the 90's cited bands like Van Halen and Black Sabbath as groups they listened to while growing up--but you couldn't really say you were a metal fan back then.
It just wasn't "cool" for the grunge-oids and such to say so. So many of them listened to KISS and Judas Priest, but just couldn't admit it!! They would lose their credibility in the press. So Billy Corgan was going out on a limb to say he was a Van Halen fan back then. Not "alternative" enough!! But Corgan was a fan of the 'Fair Warning' album, which was a little darker than most Van Halen albums.

A few years before, Eddie got drunk at a music event and told the guys of Nirvana he was "washed up, you guys are what's happening now." ohno:

Now THIS is the weirdest choice for a Guitar World cover: The members of the Seattle band The Presidents Of the United States Of America, Chris Ballew, Jason Finn, and Dave Dederer, who have only five strings between them!!! Three bass strings and two guitar strings!! :eek: :confused:
Must make it rather hard to shred with limited string capacity. The band appears on the cover of the May 1996 issue.

Finally something awesome: Dimebag Darrell of Pantera, who appears on the cover of the June 1996 issue. Unfortunately, though their past two albums were the pinnacle of 90's metal, they began to experience a sort of reversal of fortune with their latest release, 'The Great Southern Trendkill'. There was a malaise in metal then, a rather non-metal year, where you either had grunge, alternative, and hip-hop on one hand, and the NU-metal phenomenon spearheaded by bands such as Korn on the other. Good old fashioned thrash just wasn't in style that year. The album was excellent with songs such as "Drag the Waters" and "Floods", one of their very best songs.


Wow, Hootie and the Blowfish, anyone? ;)

Another one dark side of 90's "metal": None other than James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica on the cover of the July 1996 issue, sporting their haircuts and pretending to be an ALTERNATIVE band!! :mad: :rolleyes: It just didn't get much worse than that. Oh, wait--it did?? Though their 'Load' album had some good tracks, it was just a sign that Metallica was no longer freaking
METALLICA!!!!!! Sellouts!!!! HEADLINING Lollapalooza??!! I guess they just couldn't find bigger names, so they got desparate and chose the one-time epitome of thrash. ohno:


Did Kirk Hammett poke holes in drinking cups and pillows, and puncture his girlfriends' faces, with that spikey piercing under his bottom lip?

70's rock legends return in the 90's, Part One:

Guitarist Steve Jones and vocalist John(ny Rotten) Lydon of the infamous Sex Pistols, appear on the cover of the August 1996 issue. Nearly twenty years after they broke up, they regrouped with former bassist Glen Matlock (prior to the late "bassist" Sid Vicious) and drummer Paul Cook for a common cause:
"WE WANT YOUR MONEY!!!" And so the Filthy Lucre Tour came to American shores.

It was great to see the punk legends in Seattle, where, Lydon told a crowd at Memorial Stadium after an attendee threw a shoe onstage: "Someone threw one left shoe! I guess someone must be clueless and shoe-less in Seattle!!" :lol:

But that event could be only topped the NEXT night in Tacoma with none other than the next 70's rock legends.......

70's rock legends return in the 90's, Part Two:

The next night, after the Sex Pistols concert, the biggest reunion of the year
took place at the Tacoma Dome, our next cover story:

KISS!!!!! GENE!!!!! PAUL!!!!! ACE!!!!! appeared on the cover of the September
1996 issue.

The Tacoma Dome concert, with the band in full makeup, was so intense that one of their exploding flashpots actually set part of the ceiling on fire!! :eek:
The concert was delayed for a while as the fire was put out. The crowd stuck around to rock out to the rest of the concert! The band was impressed by the fans' loyalty, and finished the show with no further incident. Ahh, 70's memories all came back. KISS ruled that night in 1996!! :rock:

KISS--one of the bands which made me want to pick up a guitar back in the 70's.

Kurt Cobain on the cover of the October 1996 issue:

R.E.M. on the cover of the November 1996 issue:

Marilyn Manson and guitarist Twiggy Ramirez on the cover of the December 1996 issue. At the time, I wanted to buy it because it showed how to play "Tom Sawyer" by Rush in it, but I was so revulsed by Marilyn Manson on the front that I chose not to. That was then, I didn't understand him as I do now.

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Gavin Rossdale and Nigel Pulsford of Bush are featured on the January 1997 issue. Of course these days Rossdale is only known for being Mr. Gwen Stefani.

The February 1997 issue, a Collector's Issue, hailed the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Of course, many readers wrote in and demanded why their favorite guitarists weren't mentioned.

Jimi Hendrix once again on the cover of the March 1997 issue. What? Slow news month?? :confused:

Well, you just can't knock Jimi. Nearly forty years after his untimely passing, he remains the best. Eddie Van Halen may have played crazier, Vai may have played faster, Kirk Hammett may have played louder, but when you see old clips of Jimi, you see why he's the best. He took blues and rock and, according to his friend Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, "took them to Martian-land". He was a total showman
as well, and practically nothing topped him live.

Which makes me wonder why one letter-writer wrote in to GW, most likely a teenybopper without a clue, ragged on Jimi, acting like Hendrix was this "hair farmer" who was stuck in this dorky hippie past and lost all relevance over time, etc., etc. :confused: And oh yeah, with a snotty tone, this twerp said, it was "really dignifying" how he died--NOT!! (Jimi's combination of alcohol and barbiturates caused him to vomit, which cut off his breathing while he was thoroughly knocked out from his chemical indulgence. It's been noted that he could have survived had the ambulance crew carried him out without slumping him over and blocking off his breathing passages.) Yeah, kid. Go back to listening to your Offspring albums. It was interesting how some kids who act so "hip" think of anything
that came before them was simply a product of its time and could not last in future generations. Ragging on Hendrix's hair and clothes was the same as knocking the hairdon'ts of A Flock Of Seagulls and Duran Duran or whatever, according to this kid, both hair and clothing styles were in "bad taste" and rather dated. So therefore, the music must have been as well, right? So this kid letter-writer was totally straight on, correct. Everything from the 60's through the 80's was a forgotten relic, an anachronism. The music of the 90's, on the other hand, would live forever. Blink-182 forever, dude. ohno:

Joe Perry and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith on the cover of the April 1997 issue.
The band talked about problems within their camp which nearly brought them to the breaking point (again), and how they resolved them.

And speaking of bands looking for the next big comeback like Aerosmith's, many 80's "hair" metal artists were interviewed about their highs and lows and believing that a 80's metal revival loomed on the horizon. I really enjoyed the issue for that article, and guess what? It did happen, sort of, for many of these bands, many of whom are still rocking crowds on tour. Don't believe me? C.C. DeVille of Poison was interviewed, and today, we're still talking about Poison, with Bret Michael's Bus Of Love or whatever that show is, and the band is arguing back and forth with Def Leppard about
"glam legitimacy"!! Funny how the 90's anti-metal backlash is practically forgotten! :rock:

KISS' Ace Frehley and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top are featured on the cover of the May 1997 issue, which discusses the 100 rarest, weirdest and most expensive guitars of all time. No question that both Ace and Billy have quite a few in their collection.

The June 1997 issue declared that year, on the thirty-year anniversary of the Summer of Love, to be the SUMMER OF LOUD!!!!! Yes, OZZFEST was on the loose, and BLACK SABBATH WAS IN FULL REUNION MODE!!!!!! :rock: On the cover, Tony Iommi, Ozzy, and Marilyn Manson were featured, and opening the inside cover page, it folded out to reveal Munky and Head of Korn as well as Dimebag Darrell of Pantera and others.

Nick Hexum and Tim Mahoney of 311 were featured on the cover of the July 1997 issue. The editors raved that they were the next big thing, with their funky "phat" music and all, but I still have yet to hear more of them (aside from their cover of The Cure's "I Will Always Love You" or whatever the title is). The whole funky style of alternative was big in the mid-90's, with Sublime and all of those bands.

The only thing I remember hearing last was that the band got into an altercation with a drunken Scott Stapp, the former lead singer of Creed, who was trying to start trouble with them. When they tried to get him away from them, he got belligerent and violent. Not very becoming behavior for such a good Christian, huh? ohno: 311 sounds like a decent band, from what I've heard.

Dave Grohl and Pat Smear of the Foo Fighters on the cover of the August 1997 issue. Pat Smear, of course, was the "fourth" member Nirvana in their final year, as well as guitarist for late 70's/early 80's punk band The Germs.
Smear was no stranger to tragedy within his band, The Germs' lead singer
Darby Crash committed suicide by injecting heroin, but his death was overshadowed by the assassination of John Lennon the next day in 1980. History replayed itself, of course, with Kurt Cobain's suicide.

The Edge of U2 on the cover of the September 1997 issue. U2 had just released perhaps its least successful album 'Pop' while performing its biggest, most over-the-top tour ever. The article claimed that U2 had given the greatest stage show ever that would even give KISS' live spectacle a run for its money. I thought, no way, there is NO topping KISS live. That was........
....I saw the U2 Popmart Tour for myself.

OMG!!!!! U2 came to the Kingdome that December (the final concert ever held at the 'Dome), and their stage was HUGE, with a giant supersized McDonald's style Golden Arch, collosal martini glass with olive, and...........the glittering lemon disco ball. The band emerged from the lemon ball at one point, and turned the 'Dome into one giant rave complete with flashing colored lights during "Discotheque"!! It was AMAZING!!!! :eek: :rock:

Keith Richards of the Stones again, on the October 1997 issue, looking more like we recognize him these days. :eek: Funny, when you realize he's not even really that old (he's in his mid-60's, of course, but for years, he's looked twice his age).

A few days before U2's concert at the Kingdome, the Stones played the second-to-the-last show at the 'Dome.

Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dave Navarro appear on the cover of the November 1997 issue, which discusses the reunion of Jane's Addiction. The former Jane's Addiction guitarist joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and in an interesting turn of events, Flea joined the reunited Jane's Addiction in place of original bassist Eric Avery, who declined to re-join the band.

James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica, once again, on the cover of the December 1997 issue.

Oh wait, that's not Kirk.....Isn't that.......BONO????!!!!! :eek:

Led Zeppelin is featured on the cover of the January 1998 issue, a Collectors' Issue:

The February 1998 featured artists that were the best and loudest of 1998 (so far). Gosh, slow news month. Nothing spectacular, unless we're missing something. Okay, so there was Marilyn Manson, Ozzfest, and KISS.

And, just when you think it couldn't get any better: Eddy (Mr. Nicotine) Van Halen, on the cover of the March 1998 issue, just in time for the long awaited new Van Halen release--'Van Halen III', the one that featured Lead Singer #3, Gary Cherone, former Extreme vocalist!!! The biggest event of the entire 90's!!! :clap:

:yeahthat

I remember one kid got sent home from school for either wearing the Van Halen shirt which contains the censored expletive, or the magazine with Eddie and his PG-rated shirt.

The cover of the April 1998 featured artists who were winners of that year's Readers' Poll--how in the world did it deserve a cover story?? :confused: They have a reader's poll with winners each year, what made this one special? Must have been a slow month, again. Not surprising, seeing that not only were the 90's depressing, but rather uneventful. :sleep2:

Eric Clapton, again.... on the cover of the May 1998 issue.

Jimmy Page on the cover of the June 1998 issue, this time in an article about the latest Plant & Page collaboration and tour, the closest people were going to get to a Led Zeppelin reunion.

That appears to be the Danelectro guitar he used on "Kashmir":

Billy Corgan and his shaven crystal ball head on the cover of the July 1998 issue. Or is that Yul Brynner?

Hey, cool!! A metal lesson with Slayer, Norwegian black metal band Emperor, and Iron Maiden!!!! :rock:

Ozzy Osbourne, though not a guitar player, is featured on the cover of the August 1998 issue devoted to Ozzfest. Of course he has featured tons of great guitarists in both his band and his metal fest. Of course, many of the guitarists were of the NU-metal ilk.

The September 1998 issue discusses the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos. The cover design resembles The Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' album cover:

Gene Simmons of KISS is featured on the cover of the October 1998 issue, in time for the release of the band's comeback album, 'Psycho Circus'. We haven't seen much original material since, and the reunited lineup did not last. It was not too long before the band began their "Farewell Tour".

The issue also featured an article on the (short-lived) swing revival:

Twiggy Ramirez of Marilyn Manson on the cover of the November 1998 issue.
His lenses are shaped like the state of Texas.

Also, something very cool: THE COMPLETE IRON MAIDEN!!!!! :rock:

James Hetfield and Kirk Hammet, again, on the cover of the December 1998 issue, around the time of the release of 'Re-load'. The cover was a far cry from the awesomely awesome one back in 1991:

Courtney Love, with Hole members bassist Melissa Auf der Maur and second guitarist Eric Erlandson, are featured on the cover of the January 1999 issue, as the first woman performer to appear on the front. This comes only eighteen years after Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders becomes the first female guitarist on the cover of the magazine. What, no Lita Ford?? :confused:

The late, great John Lennon appears on the cover of the February 1999 issue, as newer, younger fans discover him and bring about a renewed interest in the man and his music which changed the world.

Kurt Cobain, aiming a gun at the camera, appears on the cover of the March 1999 issue which features a retrospective of the 90's, and he is named Artist of the Decade. In an article titled "The Decade Of Living Dangerously", the failure of the grunge and alternative scene is discussed. Why did grunge and alternative implode? For some reason, many artists who were big in the early/mid-90's felt that success and popularity was a sure sign of "sellout", and for that reason, including Cobain's suicide, the wind was taken out of rock's sails in the 90's. In much the same way Cobain pulled the gun on himself, so the grunge and alternative scene pulled the trigger on its own success.

I don't like the cover. I have this issue and enjoy it except for the cover. But it makes its point, I guess.

Stevie Ray Vaughan, "the Man Who Saved the Blues", appears on the cover of the April 1999 issue. Unfortunately, there are too many guitarists and others who say they're "fans" of the blues because they listen to Stevie, but precious little else in the way of the blues. No Muddy, No Howlin' Wolf, No Buddy Guy, no Paul Butterfield, no one.

Dexter Holland and Noodles of The Offspring are featured on the cover of the May 1999 issue. Wow, look how cluttered with names the cover is:

In the June 1969 issue, the magazine steps into the time machine to go back thirty years to 1969, a pivotal year in music. The year of Woodstock, Jimi, Creedence, The Who, The Beatles' final album, hippies, protest, Led Zeppelin, a great year in music, but sadly, the year that brought us the tragedy at Altamont, and the death of Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones. A great year, a sad year, but an eventful year nonetheless. peacesign: peace:

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are featured on the cover of the July 1999 issue:

Fred Durst and buggy-eyed Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit appear on the cover of the August 1999 issue. No one like Limp Bizkit to help teach us the real meaning of peace and love at the '99 Thirtiest Anniversary of Woodstock. :rolleyes: The issue came with a pair of 3-D glasses, but who would want
to look at the one of the world's worst bands in 3-D?? puke:

Cool!!! The bad boys of Motley Crue appear on the September 1999 issue devoted to all things hair metal, and metal in general. I HAD to buy this issue!! :rock: Apparently, interest in one of the most maligned genres of rock had not waned, and people were, according to the artists inside, still buying albums by Winger, Dokken, and Twisted Sister!!!

Jeff Beck, his former partner in the Yardbirds Jimmy Page, and Eddy Van Halen join forces on the cover of the October 1999 issue. This meeting was rather historic, since Beck and Page had only met each other very sporadically since they went their separate ways in the late 60's. It was also important in that three guitar legends graced the cover at the same time.

It must have been a slow news year: Kid Rock appears on the cover of the November 1999 issue. So much hype for so little substance. "Hey, he deserves a cover, he's holding a guitar!!" Yeah, the whole white gangsta schtick was in full force that fall. Eminem with a 6-string. LAME!!!! puke: They could have had real talent for a full cover story, like Kenny Wayne Shepherd, but he didn't have that trendy image like the future Mr. Pamela Anderson.

And on the final issue of the 90's, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine appears on the cover of the December 1999 installment. A fitting, radical artist for in some ways a radical decade. His radical politics were as incendiary as was his guitar playing and interesting effects.

Quite an interesting decade in guitar, starting out with cosmic shredders such as Steve Vai, and ending with an artist who took guitar playing to a different level altogether, Tom Morello.

Brian "Head" Welch, Jonathan Davis, and James "Munky" Schaffer of Korn appear on the January 2000 cover, the first issue of the new year, the new decade, and the new millenium (technically, 2001 is considered the first year of the new millenium, but, oh well).

Creed, Staind, and Bush are "the future of rock"?? :confused:

Carlos Santana, hailed as the Comeback of the Year, is featured on the cover of the February 2000 issue.

Wow, another 60's flashback was also making news: Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young were one of the biggest tours that year. :cool: peacesign: peace: Bet the Korn addicts didn't see that one coming!! :D

Hey, check it out--An article on Gary Numan?? The new wave synth star from back in the 80's who did
"Cars" and "Are 'Friends' Electric?" is featured in a guitar magazine? Well, he was still recording music in the new millenium, and he even did a little guitar back in the day (i.e., "The Machman" from his 1979 'Replicas' album).

A cover story on Pink Floyd's grandiose concept album 'The Wall' is featured on the cover of the March 2000 issue. Former Pink Floyd bassist/founder Roger Waters took a full-scale tour of 'The Wall' album to American shores that year. In 1980, the band attempted to bring a similar full-scale production of 'The Wall' on tour, but it collapsed due to being too enormous and difficult to make it work, so it was scrapped after only a few shows.

James Iha and Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, looking scarier than ever, appear on the cover of the April 2000 issue. At this point the band was about to break up, after "not being able to compete with the Britneys", according to Corgan.

"How To Play the New Rock"?? Does one really need a lesson on how to play rock that anyone with half a brain cell can figure out? :confused: You just plug in and crank it, do your own thing.

Dimebag Darrell appears on the cover of the May 2000 issue, as the band was about to release their new album, 'Reinventing the Steel'. DIME SAVES METAL!!!! :rock:

Jim Root (#4) and Mick Thomson (#7) of Slipknot appear on the June 2000 issue. Scary!!!! :eek: And another 3-D issue to boot!!

Jimmy Page and brothers Chris and Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes appear on the cover of the July 2000 issue. Page teamed up with The Black Crowes for one of the biggest tours of the summer, where they played all Led Zeppelin songs, and did quite a decent job of it.

Stevie Ray Vaughan appears on the August 2000 cover, on the tenth anniversary of his tragic death:

Metallica's Kirk Hammett, smoking a stogie, appears on the cover of the September 2000 issue:

Limp Bizkit's Wes Borland appears on the cover of the October 2000 issue. Of course, any issue with anything Limp Bizkit-related is one issue too many, but this issue came with multiple covers with Borland in his many alter ego disguises, as noted in the upperhand right corner.

Hey, wow, another Christian rock blowout!! (Probably sounding like third-rate versions of P.O.D., most
likely. ohno: )

The Jimi Hendrix Experience, featuring Jimi, Noel Redding, and Mitch Mitchell, appears on the cover of the November 2000 issue.

Plus, an *exclusive* interview with Jimi at the age of 58!! Apparently, rumors of his death have been greatly exaggerated!! ;)

Green Day's Billy Joe Armstrong appears on the cover of the December 2000 issue:

The Beatles are featured on the January 2001 issue. George Harrison offers his insights on the Fab Four, sadly, during the last year of his life. :(

Dexter Holland and Noodles of The Offspring once again appear on the February 2001 issue:

A bearded Jimmy Page appears on the cover of the March 2001 issue, which is devoted to the history of hard rock.

"Hard rock". Doesn't that term sound like an anachronism, like something your parents would say? "I don't like listening to all that hard rock!! Turn it down!!" It's like when people call harder kind of music "acid rock" even though it has nothing to do with the psychedelic music of the late 60's, like the Grateful Dead and all that. Heavy metal = "acid rock". Huh?? :confused: Not necessarily, people.

It's just RAWK!!! Of course, not all hard rock is heavy metal, either back then or currently.

Mark Tremonti, guitarist for Creed, was featured on the April 2001 issue. Creed were on top of the world, for a little while, like the Van Halen song says.

Joe Perry, Steven Tyler, and Brad Whitford of Aerosmith appear on the cover of the May 2001 issue. What?? Brad Whitford with SHORT hair?? :eek: :confused: What's with the haircuts??

Adam Jones and Justin Chancellor of Tool appear on the cover of the June 2001 issue. Tool "reinvent the steel"?? :confused: I thought it was Pantera who re-invented the steel!! Like the name of their album said.

Speaking of "re-inventing the steel", it makes perfect sense that Megadeth and Fear Factory were considered the future of metal. But Staind??
:confused:

BLACK SABBATH!!!! TONY IOMMI!!!! OZZY!!!! BILL WARD!!!! GEEZER BUTLER!!!!
are featured on the cover of the July 2001 issue which documents their long, monumental career. The only problem is that the issue doesn't discuss much of Tony Iommi's groundbreaking guitar technique, but at least it shows how to play "Sweet Leaf". :rock:

Now, tell me: Wouldn't you rather see Ozzy as the REAL Prince of Darkness fronting Sabbath in concert than on t.v. clowning around on his reality show?? :nod:

Jim (#4) Root and Mick (#7) Thomson of Slipknot appear on the August 2001 issue, complete with new masks:

Mike Mushok of Staind appears on the cover of the September 2001 issue:

The members of Nirvana appear on the October 2001 issue. You can sense the pain and weariness in Kurt Cobain's expression: :(

Ozzy Osbourne and Zakk Wylde appear on the November 2001 issue, looking vastly different from their first cover together in 1990:

In yet another Pink Floyd-related issue, the band's history is chronicled in the December 2001 issue, though the cover only features their logo in big bright pink letters, and a few album cover pictograms below:

Jimmy Page, on the cover of the January 2002 issue, discusses the making of Led Zeppelin's classic fourth album--and no, it was not called "Led Zeppelin IV", "Zoso" or anything. It was untitled, with no logos, words or anything else, in order not to distract from the cover art or the music inside. A sticker on the shrink wrap around the album, with the mysterious symbols, was the only indication that it was a new Led Zeppelin album when it was released in 1971.

Guitar World pays tribute to the late George Harrison in the February 2002: :(


Also, note the caption about auditioning for Limp Bizkit. Wow, was that ever a fiasco. ohno:

Metallica's Kirk Hammett appears on the cover of the March 2002 issue. The magazine also features another tribute to Randy Rhoads, who died that month twenty years before:

The members of Creed, including lead vocalist Scott Stapp, appear on the cover of the April 2002, in a strange article referring to "the Great Creed Mystery". :confused: The only real mystery is how Creed got to be so huge in the first place, with such a self-righteous, hypocritical singer who was so full of himself. ohno:

A scavenger hunt? Here's an object to look for: Find Scott Stapp's humility.
:crazy:

Rivers Cuomo of Weezer appears with Eddie Van Halen's cigarette-laden guitar on the cover of the May 2002 issue (or at least maybe it's a replica? The guitar, that is, not the cigarette).

Head and Munky of Korn appear on the cover of the June 2002 issue in commemoration of their latest album, "Untouchables". It would be awesome to have one of their Ibanez 7-strings. :cool:

In the annual Ozzfest issue, Ozzy appears with members of the 2002 lineup on the July 2002 issue, including Zakk Wylde, Daron Malakian of System of a Down and Marcos Curiel of P.O.D. Never thought a band who identified themselves as Christians would ever play on the Ozzfest stage, huh? ;) Not too many other Christians were happy with that, but they decided to go where the sinners were and give them a little something different. :cool:

Jimi Hendrix appears on the cover of the September 2002 issue, in time for what would have been his 60th birthday (which was in November, the issues came out a month or so early):

Keith Richards appears on the cover again on the October 2002 issue: