WOLFGANG VAN HALEN
Song: Periphery, “Wildfire”Riff: Covet, “Firebird”Solo: Intervals, “Mnemonic”Guitar Moment: Nuno Bettencourt and Extreme back with their new album, Six.New Band: Blink-182 (They’re not new, but Tom DeLonge’s return makes it feel new again.)New Guitarist: Olly Steele. Not completely new, but more people need to know about him.New Gear: EVH SA-126. Take my word for it. Everyone can get one in 2024.Album You Listened to Most: Foo Fighters, But Here We AreGuitarist of the Year: Aaron Marshall
CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM
Songs: Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, “Cast Iron Skillet” and Summer Walker (feat. Childish Gambino), “New Type”Riff: Jamilla Woods, “Practice”Album: Jamilla Woods, “Tiny Gardens”Guitar Moment: Paramore, “This Is Why”New Band: Yaya BeyNew Guitarist: Mathias LattinNew Gear: Marshall ShredMasterAlbum You Listened to Most: Daniel Caesar, Never EnoughGuitarist of the Year: Eric Gales
DEVON ALLMAN
Riff: “Lux Æterna” by Metallica’s James HetfieldSong: “Chaise Longue” by Wet LegGuitar Moment: Me, jamming with my friends on stage while on tour.New Band: Goodnight, TexasNew Guitarist: Drew SmithersNew Gear: Not new, but my ’63 Gibson SG in Alpine White — and my Klon.Album You Listened to Most: Lucifer on the Sofa by SpoonGuitarist of the Year: Jackson Stokes
LZZY HALE (HALESTORM)
“Violence No Matter What” by Avatar. I am a little biased because I’m featured on this song, but the whole reason I said “yes” to this collaboration is because it rips! The one that I just wrote but I can’t tell you about. The solo in “Violence No Matter What” by Avatar. It’s like you’re on a sinister merry-go-round. The solo in Extreme’s “Rise” by Nuno. A friend recently showed me this, and Nuno’s performance blew my mind! The Warning; they aren’t that new, and they’ve been at it since they were kids, but they are having a big moment crashing into the scene right now, and I couldn’t be happier for them. I challenge anyone to try and Dany Villarreal of the Warning. This woman is the Randy Rhoads of her generation. Her ferocity toward her craft is incredible. Every night, she shows the world how powerful it is to wield an ax! Ear Fuzz just sent me a custom Fuzzy Lzzy pedal that I absolutely love! You can go from playing sounds that span outer space or shake the earth like Sabbath! My favorite is combining it with my Gibson goldtop baritone Explorer. Avenged Sevenfold’s and Avatar’s . Avenged set out to break the old rules while Avatar invented some new ones! Synyster Gates. His reinvention and his ability to expand the limits of the instrument on their latest album is otherworldly and dangerous.
