“The first thing that I grabbed when I was like, ‘We’ve got to get the hell out of here’ was the double-neck that Alex Lifeson gave me”: Primus’ Larry LaLonde opens up on losing his house and nearly all his gear in the devastating California wildfires

LaLonde estimates that he lost about 58 guitars in the wildfire, including the “Sailing on the Seas of Cheese” Strat he had since high school

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Blackstar Launches Polar Go Pocket-Sized Professional Studio

Blackstar Amplification has unveiled Polar Go, an ultra-portable audio solution for musicians and content producers who demand pro-level sound without the hassle of a full studio setup.Polar Go is more than a mobile interface; it’s a complete, pocket-sized studio designed for the modern creator. With a built-in stereo mic system powered by Blackstar’s exclusive ProCapture™ technology, Polar Go delivers crystal-clear, professional-grade sound straight from your phone, tablet, or laptop, no studio or experience required. Whether you’re a singer-songwriter, podcaster, livestreamer or filmmaker, Polar Go transforms your audio from phone-quality to studio-ready instantly. Guitarists and bassists can plug in their instrument or use the built-in stereo mics to record anywhere, anytime.Key Features:ProCapture™ Stereo Mics: Capture vocals and instruments with stunning depth and clarityCombo XLR / ¼” Input: For mic, line or instrument, with +48V phantom power for condenser micsRechargeable Battery: Up to 6 hours of portable recording powerWorks with iOS, Android, macOS, Windows Dual USB-C Ports: One for power, one for data3.5mm Headphone Output: Loud and clear monitoring, even on noisy setsCompatible with GarageBand, BandLab, Zoom, and all major recording appsThe Polar Go App: Available free on iOS, Android, Mac and PC, the Polar Go app gives creators powerful tools to polish and share their content with ease:Magic Wand Tool: Auto-enhance audio with one tapBuilt-In Video Recording: Sync sound and video in a single appPresets for Vocals, Guitar, Podcasts, and MoreZero Learning Curve: Simple, intuitive UIBlackstar’s Polar Go carries a street price of $129. For more information visit blackstaramps.com.

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“Ozzy looked well. He did not look like he was two weeks away from passing… The feeling was similar to when Randy passed away – that dead void, that emptiness”: Rudy Sarzo on the lifelong kindness of Ozzy Osbourne – and the miracle of his final weeks

The bassist stood shoulder to shoulder with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads at the height of Osbourne’s 1980s success. Now, in an exclusive interview, he recalls how the Black Sabbath icon changed his fortunesand earned his loyalty for life

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“It looks sweet, sounds sweet, and the music that comes out of it should be sweet too”: Russian luthier builds a Les Paul out of donuts (sort of)

Though sadly not edible, it takes the prize as the best confectionery-themed guitar we’ve ever seen

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“I’m, like, ‘Why are they calling me? Did every rock guitar player in Los Angeles disappear spontaneously at the same time?’” When Joe Bonamassa guested on an Ozzy Osbourne album – and couldn’t quite believe it

The blues hero has reflected on their unlikely union in 2005, and why he sees Ozzy as heavy metal’s John Mayall

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“One of the greatest to ever do it”: Terry “Superlungs” Reid, the guitarist, singer, and songwriter who forged his own path after turning down Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, has died aged 75

Reid toured with the Rolling Stones, Cream, Jethro Tull, and Fleetwood Mac, released seven studio albums, and was even a session player for the likes of Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt

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“I remember my first concert, and that incredible band is actually here tonight to play a few songs”: Olivia Rodrigo’s first-ever gig was Weezer – now she’s played with them at Lollapalooza

The guitar-wielding pop queen invited the ’90s rock icons on stage for a sterling two-song spot as she continues to champion her alt-rock influences

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“I thought maybe we’d have 2,000 people show up early, but our first performance was for 10,000 people. I was shocked”: Jake Kiszka on Mirador, his hard-riffing collab with blues brother Chris Turpin – and what it means for Greta Van Fleet

Weaned on the blues, raised on rock ‘n’ roll, Kiszka and Ida Mae’s Turpin bring their kindred spirit to bear on Mirador’s breathtaking debut album. Kiszka reveals how it all went down

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“Being called a guitar hero was just awkward. Whether I’ve written a good song or not, that’s what counts to me”: Mark Knopfler on 40 years of Dire Straits’ Brothers In Arms – the guitars, the riffs… the pressure of learning to play in time

From his lucky ’83 Les Paul and Fleetwood Mac-inspired soloing to “getting away with murder” at the sessions, the Dire Straits legend opens up in his most revealing interview in years

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“The idea is Kirk was gonna play rhythms along with James. That changed everything, and some people don’t like it”: Bob Rock says Metallica’s divisive Load album redefined the Hetfield-Hammett guitar partnership

New influences, a change in production methods, and moving away from thrash led to the pair switching up their tandem

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