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GALLERY: Riot Fest 2016

See what guitars and basses the punks, metalheads, and hardcore rockers used during the Windy City’s other 3-day festival.

Gwar’s Pustulus Maximus

The band's newest guitarist, Brent Purgason, slayed on his signature Blakhart model, the Whargoul Pustulus Maximus. Even though the guitar takes a beating every show, Purgason says he's only had to make minor adjustments. His guitars are strung with D’Addario (.010-.046 ) strings.

It’s almost over, but there’s still time to win! Enter Stompboxtober Day 30 for your shot at today’s pedal from SoloDallas!

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Is Reading Sheet Music Required to Be a Good Guitarist?
- YouTube

Does the guitar’s design encourage sonic exploration more than sight reading?


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Developed specifically for Tyler Bryant, the Black Magick Reverb TB is the high-power version of Supro's flagship 1x12 combo amplifier.

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“I’m a fan of the riff,” says Jerry Cantrell. “I’m always collecting ideas, and you never know when they’re going to come, or what they’re going to turn into

Photo by Jon Carver

The 6-string wielding songwriter has often gotten flack for reverberating his classic band’s sound in his solo work. But as time, and his latest, tells, that’s not only a strength, but what both he and loyal listeners want.

The guitarist, singer, and songwriter Jerry Cantrell, who is best known for helming Alice in Chains, one of the most influential bands in hard-rock history, is an affable, courteous conversationalist. He’ll apologize, for instance, when he’s been on a PR mission all afternoon and needs to eat something. “I’m sorry. I’m starving. I’m going to make a BLT while we finish this interview,” he says on a recent Zoom call.

“That’s bacon frying, by the way,” he adds, in case his interviewer was wondering about the sizzling sound in the background.

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