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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.

Pepper’s Bret Bollinger

He’s played many basses over the years, but Bret Bollinger can’t put down this gift from his mom—a 1972 Fender Jazz bass that was upgraded with Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pickups. “Once I started playing my jazz bass, I never put it down. I never got very good at it, but nonetheless I never put it down because it's always felt like home to me!”

Octave magic awaits! Enter the I Love Pedals giveaway to win the Electro-Harmonix (EHX) POG3. Return every day to increase your chances!

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There’s no disputing the influence B.B. King has had on the history of electric guitar music. We’re talking about his sound, his best records, his guitars, his showmanship, and his collabs, from an all-star jam at the 2010 Crossroads festival to, yes, even his 1988 U2 collab, “When Love Comes to Town.”


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Tighten up your rhythm playing by focusing on how to get a great sound, balancing your wrist and elbow, and understanding how to subdivide rhythms.

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Nile Rodgers brings the rhythm at Bonnaroo 2018.

Photo by Chris Kies

How the rhythm-playing hitmaker behind Chic—and our columnist—learned to love pop music, and why maybe you should, too.

When Nile Rodgers speaks, we should listen. His seminal work with his own band, Chic, as well as Sister Sledge, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Peter Gabriel, Madonna, David Bowie, and Daft Punk, has made him a legend. He also filmed an entertaining Rig Rundown with PG just last year.

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