Artists and Bands

Brazilian Kiko Loureiro recently played a Masterclass at London's The Institute of Contemporary Music, and the Guitar Institute's master of ‘world guitar' Tolis Zavaliaris was on hand on 11^th March 2008 to ask a few pertinent questions to this exciting new guitar star. Kiko is a genuinely fresh new addition to the ranks of virtuoso metal based guitarists, bringing an eclectic mix of influences that reflect his South American heritage - and these combined with a world class command of the modern rock guitar idiom results in a genuinely cutting edge axeman.

Back in the mid 1990's Symphony X surfaced from the fertile breeding ground for virtuoso rock and shred/metal guitarists that is New Jersey, USA. One of those very rare bands whose signature sound and approach was pretty much fully formed from day one, Symphony X emerged with a stunning blend of precision metal riffing, soaring melodies and show stopping solo passages from guitarist Michael Romeo and keyboardist Mike Pinella that provided the previously unchallenged Dream Theater with a viable contender for the throne of the ultimate prog metal band.

When we sat down and conceived Alloutguitar.com back in 2005, I had a wish list of players that I really wanted to feature. Phil Hilborne was right at the top: for anyone learning to play rock guitar growing up in the 80's and early 90's in the UK, Phil was pretty much omnipresent. As music editor of Guitarist magazine, and latterly co-founder and Music and CD Editor of Guitar Techniques, Phil influenced and taught a whole generation how to play - and play properly....

Steve Lukather is a man who needs no introduction to most guitarists the world over - and it's safe to say that pretty much anyone who's listened to popular music over the past 30 years will have heard his work: from Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Madonna through to Roger Waters, Don Henley and Boz Scaggs - not forgetting his multi platinum band Toto - Steve Lukather is one of the most recorded and acclaimed guitarists in history.

John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers recently released 'In The Palace Of The King', a tribute to the music of the late, great Freddie King. It was therefore a good time to catch up with a genuine Blues legend...

The latest in a long line of album releases, 'In The Palace Of The King' sees John joined by his long-standing Bluesbreakers lineup of guitarist Buddy Whittington, drummer Joe Yuele, bassist Hank Van Sickle, and keyboardist Tom Canning alongside a fine horn section comprising of Lee Thornburg, Lon Price, and Red Holloway.

Russell Lissack of Bloc Party is one of the best young guitarists in the country. He is innovative and very creative with his ever-growing effects board. You only need to hear the crazy drooping sounds on 'Like Eating Glass' (from first album 'Silent Alarm') or the intro to 'Hunting for Witches' or the solo to 'The Prayer' (both from their follow-up album 'A Weekend in the City') for Russell to instantly stand out a mile.

In Part One of our epic trawl through the career of Australian virtuoso rock fusion guitarist Brett Garsed, we looked at his early years and his breakthrough touring and recording with John Farnham. Now Brett takes us through his American years which all started due to Brett scoring the gig with Ricky Nelsons son's melodic rock band par excellence Nelson.

Liquid Virtuosity Part One: Early Days Down Under

I first heard Brett Garsed's playing whilst half asleep, stuck in a traffic jam in North London on a foggy Saturday morning in late 1990. Cutting through both the external and internal fog (a result of cracking student party hangover...) were the most eloquent, sinuous and melodic rock guitar lines I had pretty much ever heard! Now properly awake, I asked my AOR loving driver who was playing: none other than the much derided 'Timotei Twins' of rock: Nelson!