I'm a professional dabbler, working in music, photography, journalism, cynical musings, and the occasional bit of fiction.
Chris Ford
Five Finger Death Punch’s Jason Hook Shows Off His Signature Gibson Guitar
As lead guitarist for Five Finger Death Punch, Jason Hook has very specific demands of his guitar. He recently partnered with Gibson to create his own signature instrument, the M4-Sherman Explorer, which is now available to fans looking to emulate his look and sound. Hook recently posted a video going into detail about the ins and outs of his custom axe.
Dave Mustaine Unveils New ‘Zero’ Signature Dean Guitars
Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine is responsible for some of heavy metal’s most memorable riffs, and since 2006, Mustaine has been working with one of the most metal companies, Dean Guitars, to create a diverse assortment of axes. In keeping with tradition, Mustaine and Dean have just unveiled their newest collaboration, the Zero series.
Pantera + Kill Devil Hill Bassist Rex Brown Signs Hartke Endorsement Deal
Former Pantera and current Kill Devil Hill bassist Rex Brown continues to hammer out some of best low-end around and now he's doing that with the help of Hartke amplifiers. Brown recently announced that he is accepting an endorsement deal from Hartke and will be making his debut as a member of the Hartke team during an event in New York City next month.
Eve to Adam Guitarist Gaurav Bali Shares Guitar Tone Secrets
Eve to Adam have been faithfully working to keep hard, riff-driven rock 'n' roll alive for more than a decade and some credit for their heavy sound has to go to the band's longtime axeman Guarav Bali.
Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda Discusses Band’s Evolving Use of Technology
Mike Shinoda is a huge driving force behind the success of Linkin Park. In working with the band, he wears many hats, including songwriter, producer, guitar player and vocalist. Shinoda was recently interviewed in a video released by Dell Computers as part of its ‘Celebrating Achievement through Technology’ campaign. In the video, Shinoda talks about how technology and computers help shape his mus
Rush Guitarist Alex Lifeson Shares Guitar Inspirations + Band Beginnings
Guitar World recently pulled from their archive an interview with Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson. The guitarist talked about when he got into playing guitar and what his first guitar was. He also discussed Rush’s first show and his favorite Rush concert.
Death Division + White Wizzard Guitarists Join Shreds of Insanity Metal Exposition
The Shreds of Insanity Expo will feature metal shredders from four up-and-coming metal bands. The featured guitarists include Dave Silver of Savage Messiah, Parker Jameson of Starkill, Jake Dreyer of White Wizzard and Rick Di Marco of Death Division. And special guest Francesco Artusato of All Shall Perish is scheduled to make an appearance. The event is sponsored by Century Media Records, Dunlop
Slipknot’s Jim Root + Mick Thompson Address Analog Versus Digital Debate
Slipknot’s Jim Root and Mick Thompson recently talked with Music Radar about gear, performing live, and the ins and outs of recording digitally on Pro Tools versus recording to tape. Root also discussed the differences between playing in Slipknot and Stone Sour.
Justin Timberlake Gets a Metal Makeover from Andy Rehfeldt
Andy Rehfeldt has made a name for himself by remixing popular songs, giving them a new twist. One of his recent efforts involved revamping Justin Timberlake’s live performance of his new single, ‘Suit and Tie,' and giving a decidedly metal revision.
Green Day’s Mike Dirnt Shows Off His New Signature Basses
Mike Dirnt has been holding down the low end in Green Day since the beginning. To Green Day fans, he’s known for pumping out fast bass runs that cut through the song, and that often play key melodic roles. Part of his unique bass presence comes from his old, worn Fender Precision bass. He recently partnered with Fender to design two new P-basses that have the look and feel of the original Precisio