The Complete History of Guitar World (Backbeat Books 2010)

A very concise history of the highlights of the respected ‘Guitar World’ magazine. Even non-musos like myself can enjoy this book. For only 300 pages they cram the information in from every song transcripted in the magazine between July 1980 when it launched up to October 2010. Then there is every cover featured plus eight pages given to each album.

It is fun just to watch the fashions and musical trends change over the years from the OTT hair metal days, grunge and bands like Green Day. There are some great interview highlights from a hilarious interview with Spinal Tap’s Nigel Tuffnell and a moving interview with Jason Becker shortly after he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Metallica seem to crop up an awful lot!

For a ‘dip in’ book on the magazine this one has it all and as mentioned earlier it has a wider appeal outside of the guitarist fraternity.

Jason Ritchie

www.backbeatbooks.com

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 16 November 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This 600th show was first broadcast on 18 November 2025

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Power Plays w/c 1 December 2025

We feature all the artists selected in this sequence in 2025.

Featured Albums w/c 1 December 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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