General Interest

AC/DC are the latest victims of TikTok virality. While the iconic rockers have been churning their way through their Power Up World Tour, a clip from a show back in April has recently resurfaced – and people aren’t impressed.

The TikTok in question captures 70-year-old guitarist Angus Young rousing up California’s Rose Bowl stadium during T.N.T. The guitarist knocks out a few calls of “OI! OI” OI!”, before we see frontman Brian Johnson singing the track. While it’s a calmer display than one might have seen in the ‘70s, some users have been quick to criticise; “It’s time to retire,” one user writes.

Others share similar sentiments, with one user commenting: “I really wanted to see them this year… now I don’t, thank you for this”.

• READ MORE: “You bite me, mate, and I’ll chew your f**king ear off”: AC/DC’s Malcolm Young’s threat when Nikki Sixx tried to involve him in a tour brawl between Motley Crue and Van Halen

Despite the backlash, plenty of fans are stepping in to defend the rockers. “People are confusing bad sound engineering and mixing with a bad performance,” one user notes. “I saw them last month and they rocked the house. They might retire soon, but not because they’re unable to deliver.”

“They’re selling out stadiums, I don’t think they are embarrassing themselves,” another TikToker notes. “They crowd’s having a great time, and the band aren’t stopping [any time soon].”

@acdc_usa

AC/DC – T.N.T. (2025 Pasadena) @AC/DC #acdc #acdcforever #acdcrocks #acdcfan #acdcfans #acdclovers #angusyoung #brianjohnson #rocknroll #music #guitar #classicrock #backinblack #highwaytohell #thunderstruck #rocklegends #musiclovers #hardrock #rock #rockmusic #tour #worldtour #pwrup #powerup #poweruptour #poweruptour2024 #bonscott

♬ original sound – acdc_usa

News outlet Australian Daily has also shared the clip, urging more fans to rush to the Australian band’s defence. “Who the hell gives anyone the right to tell these living legends to retire,” one user says.

When faced with a hater, the user doubles down: “Don’t go [and see AC/DC] then, it’s that simple. They are 70-year-old men than have rocked the world for over 50 years, and they still get up there and fill stadiums.”

“What do they expect honestly? To see a band in their prime? Not a chance, they are old men. But it’s rock n roll, and rock n roll will never die. And if you think they care what people say then you are poorly mistaken.”

“Angus is 69 years old, Brian is 76, compared to someone like Axl Rose, they’re looking and sounding pretty damn good – and they’re older by him by a decent margin,” another notes.

Despite the divisive TikTok clip, AC/DC are still in the thick of their world tour. Celebrating the release of 2020’s Power Up record, the tour kicked off last May and has drawn in over half a million punters thus far.

The post “Who the hell gives anyone the right to tell these living legends to retire”: Fans jump to AC/DC’s defence after concert footage goes viral appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Epiphone introduces the Jeff Beck 1954 Oxblood Les Paul, a tribute to the iconic guitar immortalized on the cover of Jeff Beck's groundbreaking album. Featuring Gibson USA pickups, solid wood construction, and premium electronics, this limited edition guitar is a must-have for fans and collectors alike.

For over 150 years, Epiphone has been a leading innovator in instrument design. By leveraging its iconic past and leaning into the future, Epiphone has set the stage for the next era of sound for present and future generations. Epiphone’s game-changing Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection, developed in close collaboration with the skilled luthiers at Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee, continues to expand, establishing a new tier of premium Epiphones for every stage. Featuring Gibson USA pickups and premium electronics, world-renowned Gibson “open book” headstocks, solid wood construction, and one-piece necks, Epiphone’s Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection brings Gibson Custom designs to the masses, adding to Epiphone’s full array of instruments for all player levels.

Today, Epiphone is proud to introduce the Jeff Beck 1954 Oxblood Les Paul from Epiphone, an Inspired by Gibson Custom recreation of one of the most famous guitars in history–Jeff Beck’s famous Oxblood, the heavily modified 1954 Les Paul that was immortalized on the cover of his groundbreaking 1975 album Blow by Blow. The world-famous guitar is now available worldwide at Authorized Epiphone dealers, the Gibson Garage in Nashville and London, and online via epiphone.com.

“Bringing the Epiphone version of the infamous ‘Oxblood’ Les Paul to life was something Jeff Beck wanted, and the team has now truly delivered,” says Lee Bartram, Head of Commercial and Marketing EMEA at Gibson. “Making this guitar accessible to a wider market was important to Jeff and his family; this Epiphone guitar turned out truly exceptional and is a worthy tribute to the legacy of a legend.”

In the minds of many of his fellow guitarists, as well as those of countless fans, Jeff Beck remains one of the finest players ever to pick up the instrument. From his early work with the Yardbirds to his work with the Jeff Beck Group, Beck, Bogert & Appice, as a session musician and throughout his solo career, Jeff Beck was one of the most influential lead guitarists of all time. A guitarist’s guitarist and sonic innovator, Beck was a master of genres who played rock, blues, hard rock, and jazz fusion, and helped popularize the use of feedback, fuzz pedals, and distortion, influencing countless players to this day with his inimitable style. An eight-time GRAMMY® Award winner, including six times for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, Jeff Beck also received the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: as a member of the Yardbirds and as a solo artist.

Known to millions as the Oxblood due to its unique chocolate brown/oxblood finish, Jeff Beck’s heavily modified 1954 Les Paul™ was immortalized on the cover of Blow by Blow, his groundbreaking first solo album. This past January, the original Oxblood recently sold at auction for a record-setting $1.3 million. In 2009, Gibson Custom first recreated the Oxblood in a limited edition run of only 50 aged guitars, which collectors still highly value. Now, Epiphone, in collaboration with Gibson Custom, is immensely proud to introduce the Jeff Beck Oxblood 1954 Les Paul™, based on his iconic 1954 Les Paul. It features a mahogany body with a maple cap, a one-piece mahogany neck with a long neck tenon and a Jeff Beck Custom Large C neck profile, a rosewood fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and aged mother-of-pearl trapezoid inlays, and a Gibson “open book” style headstock with an Epiphone logo inlaid in aged mother-of-pearl. The headstock is equipped with a low-friction Graph Tech® nut and Schaller M6 90 tuning machines. It is powered by a pair of USA-made Gibson Custombucker humbucker™ pickups that are connected to CTS® potentiometers and Mallory capacitors using 50s-style wiring. Other thoughtfully considered details are included to match the original guitar, including gold Speed knobs, a Les Paul pickguard with a gap above the bridge pickup, and a Gibson Historic Wraparound bridge. It comes packaged in an Epiphone hardshell guitar case with Inspired by Gibson Custom graphics and includes a vintage-style replica strap. The Epiphone Jeff Beck Oxblood 1954 Les Paul is available for a limited time, so do not miss this rare opportunity to own an accessible tribute to one of the world’s most famous, cherished, and valuable electric guitars and the master instrumentalist who made it famous–Jeff Beck.

For more information, please visit epiphone.com.

Epiphone Jeff Beck 1954 Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar - Oxblood

While thousands of tents already pitched across the Glastonbury fields, the festival’s annual weekend of music is set to kick off tomorrow. However, The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde is warning people that global warming could put an end to the beloved summer festival season.

In a new Instagram post, Hynde reflects on how British summers are getting hotter every year. “I trust you’re all surviving the heat waves,” she writes. “I’m remembering the last couple years when we supported Guns N’ Roses, and then the Foo Fighters… It was so hot I had to strap ice packs around my waist. And I realised then that outdoor events are going to come to an end. It’s too hot.”

• READ MORE: “Oppression fears artistic expression”: Johnny Marr speaks out against calls to remove Kneecap from Glastonbury lineup

According to weather predictions, this year’s festival could be the hottest ever. “There is a slim chance that temperatures [on Sunday] could get close to the Glastonbury record of 31.2°C,” the BBC reports.

The Glastonbury Town Council has also voiced its concern surrounding changing climates. In 2019, the council “declared a climate emergency, and pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030”.

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A post shared by Chrissie Hynde (@chrissiehyndemusic)

Hynde isn’t the only musicians fearful of rising climates. St. Albans rockers Enter Shikari have even attended the UN’s world climate change conference, COP26, back in 2021. “We’re going to make as much noise as we can!” he told Kerrang! at the time.

The gang have been contributing to the climate crisis discussion since 2012, when they released Arguing With Thermometers, a thumping wallop of dubstep-meets-industrial-post-hardcore fury.

In 2019, they even performed on the Reading & Leeds Festival main stage with a backdrop of ‘Warming Stripes’. Designed by Reading University Professor Ed Hawkins, the Warming Stripes depict how average global temperatures have risen since 1850. The blue stripes represent cooler years, while the red stripes show hotter years.

Regardless, Glastonbury wont be deterred by the hot weather this year. This weekend is set to boast headline sets from Olivia Rodrigo, Neil Young and The 1975. The 1975 have also made every effort to impress, with the Telegraph reporting that the band spent “four times their actual fee” for their stage production.

The post “Outdoor events are going to come to an end. It’s too hot”: Chrissie Hynde says that increasing global heat will lead to the demise of outdoor festivals like Glastonbury appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Peavey® introduces new Cirrus™ bass guitar models, featuring 4-string and 5-string options in nine styles. With Peavey VFL humbuckers, 3-band active EQ, and exotic hardwoods, these basses pay homage to the original 1997 design. Starting at $3299.99.

Peavey® announces the debut of new Cirrus™ bass guitar models. Featuring 4-string and 5-string models, in an encompassing collection of nine different styles, Cirrus bass guitars deliver the high level of craftsmanship and sonic character that helped bring Peavey fretted instruments to a new standard. Featuring Peavey VFL humbuckers, 3-band active EQ, and visually striking designs, Cirrus basses are back to make their boldest statement yet.

The initial launch of handcrafted Cirrus basses in 1997 helped Peavey guitars gain a new level of respect among professional players. Peavey’s master luthier, the late Mike Powers, achieved excellent tone with a lighter, neck-through design. In the new Cirrus bass models, Peavey brings back this essential feature, as well as the use of exotic hardwoods, state-of-the-art electronics, and a 35-inch scale length to improve the low-end.

The new Cirrus bass design improves upon the VFL (Vertical Flux Loading) humbucker technology that originally debuted with this model. VFL was another Powers innovation that optimized the magnetic field for less inductance and enhanced high-frequency performance. Peavey’s VFL electronics include 3-band active Cirrus EQ, blend control, and master volume, allowing players of various styles to dial in their perfect tone.

The two main models are the Cirrus 4-string and 5-string. Each model offers Flame Maple, Flame Maple Trans Black, Flame Maple Trans Blue, or Wenge wood for the top material. The Cirrus 4 offers the additional option of a Quilt Maple top. The maple tops are paired with alder bodies, achieving a harmonious balance of brightness and midrange warmth. Similarly, the pairing of the wenge top with walnut creates a distinctive tonal fusion resulting in a rich, balanced sound. A natural oil finish is used, with the exception of the Flame Maple Trans Blue and Trans Black models, which have a corresponding Gloss Burst finish for a dazzling splash of color.

On each model, a rosewood fretboard with 24 medium jumbo frets is reinforced by purple heart wood stringers, which not only add to the tonal depth but provide an eye-catching design that complements each instrument’s overall look. Another captivating signature feature is the Cirrus inlay on the 12th fret.

The engineering team also tips their hat to the lightweight 1997 design by using graphite pultrusion, as well as a graphite top nut and graphite overlay headstock with Peavey’s block letter logo. Wood is the material of choice for the back plate, battery cover, and dual-action truss rod cover, secured with machine screws.

While most of the models have sleek black hardware, the Quilt Maple and Flame Maple models offer a unique flair with gold hardware. Dunlop-style strap locks come standard.

With the debut of new Peavey’s Cirrus bass guitars, past and present reunite to provide players endless possibilities for a new musical journey.

Street prices starting at $3299.99 with TKL hardshell case included.

For more information, please visit peavey.com.

After first being introduced at this year’s NAMM Show, Taylor‘s Gold Label Collection is expanding with new Grand Pacific models.

The Grand Pacific models expand on the Gold Label Collection’s “warm, heritage-inspired acoustic flavour”. Rather than the classic Grand Specific design, the Gold Label upgrade boasts a reimagined body shape, 3/8 inch deeper body and a round-shoulder dreadnought to capture a fuller sound and even more low-end power.

• READ MORE: Why everyone is wrong about the iconic ‘Spirit In The Sky’ guitar sound

While the deeper body allows for more “lung capacity”, it also has the Gold Label’s signature Fanned V-Class bracing architecture. The combination allows for rich tonal and musical clarity; as the company notes, even the treble notes feel warmer and deeper than the Grand Pacific’s standard model.

“Compared to the Super Auditorium body, the curves and depth of the Grand Pacific produce even more volume and tonal dimension,” Andy Powers, Taylor’s Chief Guitar Designer, President and CEO, explains. “Its voice is earthy, honest and uncomplicated. It’s a reliable acoustic workhorse – both seasoned and soulful.”

The Gold Label Collection Grand Specific also has Taylor’s Action Control Neck. The neck is featured on all Gold Label guitars, and allowing the tonal benefits of a long-tenon neck joint combined with the ease of instantly being able to tweak string height.

This is possible by using a quarter-inch nut driver on a bolt in the neck block, which can be accessed via the soundhole. It means that no fiddly neck or string removal needs to happen in order to make your adjustments.

“The design serves players by allowing them to adjust their string height for different playing styles, applications or climate conditions as often as they like,” Powers notes.

The new Grand Pacific models come in either mahogany or rosewood, both with torrefied Sitka spruce tops. Grand Pacific Mahogany 500 Series models include the natural Gold Label 517e, Gold Label 517e SB Cream, Gold Label 517e SB Firestripe and Gold Label 517e Blacktop.

Rosewood 700 Series models come in the same colour options, with the all-natural Gold Label 717e, Gold Label 717e SB Cream, Gold Label 717e SB Firestripe and Gold Label 717e Blacktop. As well as this, both the Mahogany and Rosewood Firestripe models can come with firestripe or cream pickguards, depending on your preference.

All models also come with a ‘Crest’ inlay motif in cream on the fretboard, as well as a new headstock inlay. All models boast a West African ebony fretboard and Taylor Nickel tuning machines and come with D’Addario XS Coated Phosphor Bronze Light strings.

The Gold Label Grand Pacific range is available now, with prices ranging from $2,599 to $2,999.

For more information, head to Taylor Guitars.

The post Taylor’s top-tier Gold Label Collection now features Grand Pacific models – here’s everything you need to know appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith has spoken about being the sole member of the band to make use of Drop D tuning – a move he claims was met with some resistance from his bandmates.

In a recent conversation with Ola Englund, Smith shares how he began experimenting with his playing after rejoining Maiden in 1999. The guitarist credits producer and Bruce Dickinson collaborator Roy Z, whom he worked with for “a couple of years”, with introducing him to Drop D tuning, something Smith says helped push his playing into new territory.

• READ MORE: “Even bands now that have got hit records are struggling to make money”: Adrian Smith says only a “tiny percentage” of musicians can make a living

“Roy showed me all this business,” Smith recalls [via Ultimate Guitar]. “I was like, ‘Whoa, what is that?’ Now everyone’s doing it. So, I brought a little bit of that into Maiden.”

He continues: “When I rejoined the band, I thought I’d try something a little bit different, because Jan [Janick Gers] was just playing the same as I used to play. So, I’m playing a lot of stuff differently than I used to.”

Drop D stuck – but not for everyone in the band: “We do songs like Run to the Hills, The Clairvoyant, it’s Drop D. I’m the only one in the band who would do it. ‘Come on! Let’s drop the D, move with the times!’ They’re like, ‘Nah.’”

Even so, Smith concedes that the effect is subtle unless the bass joins in: “I think unless the bass does it, it doesn’t really get the full effect. But it’s a little bit of a different texture,” he says.

The Maiden guitarist also previously credited Roy Z with shifting his approach to practice altogether.

“I never knew you had to practice… I just used to write songs, play them, sing, and do gigs,” Smith admitted on the Scars and Guitar podcast.

“I never used to sit down for hours and practice, but Roy showed me stuff, and I thought, ‘Hey, he’s technically miles better than I am, and I’m playing in a band with him, and I’ve got to go on stage with him. I better get my shit together.’”

Elsewhere in Maiden lore, longtime manager Rod Smallwood recently reflected on the band’s early shows in Japan and a particularly odd audience experience.

“One of the weirdest things for us was how the audiences were all seated. If a fan got too excited and stood up, a security guy would bang them on the head with rolled up newspapers,” he said. “So the fan would sit down, but then another would stand up somewhere else, and then – bang! – they’d sit down. It was like Whac-A-Mole. Quite extraordinary.”

The post Adrian Smith recalls pushback he received when making Iron Maiden bandmates use drop D tuning: “I’m the only one in the band who would do it” appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

PRS Guitars has launched its first signature guitar with virtuoso Herman Li, best known as one-half of the high-speed guitar duo in power metal outfit DragonForce.

Named Chleo, after a combination of his children’s names, the limited-edition axe is as bold as it is technical, packing four years of R&D into just 200 units for 2025.

• READ MORE: Ed Sheeran’s track on the F1 movie soundtrack sees him collaborating with PRS for racing red exclusive guitar

At first glance, the Chleo is a seemingly dramatic departure from classic PRS design. But under the hood, the build quality and craftsmanship are pure PRS.

The guitar features a figured maple top on a solid mahogany body with a one-piece maple neck.

Its body has been slimmed down dramatically, making it light enough for high-energy stage performances and comfortable for longer gigs, while a custom neck joint adds structural integrity and enhances tonal transfer.

Built for speed, the neck is “very thin front-to-back” with a slightly taller playing surface and a wide 20” fretboard radius. The upper frets are fully accessible thanks to a revised scoop and scalloping at the last four frets.

Glow-in-the-dark side dots round out the build, alongside a striking custom “Eclipse Dragon” inlay pattern across the ebony fretboard.

At the heart of the Chleo is a custom HSH pickup configuration powered by the Li’s signature Fishman Fluence Signature Series Omniforce set.

These copper-free pickups use layered PCBs to deliver a consistent, noise-free performance. With three distinct voices and a versatile switching system, players can access up to 13 unique tone combinations.

Whether you’re after fat, aggressive rhythm tones, crisp single-coil sparkle, or searing high-gain leads, Chleo adapts with ease.

The guitar’s performance-friendly control layout – featuring a single push/pull volume, a push/pull tone, and a 5-way blade switch – also makes it easy to switch between tones on the fly.

Even the bridge has been rethought. The Chleo features a Gotoh locking tremolo, upgraded with a custom stabiliser developed by PRS.

This clever design gives you the freedom and feel of a floating tremolo while maintaining the tuning stability you’d expect from a hardtail bridge.

“With the PRS Chleo, I wanted to create a guitar that combined effortless playability, precision craftsmanship, and a versatile tonal range,” says Li.

“It brings together modern innovation with timeless style, giving players the freedom to explore both classic sounds and new creative possibilities. The Chleo isn’t just a signature model – it’s a guitar built to inspire.”

Rob Carhart, PRS’s Director of New Products Engineering, adds, “This guitar represents a new evolution for PRS. We spent more than four years in research and development, working closely with Herman to get everything exactly right.”

At $6,850, the Chleo doesn’t come cheap, though it clearly isn’t meant to. Available in Orchid Dusk and Charcoal Purple Burst finishes, with just 200 units (100 each) planned for global release, this is a high-performance, limited-edition instrument for players who demand precision, playability, and standout style in equal measure.

Learn more at PRS.

The post PRS breaks new ground with radical new signature model for DragonForce’s Herman Li – and it’s been four years in the making appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.

Wolfgang Van Halen has confirmed he will no longer be taking part in Black Sabbath’s upcoming farewell show in Birmingham due to scheduling conflicts with his own touring commitments.

Set for 5 July at Villa Park, Back to the Beginning marks a monumental – and supposedly final – reunion for Black Sabbath’s original lineup: Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.

Billed as their definitive send-off, the event will also feature performances by metal heavyweights like  Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, and Gojira.

• READ MORE: “My one regret is I can’t say goodbye and thank you for the life I’ve been given”: What Ozzy Osbourne told Sharon which led to Black Sabbath’s final show becoming a reality

Wolfgang Van Halen was among the first names attached to the show earlier this year, leading fans to speculate about a possible guest appearance or collaborative set.

But in a new interview with WRIF Detroit, the Mammoth frontman reveals he’s had to step away from the gig entirely.

“I, unfortunately, had to back out because the Creed tour starts the day after, and I wouldn’t be able to pull it off – unfortunately,” he says. “I’m very excited to watch it, but I unfortunately had to back out.”

Van Halen and his band Mammoth are set to hit the road this summer as part of Creed’s massive Summer of ’99 reunion tour. The North American run also includes stops alongside 3 Doors Down, Daughtry, and Big Wreck.

Despite Van Halen’s absence, the Villa Park show still promises to be a major event for fans – not least because of Ozzy’s return to the stage after a long break due to health issues.

While he won’t be performing a full set, the Prince of Darkness has reportedly been undergoing endurance and weight training (producer Andrew Watt previously described him as “real-life Iron Man”) in preparation for his appearance.

Still, the 76-year-old frontman isn’t sugarcoating the realities of performing at this stage in life.

“I had an appointment in the hospital yesterday,” he recently told MOJO.

“I’ve also got a problem with a trapped nerve in my neck – nine months and it won’t shift. When you get to our age, things just go wrong. We’ll probably keel over after two songs!”

For fans who can’t make it to Villa Park in person, the concert will be available as a pay-per-view livestream for £24.99.

Learn more at backtothebeginning.com.

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