Guitar Player magazine June 2023 The Edge U2

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From 1960s blues and pop to ’80s rock and shred and modern players — it’s all in the June 2023 issue of Guitar Player.

The heart of the issue is an exclusive double-feature interview with U2 founding guitarist The Edge. In it, he reveals the inside stories behind ‘Songs of Surrender,’ the group’s latest release, and ‘War,’ the groundbreaking 1983 album that made U2 global stars and launched a new era of guitar tone.

In the first feature, the Edge explains how, as the project leader for ‘Songs of Surrender,’ he reshaped 40 treasured U2 cuts — including “Pride (In the Name of Love),” “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “The Fly” — and breathed new life into them. “We’re not just treading lightly on hallowed ground,” he tells GP. “We’re going in with jack boots!”

In the followup story, The Edge and producer Steve Lillywhite recount the making of 1983’s ‘War’ and its breakthrough hits “New Year’s Day” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” Together, they take readers through every aspect of the album’s writing, creation and release and reveal why it stands today as a singular moment in both U2’s development and the Edge’s iconic guitar tone.

The issue continues with Chicago blues legend Buddy Guy. As he hits the road with his Damn Right Farewell Tour, Guy regales Guitar Player with 12 tales from his 70-year career — from his first guitar to meeting Muddy to performing with British blues greats in “The Last Great Guitar Jam of the ’60s.”

We also catch up with Vivian Campbell, as the Irish axeman returns with Last in Line’s latest album, ‘Jericho.’ In a GP exclusive, he notes “we’re always gonna be connected to the original Dio band” and reveals where he made his one misstep with Ronnie James Dio.

Finally, in Frets, we speak with acoustic guitar hound Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz. As his group, ALO, drop their first studio album in eight years, Dan reveals the secrets behind his electrified acoustic setup.

And there’s so much more! Joe Satriani shares the secrets behind “Surfing With the Alien” and four other career-defining tracks, Roots/Tonight Show guitarist “Captain” Kirk Douglas serves up his top tips for guitarists, Randy Bachman reveals the bizarre history of the Guess Who hit “Undun”…plus interviews with ’70s hard-rock inspired guitarist Arielle and Cuban blues hound Hector Tellez Jr., Fender’s Gold Foil Jazzmaster and Telecaster, and more!