Guitar World timeline

Johnny Winter appears on the cover of Guitar World

Johnny Winter graces the cover of the first issue of Guitar World magazine, which was published back in July of 1980. Also featured inside were... Read more

Pat Metheny appears on the cover of Guitar World

The cover of Guitar World's second issue features a great shot of Pat Metheny with jazz box in hand. Read more

Neal Schon appears on the cover of Guitar World

Journey's Neal Schon talks some smack on this month's cover. Also inside, articles on George Benson and vintage amps! Read more

Frank Zappa appears on the cover of Guitar World

The late, great Frank Zappa poses with his trusty sunburst Custom for a classic Guitar World cover in March of 1982. Read more

Judas Priest appear on the cover of Guitar World

The age of metal is ushered in at Guitar World with this Judas Priest cover featuring K.K. Downing, Glenn Tipton and a boatload of spandex and... Read more

Steve Stevens appears on the cover of Guitar World

Holy big hair, Batman! No, that's not Roseanne on this month's cover, it's a very glammed up Steve Stevens, Billy Idol's shredding sidekick. Note... Read more

Billy Sheehan and Steve Vai appear on the cover of Guitar World

Steve Vai makes his Guitar World cover debut alongside David Lee Roth bandmate Billy Sheehan. Note Steve's awesome Performance flame guitar... and... Read more

Trevor Rabin and Chris Squire appear on the cover of Guitar World

Yes' Trevor Rabin and Chris Squire make their way onto this month's cover, and for those keeping score that's 2 people and 17 strings. Read more

Michael Schenker appears on the cover of Guitar World

Michael Schenker lands on the cover of this issue with his custom black and white Flying V and outer space haircut! Read more

George Lynch appears on the cover of Guitar World

George Lynch kamikazes his way onto this month's cover with his signature ESP a-blazin'! Check out those velvet pants! Read more

Keith Richards appears on the cover of Guitar World

A great cover shot of Keith Richards looking very cool despite wearing a very dainty watch. Guitar nerds note the replacement modern solid saddles... Read more

Robert Cray appears on the cover of Guitar World

Robert Cray brings his blues styling and blue Strat to the cover of Guitar World this month. Also peeking out at us through his shades is Bon... Read more

Night Ranger appear on the cover of Guitar World

Night Ranger's Jeff Watson and Brad Gillis are featured this month, and although Night Ranger is not metal per se, Brad Gillis' hair earns this... Read more

Izzy Stradlin and Slash appear on the cover of Guitar World

Guns N' Roses young guitarists Slash and Izzy Stradlin are photographed for this month's classic cover with Les Pauls ready to go. Read more

Zakk Wylde appears on the cover of Guitar World

This issue featured the "Young Guns of Metal", with cover shots of Winger's Reb Beach, White Lion's Vito Bratta and a young and skinny, borderline... Read more

Steve Stevens appears on the cover of Guitar World

No, that's not Edward Scissorhands, it's Steve Stevens--whose hair shows no signs of slowing down now that he's left Billy Idol. The talented... Read more

Joe Satriani and Steve Vai appear on the cover of Guitar World

Steve Vai and Joe Satriani share their first Guitar World cover, and give their first-ever joint interview--all the while rocking some cool Ibanez... Read more

Nuno Bettencourt, Reb Beach and Richie Kotzen appear on the cover of Guitar World

This cover showcases "Metal's Cutting Edge" and features Extreme's Nuno Bettencourt, Winger's Reb Beach, and Richie Kotzen. Read more

Zakk Wylde and Ozzy Osbourne appear on the cover of Guitar World

A great photo of Ozzy Osbourne and Zakk Wylde graces the cover this month. Dig Ozzy's yellow zoot suit, complete with crucifix. Read more

Stevie Ray Vaughan appears on the cover of Guitar World

This issue pays tribute to the great Stevie Ray Vaughan, who at that time had recently passed away in a tragic helicopter accident. He was 35 years... Read more

Skid Row appear on the cover of Guitar World

Skid Row's Scotti Hill and Snake Sabo are featured on this month's cover, while Edward Van Halen peeks out from the upper corner. Read more

Metallica appear on the cover of Guitar World

James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett get fired up on this cover! This Metallica-laden issue included lessons, photos and a pull-out Pushead poster. Read more

Pearl Jam appear on the cover of Guitar World

Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and Mike McCready are photographed for this month's cover with their Les Paul and Stratocaster. Also inside, an... Read more

Billy Gibbons appears on the cover of Guitar World

Blues, babes and the bizzare world of Billy Gibbons. That kind of says it all... Also on the cover, Billy Corgan--the Smashing Pumpkins' superman... Read more

Dimebag appears on the cover of Guitar World

Move over Diamond, here comes Dimebag! In his first mag appearance as Dimebag Darrell, the Pantera axeman shows you why he's the world's most... Read more