
Stuart Williams
Stuart has been working for guitar publications since 2008, beginning his career as Reviews Editor for Total Guitar before becoming Editor for six years. During this time, he and the team brought the magazine into the modern age with digital editions, a Youtube channel and the Apple chart-bothering Total Guitar Podcast. Stuart has also served as a freelance writer for Guitar World, Guitarist and MusicRadar reviewing hundreds of products spanning everything from acoustic guitars to valve amps, modelers and plugins. When not spouting his opinions on the best new gear, Stuart has been reminded on many occasions that the 'never meet your heroes' rule is entirely wrong, clocking-up interviews with the likes of Eddie Van Halen, Foo Fighters, Green Day and many, many more.
Latest articles by Stuart Williams

Blink-182 postpone UK and Ireland shows as Travis Barker flies home due to an “urgent family matter”
By Stuart Williams published
Barker, whose wife, Kourtney Kardashian is pregnant, has shared photos of a prayer room via Instagram

Zildjian releases 400 genuine vintage A cymbals from its private family vault, and you can buy them
By Stuart Williams published
The collection includes 200 'new-vintage' cymbals hand-tested by Armand Zildjian, and some handled by Avedis Zildjian III

Chad Smith on his contribution to Dua Lipa’s Break My Heart
By Stuart Williams published
The Red Hot Chili Pepper recorded drums on the 2020 hit

Want to live in Stewart Copeland’s $6 million house? It’ll cost you $25,000 a month
By Stuart Williams published
The Police legend’s Montecito home is up for rent

"Never call me your drummer again": remembering the time Charlie Watts punched Mick Jagger in the face
By Stuart Williams published
Keith Richards recalls Watts' "drummer's punch" in his autobiography, Life

Get better acoustic guitar tone with these 6 affordable and easy upgrades
By Stuart Williams published
Affordable, practical ways you can polish and upgrade any acoustic guitar's sound

Millenium's new MPS-750X Pro Mesh electronic drum set offers full-shells for under £800
By Stuart Williams published
Millenium makes another play for the acoustic-shell/electronic drum market

Watch: Ringo Starr's drummer Gregg Bissonette breaks down his favourite Beatles drum beats and fills
By Stuart Williams published
The All-Starrs drummer and session titan tips his hat to his boss

Roland TD-02KV review
By Stuart Williams published
This compact and affordable kit proves that ‘budget’ doesn’t exclude you from the big-name brands

The Killers issue an apology after inviting Russian drummer on stage in Georgia, and referring to the fan as the audience's "brother"
By Stuart Williams published
“We did not mean to upset anyone and we apologise”

Foo Fighters enlist ‘superfan’ Michael Bublé for surprise vocal guest-slot on Haven't Met You Yet
By Stuart Williams published
The Michael Foo-blé collaboration came about via Josh Freese’s drumming contribution to the singer's hit song

Wolfgang Van Halen on his approach as a multi-instrumentalist: "Drums are, to me, the most important part. It's the backbone of everything"
By Stuart Williams published
As Mammoth WVH II drops, Wolfgang tells us about taking his one and only drum lesson from Eddie, and why Travis Barker and Danny Carey shaped his playing

Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain reveals he was partially paralysed after suffering a stroke in January
By Stuart Williams published
“I’m not there yet, but by the grace of God I’m getting better and stronger as the weeks go by.”

Watch Shane Hawkins play drums on Led Zeppelin, Van Halen and Black Sabbath songs with Taylor Hawkins’ cover band, Chevy Metal
By Stuart Williams published
The young drummer delivered a solo on Moby Dick, and the band were joined by Skid Row’s Sebastian Bach

Extreme metal drummer Nick Barker's kidneys are in "full failure", a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help
By Stuart Williams published
The Brujeria drummer has previously played with Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir and many others

Watch Weezer drummer Pat Wilson play guitar with Foo Fighters at Japan's Fuji Rock festival
By Stuart Williams published
The band were earlier joined by Alanis Morissette for a cover of Sinéad O’Connor’s Mandinka

Learn to play Djent-style double kick with TesseracT drummer Jay Postones’ double pedal drum lesson
By Stuart Williams published
Jay Postones breaks down his bass drum approach

Zultan introduces Mellow Series low-volume cymbals
By Stuart Williams published
Perforations make the Mellow Series “30 percent quieter” than regular cymbals

Did Metallica correct Lars Ulrich’s 'One' drumming for the official audio of their performance at Download Festival?
By Stuart Williams published
The famous double bass drum part on Metallica's YouTube channel sounds quite different to fan-captured live footage

Ringo Starr has named his “career-defining” Beatles song, but you’re probably more familiar with the version that he didn't play drums on
By Stuart Williams published
The Beatles' first single had a winding road to its release…

Ringo Starr confirms George Harrison features on new Beatles song, adds that they would “never” recreate John Lennon’s voice using AI
By Stuart Williams published
The Fab Four drummer weighs in on the AI confusion surrounding The Beatles’ un-named, forthcoming new song

Nine Inch Nails drummer Ilan Rubin makes statement regarding Q Drum Co. probate lawsuit
By Stuart Williams published
Brandi Booth, partner of late Q Drum Co. founder, Jeremy Berman, has accused Rubin of “litigious actions that put the security and well-being of my family at risk.”

Blur pull out of France’s Beauregard festival after Dave Rowntree suffers leg injury
By Stuart Williams published
The announcement comes just days before the band’s planned return at Wembley Stadium
Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.