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Donovan
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  1. Guitars

TG215: The making of 'Led Zeppelin IV'

News
By Matthew Parker published 13 May 2011

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

New issue on sale now!

New issue on sale now!

Total Guitar issue 215 is on sale now. Featuring a detailed look at the making of ‘Led Zeppelin IV’, Devin Townsend, Rise Against, Dennis Coffey (of Motown Funk Brother fame), New York Dolls, Children Of Bodom and Brian Setzer. Browse our gallery to see what else is inside!

Buy Total Guitar for iPad, iPhone and iPod

Buy a digital copy of Total Guitar magazine
(US readers click here)

Total Guitar issue 215 is on sale 13 May to 9 June

Subscribe to TG :: Buy TG215 :: Buy TG215 digital edition :: Where to buy TG

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
The making of Led Zeppelin IV

The making of Led Zeppelin IV

40 years after its release, TG revisits what is arguably Led Zeppelin’s greatest album and interviews legendary engineer Andy Johns – a man who’s CV also includes Hendrix, Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones.

Total Guitar issue 215 is on sale 13 May to 9 June

Subscribe to TG :: Buy TG215 :: Buy TG215 digital edition :: Where to buy TG

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Monitor

Monitor

All the people, news and noise emanating from guitar land. This month we have an exclusive look at some very famous guitars from the Hard Rock Café vault, a chance to win Sonisphere tickets, a Queensryche studio report and a first-look at some new Boss stompboxes... And that’s just for starters!

Total Guitar issue 215 is on sale 13 May to 9 June

Subscribe to TG :: Buy TG215 :: Buy TG215 digital edition :: Where to buy TG

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Access All Areas: Kyus Lives!

Access All Areas: Kyus Lives!

TG caught rebooted stoner gods Kyuss Lives! on their recent UK tour. Read our review of the show and check out our interview with new guitarist Bruno Fevery, who’s faced with filling the big boots of Josh Homme.

Total Guitar issue 215 is on sale 13 May to 9 June

Subscribe to TG :: Buy TG215 :: Buy TG215 digital edition :: Where to buy TG

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Devin Townsend: A Man Of Extremes

Devin Townsend: A Man Of Extremes

The former Strapping Young Lad returns with two albums that reveal dual sides of this fascinating player.

Total Guitar issue 215 is on sale 13 May to 9 June

Subscribe to TG :: Buy TG215 :: Buy TG215 digital edition :: Where to buy TG

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Dennis Coffey: The psychedelic Funk Brother

Dennis Coffey: The psychedelic Funk Brother

He painted Motown psychedelic and then disappeared. Now this one-time Funk Brother is back and funkier than ever.

Total Guitar issue 215 is on sale 13 May to 9 June

Subscribe to TG :: Buy TG215 :: Buy TG215 digital edition :: Where to buy TG

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
String 'Em Up: Children Of Bodom

String 'Em Up: Children Of Bodom

The clap, copycat guitars, ‘Malmsteen wannabes’… it’s all par for the course when Finland’s metal messrs get strung up!

Total Guitar issue 215 is on sale 13 May to 9 June

Subscribe to TG :: Buy TG215 :: Buy TG215 digital edition :: Where to buy TG

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Learn to play…

Learn to play…

Read the stories behind the songs, get the sound with any setup and play along with backing tracks on the CD. Click the links for associated video lessons.

Full Tabs:
Nirvana ‘Heart-Shaped Box’, Machine Head ‘Halo’, Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘Breaking The Girl’ and Seasick Steve ‘Walkin’ Man’.

Video Lessons:
Led Zeppelin ‘Rock And Roll’
, Muse ‘Supermassive Blackhole’, The Police ‘Walking On the Moon’ and Black Stone Cherry ‘White Trash Millionaire’ (riff, no backing track)

Total Guitar issue 215 is on sale 13 May to 9 June

Subscribe to TG :: Buy TG215 :: Buy TG215 digital edition :: Where to buy TG

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Huge gear reviews section

Huge gear reviews section

This month you can read reviews of the Sterling by Music Man JP100 (pictured), Hardwire SP-7, Peavey HP Single Cut SC-3, Group Test: Electro-acoustics under £300, Way Huge Green Rhino MkII, Fender Mustang V head, Head to head: Charvel San Dimas Wild Card Vs Rasmus By Suhr Standard S100, Airline Tux Deluxe, T.Rex Tonebug Chorus + Flanger, Tascam DR-05 and more!

Total Guitar issue 215 is on sale 13 May to 9 June

Subscribe to TG :: Buy TG215 :: Buy TG215 digital edition :: Where to buy TG

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Head to head: Charvel VS Rasmus

Head to head: Charvel VS Rasmus

Forged in the 80s, the humbucker, twin singlecoil design dominated an age. Can these respins blast the past to shreds? Find out when we pitch the Charvel San Dimas Wild Card and the Rasmus By Suhr Standard S100 against each other.

Total Guitar issue 215 is on sale 13 May to 9 June

Subscribe to TG :: Buy TG215 :: Buy TG215 digital edition :: Where to buy TG

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker

Matt is a freelance journalist who has spent the last decade interviewing musicians for the likes of Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, MusicRadar, NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound. In 2020, he launched CreativeMoney.co.uk, which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.

Deals not to miss
Donovan
“We can’t let a wild boy like Hendrix in!”: Donovan and the song that connects him to Hendrix, Zeppelin and The Beatles
 
 
Davey Johnstone and Elton John are back-to-back as they perform live, with Johnstone playing his Captain Fantastic Les Paul Custom
Davey Johnstone on the making of Elton John’s 1975 masterpiece, Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
 
 
NEW YORK: Todd Rundgren posed at a studio mixing desk in New York in 1974 (Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns)
“Sometimes it’s best not to meet your idols”: Todd Rundgren’s Top 5 favourite album productions
 
 
Derek Trucks wears a gray blazer as he takes a solo at Red Rocks, Colorado, in 2015. A couple of months later he would be revisiting the Mad Dogs tour of 1970 with Leon Russell as Tedeschi Trucks Band headlined LOCKN' Festival with a historic set and reunion of the Joe Cocker and Russell-led band.
Derek Trucks on the unlikely triumph of Tedeschi Trucks Band and Leon Russell’s “intense” Mad Dogs & Englishmen set
 
 
Alter Bridge record in 5150 Studios, the studio that the late Eddie Van Halen built, courtesy of an invite from his son and friend of the band Wolfgang Van Halen
Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti on recording at the studio that Eddie Van Halen built
 
 
Bowie
How David Bowie created one of the greatest songs of all time
 
 
Latest in Guitars
TC Electronic Plethora X1 pedal
Just £99 for 14 effects pedals in one? Surely this TC Electronic Plethora X1 compact multi-effects deal makes it the most value-packed stompbox this Black Friday
 
 
Squier Sonic Strat deal
This amazing-value Walmart Squier Sonic Strat deal proves beginner guitarists have never had it so good - get 25% off for Black Friday
 
 
A Strandberg Boden Essential headless guitar on a concrete floor
$300 off the 4.5-star rated Strandberg Boden Essential feels like the guitar deal of the year - save big on the most forward-thinking guitar around
 
 
Neural DSP Quad Cortex floating with smoke in the background
“A generational leap in modelling technology”: Neural DSP gives Quad Cortex and Nano Cortex an almighty power-up
 
 
Harley Benton Custom Line King-12CE NT: the cutaway jumbo 12-string features an all-maple build, gold hardware and Fishman electronics
Harley Benton unveils Custom Line jumbo 12-string with a $350 price tag that’s for the Byrds
 
 
Positive Grid Mini on a shelf
Positive Grid is knocking up to 30% off its range of top-rated smart amps and software this Black Friday weekend - including the Spark 2, Spark Mini & Bias X
 
 
Latest in News
Roland TD716 Black Friday
Roland's TD716 electronic drum set is designed to be a VST killer. Now it's had a massive $1,800 wiped off the price at Sweetwater for Cyber Weekend – you’ll get a drum rug and throne worth nearly $500 for free, too!
 
 
Apple MacBook Air M4
If I was buying my first Apple MacBook for music-making, this is the bargain $749 Black Friday deal I’d go for
 
 
Toontrack Hitmaker SDX
I've waited for Toontrack's Hitmaker SDX Expansion to be discounted ever since it was released. Now it's nearly half-price for Black Friday and I'm about to ruin Christmas by spending way too much on Superior Drummer samples in Thomann's Cyber Week Sale
 
 
SYNTHDEALS
I've spent all day looking at Black Friday synth deals and these are the 5 I'd actually buy - grab them while you can!
 
 
Pittsburgh Modular Voltage Lab 2 and Cre8audio Boom Chick
Buy bleeps, get beats free: These synth and drum machine combos are the most tempting Black Friday deals I’ve seen
 
 
Apple iPad Air M3
I’ve scoured the Earth for the best Black Friday iPad deal, and this is the one I think musicians should go for
 
 

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