Can somebody out there please explain to us why we see artists like John Mayer showing up more often than Steve Hackett in those so-called “All-Time Greatest Guitarists” rankings regurgitated by guitar magazines, instrument manufacturers and pop music critics? We’re a lot closer to solving the ancient riddle of the Sphinx than figuring out that one.

Hackett’s guitar was “instrumental” in solidifying Genesis’ progressive live sound during the early and mid 70′s. After leaving the band in 1977, he has since enjoyed success as a solo artist or as a collaborator, charting his own waters a safe enough distance from the music business “assembly line.”

In March of this year, Steve Hackett was inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the legacy members of Genesis. His newest work, Out of the Tunnel’s Mouth will be released in the U.S. on June 8th.

More about Steve at www.hackettsongs.com

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Larry Carlton, Eric Johnson, Jeff Beck, Jorma Kaukonen and Albert Lee.

Where: The Iridium
When: May 31 – June 21
Why: because it’s there

www.lespaulfoundation.org

Tom Petty has rescheduled ten early dates of his summer tour, originally set to begin on May 6. The reason for the postponements, as explained on his official web site, is a delay in the release of his forthcoming album MOJO (now June 15.) The band “regrets” the circumstances and hopes ticketholders “can make the rescheduled dates.”

This is not sitting well with the fans, many of whom have vented via the comments on the band’s site. Sure, the tickets will be honored at a later date, but not every fan lives adjacent to the venue. Some have to schedule vacation days and buy seats on planes and hotel accommodations. Imagine that.

We venture to guess that the majority of contemporary music enthusiasts, when they hear the name Bruce Cockburn (“Coe-burn”), think of powerful political and environmental messages embellished in folk-tinged tunes. Well, nothing’s wrong with that. After all, the man’s middle name is “Awareness.”

When WE think of Bruce Cockburn, we think of sublime guitar playing.

This year’s Luminato, Toronto’s festival of arts and creativity, pays tribute to Cockburn and his music by presenting THE CANADIAN SONGBOOK: 40 YEARS OF BRUCE COCKBURN, a live concert performance by Bruce and friends on June 16 in Massey Hall.

Also on tap are two Cockburn-themed documentary films MY BEAT: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BRUCE COCKBURN (6/15) and RIVER OF SAND (6/17).

Steve Lukather will perform on Saturday, April 3, in Vissingen, the Netherlands, where he will be the recipient of the Eddy Christiani Award. The prize honors players who have made inspriring developments in electrical guitar music on an international level.

Dust off your vinyl records for this year’s Record Store Day. And don’t just smear that gunk around with a damp cloth, “revirginize” them with this new spa treatment. Should be a snap for our readers who regularly wax their legs.

Jeff Beck alert! Listen to his new release Emotion and Commotion in its entirety for a week on an upcoming NPR exclusive first listen beginning April 6.

And finally, according to Fox Sports’ CEO, if you’re a classic rocker over the age of 60, well then, you better weigh what you did in your heyday, or else you don’t have a shot at performing during next year’s Super Bowl halftime show.