Greg Howe stays busy writing guitar books, moonlighting on prog-rock albums, sustaining ridiculous chops, and touring the world. On DarWin’s Distorted Mirror, Howe’s enjoying is unleashed over adventurous soundscapes and spellbinding grooves courtesy of drummer Simon Phillips, but it surely’s his endless seek for impeccable tone that drives him creatively.

“I’ve a ton of fabric for a brand new album, so I’m anxious to get that going,” Howe says. “I’m feeling very artistic. There are tons of concepts that had been recorded. A few of it was recorded a number of years in the past.”

We caught as much as chat.

You wrote a ebook: Artistic Arpeggio Phrasing For Guitar.
When folks discuss my guitar enjoying, it’s all the time flattering. There are such a lot of superb gamers on the market, and I’m undecided why folks like my enjoying, however I’ve all the time felt sturdy about my instructing potential. I’ve found out methods to convey superior concepts and simplify them. I’ve watched gamers sitting in entrance of me go from enjoying predictable pentatonic stuff to enjoying stuff the place they are saying, “I can’t consider I sound like this!”

I’ve all the time felt assured in my potential to convey concepts and educate, much more so than my enjoying potential (laughs). I be ok with the way in which I play, however I’m nearly embarrassed by a few of the extraordinarily beneficiant compliments I’ve acquired.

What’s it like enjoying prog with DarWin?
It’s been nothing however enjoyable. I’ve grown to actually know DarWin. We’ve been working collectively for about seven years, and I get his factor. To start with, he would name and provides me the storyline of a solo and the message within the tune. He would have an concept in his thoughts. Now he leaves it as much as me and trusts me. I get the DarWin factor. His materials is significantly completely different than the stuff that I write. In a sure method, that makes it extra inspiring. For me, it’s extra inspiring to enter territory that’s much less acquainted, after which attempt to discover myself there.

Each time DarWin sends me one thing, it’s like, “Wow!” Not solely is he coming from a brand new and completely different place than I’m, he’s received Simon Phillips, who’s producing it. Simon is tremendous high-level. He’s received an excellent ear and an excellent manufacturing sense. He’s an excellent producer. He contributes to the preparations, the concepts, and the texture of the songs. Anytime Simon will get his palms on a bit of music, it’s inspiring to me.

Once I performed on [Simon’s] fourth Protocol report, I wasn’t certain I wished to hitch as a result of it was prog. He despatched some materials, and it jogged my memory of stuff I’ve written; his chord adjustments and rhythms are actually cool. It wasn’t senseless, with odd time signatures for no purpose; it was actually musical. So, with Simon on this DarWin factor, I really feel that very same inspiration. It’s exterior of my artistic wheelhouse, which makes it thrilling.

My albums all the time sound a bit completely different as a result of I’m not impressed once I play the identical factor over and over. I’ve to go someplace unfamiliar. Once I play with DarWin, it’s nothing however new territory.

Did you get any new toys?
I’ve a brand new signature guitar known as the Lyra. I got here up with the physique design and a few new concepts. It’s an offset double-cut, but it surely appears distinctive. I offered it to Jeff at Kiesel Guitars, and we ended up with a wonderful poplar high obtainable in a wide range of translucent colours.

I additionally began working with an organization known as VegaTrem, which makes alternative bridges for Strats and Teles. They’ll make a floating bridge with out doing any routing. The strings actually resonate with it, giving it a thicker sound, and we carried out the VegaTrem bridge with the Lyra.

I’m additionally working with One Management, designing a cool pedal known as Tilt. It’s very transparent-sounding, like a lift however with just a little extra juice. I wished to show it into an overdrive pedal, however higher-gain. I’m additionally trying to do one thing with DigiTech. They know I’m into their Whammy DT. That factor is a lot enjoyable. I really feel like just a little child once I get round it. You are able to do so many cool issues with it.

What’s subsequent?
I’ll be touring Japan and China, engaged on a brand new venture I can’t discuss, and enjoying dwell with DarWin. – Oscar Jordan

This text initially appeared in VG’s January 2026 challenge. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.