7 riffs that changed my life

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The Smiths, The Stone Roses, The La’s: 7 riffs that changed my life with Shapes Like People

Watch Shapes Like People’s Carl Mann play the riffs that changed his life. Inspired by everybody from John Squire to Johnny Marr, Carl explains the secret behind a classic riff and why simplicity is always best.

21 March 2026

7 RIFFS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

‘That human connection of fingers on strings’: 7 riffs that changed my life with The Red Tack

Ted Thacker, aka The Red Tack, on how a Kiss riff made him take up the guitar, how the Runaways showed up his blind spot and why Keith Richards’ guitar style is impossible to copy.

7 February 2026

STATE OF SOUND

The New Independent Voice of Music

Founded by writer David Rea, State of Sound cuts through the noise with incisive music journalism, providing an analogue voice in a digital world. Free of advertising to ensure a frictionless reading experience, we cast an independent eye across a wide range of genres and eras, publishing everything from in-depth essays on legacy artists to informed reviews of the latest releases. SUBSCRIBE HERE

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