Will Wallner




Will Wallner is an English rock guitarist and songwriter. His main influences are Ritchie Blackmore, Gary Moore and John Sykes. He began playing guitar at age 16 and received his first "real guitar", a Gibson Les Paul Custom, which he has played his entire career, at the age of 18. He began playing guitar by ear, then had taken his first formal guitar lessons from a rock guitar teacher in his home town of Devon, England. He joined his first band Faustus, recording several songs and playing one show before the group disbanded. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Colyton Grammar School and a graduate of the University of Portsmouth with a BSc in Music and Sound Technology and has also studied at the Musicians Institute, in Hollywood. Since 2012 he has been a regular contributor to Guitar World magazine with his weekly blog 'Bent Out of Shape'. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Since 2011 he has worked with Croatian singer Vivien Vain. Their debut album 'Will Wallner & Vivien Vain' was released on 8 October 2012 via Metal Mind Productions. The album was mixed by Gary Tole and features several guest musicians including Carmine Appice, Vinny Appice, Rudy Sarzo, Derek Sherinian, Jimmy Bain, Brian Tichy, Tony Carey and Tony Franklin.The song 'Streets of Rage' is the first and only studio recording to feature both Vinny Appice And Carmine Appice on drums. The album cover features both musicians photographed by legendary photographer Glen La Ferman.
On 11 November 2014 he released his second solo album featuring Vivien Vain on vocals. The album title 'The Battle Of Clyst Heath' was inspired by the battle of Clyst Heath during the Wars of the Roses. The album also features two cover songs. The first is a guitar arrangement of the soundtrack to cult science fiction film Blade runner original composed by Vangelis. The second is a cover of Gary Moore's 'The Loner' which features Moores former band members Don Airey and Neil Murray. Other guests on the album include Carmine Appice, Vinny Appice, Tony Franklin and Bjorn Englen.
In 2012 he recorded several sessions with Grammy Award winning producer Bob Kulick
From 2012 to 2013 he toured and recorded as lead guitarist for White Wizzard. His first show with the band was in Shibuya, Tokyo on 12 May 2012 at Club Quattro. In 2012 he toured North America and Canada and was featured on their single 'Torpedo of Truth'. In 2013 he recorded guitar solos for White Wizzard's new album "The Devils Cut". The album was produced by Ralph Patlan. 'The Devils Cut' was released on 3 June in Europe via Earache records and on 25 June in North America via Century Media Records. He toured North America and Europe in support of the release and left the band in October 2013.
He is currently endorsed by Bare Knuckle Pickups which are manufactured in South West England where he grew up.
From 2014 to 2019 he lived in Berlin, Germany where owned and ran his own company, Escape Game Enterprises Ltd. The company has operated Live Escape Game locations in Brighton, England and Berlin, Germany. Wallner designed several Escape Game missions including 'Ghost of Kunsthof' and 'Murder in Metropolis'
In 2015 he published a memoir titled 'The Howling Company'. The book focused on his childhood pets and his love for animals.
In 2018 he released a solo EP titled 'Phthalo Blues' which featured science fiction inspired rock and heavy music. The EP also featured the instrumental tack 'Berlin Blues', which was inspired from his time living in Berlin, Germany.
In 2019 he created the cyberpunk comic book series Wild Frontier.