We check out some of the latest signature gear release announcements from the last week, starting with the new EMG Tom Morello Arm the Homeless pickup set. Also this week, the new Rex Brown Signature Bass from Spector was announced. Finally, the Official Ramones 50th Anniversary Tribute was over the weekend, and we look at the highlight of the show: the Cretin Family.
Guitar Journal
Arm the Homeless
EMG has just officially released the Tom Morello Arm the Homeless pickup set. These active pickups are based on the same model he uses in his Fender signature model of the same name, which came out at the end of 2025.
“A lot of times, guitar players think they have to have the most manly, alpha, distorted sound in order to be heavy. That’s not the trick. It’s the tone, and the chemistry of the people you play with. And so with this pickup, there was a springiness to the tone, a funkiness to the tone with the way that I played. It has made fields of people bounce up and down over the course of the last three decades.” – Tom Morello
Active Rage
This unique combination of EMG pickups includes the 85 bridge pickup paired with an EMG H in the neck position ( an EMG S single-coil in a humbucker-sized housing). The first time that this combination has been made available togther as a signature set.
Priced at $249 a set, they are available to order now. Perfect for fans of Rage Against The Machine, who don’t need a signature guitar but want some of Morello’s signature tone.
Rex Brown
This week, the new Euro 4 Rex Brown Signature Bass from Spector was revealed, and this model comes loaded with a set of EMG PJ-X pickups and has the Spector TonePump active preamp.
Lightweight – Heavy Tone
The Pantera bassist has opted for a significantly lighter-weight bass. It achieves this by pairing a flame maple top with lightweight empresswood body wings.
Visually, this model stands out with a striking Desert Gold finish (a direct nod to the New Mexico landscape Brown calls home). Built for aggressive sustain and stability, the bass features Spector’s proven neck-through design with a solid three-piece maple neck, paired with an Indian rosewood fretboard and a brass nut.
Signature Details
It features gold hardware, smoke crown inlays, and exclusive branding, including the vintage script Spector logo and Brown’s personal insignia on the back of the headstock.
It costs $3599.99 and is available to order now.
Cretin Family
On August 30th, the Los Angeles Hollywood Forever Cemetery hosted a sold-out, star-studded milestone: The Official Ramones 50th Anniversary Tribute. Hosted by screen icon John Travolta and co-presented by Ramones Productions, the event celebrated half a century since the release of the legendary punk band’s debut album.
Billie Joe Armstrong & co
The night’s centerpiece was the live debut of Cretin Family, an unprecedented punk supergroup. The lineup featured Tim Armstrong (Rancid), Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Travis Barker (Blink-182), and CJ Ramone playing together for the very first time to deliver a blistering set of Ramones classics. Plus, Billy Idol came and sang a few numbers with the band, sneering as usual.
Armstrong has been in the news a lot in the last few weeks due to his latest signature Marshall Dookie amp head and another Epiphone signature model, this time in Radiant Red!
Official Ramones 50th Anniversary Tribute
This live set was the perfect celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Ramones’ first album, released in April 1976, and it looks like everyone had a lot of fun. The setlist was jam-packed with classics, so the audience really lucked out with this one.
A great day for fans of the Ramones and pop punk! Check out the full setlist: it is pretty impressive.
The Cretin Family (Featuring Various Guests) Live in Los Angeles – August 30, 2026
- “Durango 95”
- “Rockaway Beach”
- “Cretin Hop”
- “Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment”
- “Do You Wanna Dance?” (Bobby Freeman cover)
- “The Crusher” (Dee Dee King cover)
- “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.” (Motörhead cover)
- “Danny Says” — featuring Fred Armisen
- “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker”
- “Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio?” — featuring Jason Freese
- “California Sun” (Joe Jones cover) — featuring The Linda Lindas
- “I Wanna Be Sedated” — featuring The Linda Lindas
- “Commando”
- “Havana Affair”
- “Oh Oh I Love Her So”
- “Surfin’ Bird” (The Trashmen cover)
- “Beat on the Brat” — featuring Billy Idol
- “Ready Steady Go” (Generation X cover) — featuring Billy Idol
- “Blitzkrieg Bop” — featuring Billy Idol
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