Fender’s CEO seems to think your bandmates are just analog AI

Published 2 August 2026 · tech

Edward “Bud” Cole speaks in Japan in 2023. | Image: Jun Sato/WireImage Fender CEO Edward "Bud" Cole gave an interview to T3 in May celebrating

Edward “Bud” Cole speaks in Japan in 2023. | Image: Jun Sato/WireImage Fender CEO Edward "Bud" Cole gave an interview to T3 in May celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Telecaster with comments on AI and music that initially flew under the radar.

But it has started making the rounds recently, pouring more fuel on an already raging fire of bad PR following the company pissing off basically the entire guitar-playing community by sending cease-and-desist letters to builders, claiming copyright of the Stratocaster body shape.

Some influential guitar YouTubers have even said they're done buying Fender gear in the wake of the controversy. And Cole's resurfaced comments comparing cover songs

and bandmates to a sort … Read the full story at The Verge.

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