46

JerryGarcia

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Mostpeoplewhoplaythebluesareveryconservative.Theystayacertainway.JerryGarciawaspainting
outsidetheframe.HeplayedbluesbutmixeditwithbluegrassandRaviShankar.Hehadcountryand
Spanishinthere.TherewasalotofChetAtkinsinhimgoingupanddownthefrets.Butyoucould
alwayshearathemeinhisplaying.It'slikeputtingbeadsonastring,insteadofthrowingthemarounda
room.Jerryhadatremendoussenseofpurpose.Whenyoutakeasolo,decidewhattosay,getthereand
giveittothenextguy.That'showJerryworkedintheDead.JerrywasthesunoftheGratefulDeadthe
musictheyplayedwaslikeplanetsorbitingaroundhim.Hewasn'tasuperficialguyatall.Itwasalotof
funtoplaywithhim,becausehewasveryaccommodating.He'dgoupanddown;I'dgoleftandright.
AndIcouldtellheenjoyedit,becausetheDeadalwaysinvitedmeback.ByCarlosSantana
KeyTracks:"DarkStar,""Sugaree,""CaseyJones"

47

StephenStills

Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns
"He'samusicalgenius,"NeilYoungoncesaidofStephenStills,hisbandmateandcoleadguitarist
inBuffaloSpringfieldandCrosby,Stills,NashandYoung.Stillsisoneofrock'smostunderrated
guitarists,possiblybecauseofhiswellestablishedreputationasasingersongwriter.Offandonformore
thanfourdecades,hehaschallengedandcomplementedYoung'sferalbreakswithaLatinandcountry
inflectedchime,andashissoaringsolosattherecentBuffaloSpringfieldreunionshowshaveillustrated,
Stillshasneverlosthisfervorforadventurousshredding.Suchwashispullasamusicianthathegot
bothEricClaptonandJimiHendrix(aclosefriendofStills')tomakeguestappearancesonStills'1970
selftitledsolodebuttheonlyalbuminrockhistorytofeaturebothguitargiants."Ilikeallofevery
aspectofperforming,"Stillshassaid."ButIreallyenjoythehelloutofjustgettingupthereandburning
onmyguitar."
KeyTracks:"Bluebird,""CarryOn,""GoBackHome"

John Shearer/Getty Images

Radioheadaretheconsummate21stcenturyrockband,andinJonnyGreenwood,theyhaveoneofthe
21stcentury'sdefiningguitarists:aneffectslovingwizardwhoseendlesslymutablestylehaspoweredthe
band'srestlesstravelsfromtheinterstellarpompof"TheTourist"tothemistyshimmerof"Reckoner."
LiketheEdge,onlyfartheroutintheartrockstratosphere,Greenwoodisaguitarherowithlittle
apparentconnectiontothebluesandlittleinterestinsoloing.He'sbeenknowntoattackthestringswitha
violinbow,andplayssomaniacallythatattimeshe'shadtowearabraceonhisarm.ItwasGreenwood's
gnashingnoiseblaststhatmarkedRadioheadasmorethanjustanothermopeybandon1992's"Creep"
anearlyindicatorofhiscrucialroleinpushinghisbandforward."I'veadmiredhimforalongtime,"
saysRush'sguitaristAlexLifeson."Thewayheweaveshispartsthroughthemelodyofasongisreally
exceptionaljustamazing."
KeyTracks:"Creep,""ParanoidAndroid,""MyIronLung"