And anyone who doubts the power of the guitar’s “voice” to transcend genres and generations need only watch Page, the Edge, and White trading solos on one another’s songs. It’s a visceral thrill, for the viewer and — you can tell — the player.
“These are men who use words as a second language,” says Guggenheim. “The guitar and its huge vibrations speak for them the most. When I watch the movie, I look at their eyes as the others play. It’s an unspoken respect and fondness and awe that moves me.”
Lately, living in a tiny studio apartment and not wanting to annoy my wife with my cloddish guitar playing, I’ve been making do by putting on headphones and playing a Guitar Hero knockoff game on my iPhone. After this movie, I went home and restrung my Alvarez. For a while, it did get loud.
