My son had a guitar — acoustic — for several years but the instrument never really captured his imagination. Not, that is, until a neighbor sold us her old electric. That guitar looked cool even when I held it; but in Charlie’s hands, its capacity to astonish is infinite. There is just something awe-inspiring about an electric guitar under the command of someone who loves music and knows how to make a wood body and metal strings sing for its life. MICHAEL MOLENDA audio excerpt: "Sometimes I think guitar heroes have just been touched by angels... That all-encompassing desire to communicate through music is certainly a factor."  I think most rock fans will agree that the 1970s generation of guitarists were a special bunch. They studied those that came before them, adapted. imitated and invented their own generational sound. Oh, sure, some played solos that went on too long and were nothing more than egocentric stroking at times. But not the men – and Bonnie Raitt and June Millington – who are featured in a swell read called Guitar Player Presents Guitar Heroes of the ‘70s. The book compiles legendary interviews with legendary players including Jeff Beck, Jerry Garcia Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Roy Buchanan, Brian May, Carlos Santana, Frank Zappa and many, many more. I invited Michael Molenda, editor of Guitar Player and this sweet volume, to talk about the unique talents assembled in this book and how they stack up to the players of today. Michael Molenda • • •