How to get the notoriously reticent/monosyllabic J Mascis to open up? Easy - just ask him to talk about his guitar heroes, as Andrew Daly did for Guitar World.
The resulting list is (perhaps inevitably) a sausagefest and features some very familiar faces including Jimi Hendrix, Tommy Iommi, Ron Asheton, Keith Richards and Bob Dylan ("underrated" as a guitar player, Mascis reckons) - but there are also some more intriguing picks, such as Paul Kossoff of Free, Bones from Discharge and Wipers' Greg Sage. Having seen Bob Mould live on a couple of occasions, I know exactly what Mascis means when he says "[h]is guitar sound is one where it just feels like the guitar is everywhere in the room".
For what it's worth, Mascis himself would occupy a prominent position on my own list, were I asked to compile one - particularly for his incredible, unique playing on Where You Been, the album that is this year celebrating its 30th birthday.
Also turning 30 this year is the Breeders' record Last Splash, and to mark the occasion they've released a version of 'Divine Hammer' featuring Mascis and duly rechristened 'Divine Mascis'. Apparently, it's been kicking around for years, after the band sent him the track expecting him to contribute some trademark chug-and-solo, only for it to be returned with the vocals swapped out for his own. He might rarely crack a smile, but clearly he's got a sense of humour...
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