The Divided Sky
Phish, 1989, from Junta. Solo by Trey Anastasio.
A largely composed instrumental whose closing solo is one of the band's most anticipated moments live.
The Divided Sky is mostly composed, a winding instrumental of interlocking parts that owes as much to classical writing as to rock, and on Junta it shows how carefully Phish arranged their early material. Live, the piece is known for a long pause in which the band simply stops and lets the room hang in silence before the music resumes. The closing guitar solo is the reward: Trey Anastasio takes the main melodic material and spins it into a bright, climbing statement that feels both planned and free. Its mix of precision and release made it a set highlight for decades. Listen for how the final solo echoes shapes from the composed sections, tying the improvisation back to the written themes.
The Divided Sky by Phish is featured in our Jam (#17) list. The solo is played by Trey Anastasio and the song was released in 1989.
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Who played the guitar solo on The Divided Sky?
Trey Anastasio played the solo on Phish's The Divided Sky (1989).
What guitar was used on the The Divided Sky solo?
A languedoc, according to widely reported accounts.