Why did Ed stop playing guitar on stage? Options

[PillarOfDavidson]

Long ago, especially during the MJ and TC days on tour, he played guitar alongside Chad. But somewhere along the line, whether it was after SS or TDTH, he stopped playing guitar live. That's also when they started bringing other guitarists on for the tours.

That's just something I've always wondered and never really knew.

[SecretInsomnia]

Well Ed certainly didnt stop playing the guitar, he only stopped playing it at some songs.
He played the acoustic guitar a lot (TMH, STD, The River, RTTW) and now and then the electric Les Paul guitar, for example on Shit Towne, Waitress, LaS, Rattlesnake and last year even on I Alone and Lift Me Up.
But you're right he used to do it at most of the songs (watch the 1994 Brazil show on youtube).
I think it was in the Pinkpop 2000 interview that he explains why he doesnt play guitar on every song anymore (I downloaded it on LiveRockSpace). It had indeed to do with being more of a frontman, being able to talk more running everywhere on the stage and bringing the message Live stood for, etc.
In 1998 they toured with a temporary rythm-guitarist, in 1999 Chad Taylor called Adam if they would like to join them, which he did for 10 years.
Btw, there were also a lot of moments in Live's carreer when they had just 1 single guitar (Chad T's one), for example in 1997 (performing LJ, Iris) and in the very beginning (check the first videos on Awake). I also remember a story of Ed only playing acoustic in the beginning, but he had to go more electric because Live's music became harder post-MJ.