Jimi Hendrix

I think much of his hype is because of his early death, and to many people he was more of a guitarist, he was a role model, and people let that influence how they view his music.

If you consider the evolution of electric guitar playing as a step curve, where each groundbreaking guitarist kicks the step up a notch further than it was set before, I think there's a case to be made for the biggest of those steps being the one created by Hendrix.

He may in many ways be outpaced and outshined by a great many guitarists that have come along after him, but not only do they inevitably build on his legacy, but I don't think any individual guitarist I can think of right now - except maybe for Robert Fripp - has created quite as huge a step on that there curve.


Edited by Teaflax - June 06 2006 at 21:29

Teaflax wrote: If you consider the evolution of electric guitar playing as a step curve, where each groundbreaking guitarist kicks the step up a notch further than it was set before, I think there's a case to be made for the biggest of those steps being the one created by Hendrix. He may in many ways be outpaced and outshined by a great many guitarists that have come along after him, but not only do they inevitably build on his legacy, but I don't think any individual guitarist I can think of right now - except maybe for Robert Fripp - has created quite as huge a step on that there curve.

OK, this is twice today you've posted exactly what I wanted to say before I could say it. Stop that!

I think Teaflax is correct regarding Hendrix, he revolutionized guitar playing like no one else.

Edited by RycheMan - June 07 2006 at 13:26

Hendrix was an innovator and was a great all-rounder, in that not only did he write great highly influential music, but he also wrote great lyrics, which is more than can be said for the majority of guitar wizards out there. Besides, all other guitarists have outlived him and we don't know where he would have taken his music to, had he lived. Just think: Hendrix's career was very short-lived but in such a short space he completely started new styles. Technically speaking, have you ever seen/heard live footage of Hendrix playing guitar? Just check out his playing on the Woodstock festival (the added extra footage, not the usual Purple Haze or Star SpanKed Banner bollocks) or Machine Gun on The Band Of Gypsys live album for sheer fluidity?

Speaking strictly in progressive rock terms, Hendrix cannot be placed in such category as he had not yet touched classical music influences - I mean, he died at 27, so who knows whether he'd have taken a direction like McLaughlin, Holdsworth, Fripp, etc who were all blown away when they saw him perform live.

The guy deserves his credit.   
    

Edited by Minkia - June 07 2006 at 16:07

Hendrix's early death really didn't give him much time to develop. He was leaning almost in a proggish direction towards the end.

His influence is unmatched, his playing is not.

Teaflax wrote: If you consider the evolution of electric guitar playing as a step curve, where each groundbreaking guitarist kicks the step up a notch further than it was set before, I think there's a case to be made for the biggest of those steps being the one created by Hendrix. He may in many ways be outpaced and outshined by a great many guitarists that have come along after him, but not only do they inevitably build on his legacy, but I don't think any individual guitarist I can think of right now - except maybe for Robert Fripp - has created quite as huge a step on that there curve.

    
Yes, I too have to quote Teaflax. You hit the nail on the head. There were actually quite a few around him that were incredible (Clapton, Beck, and you could even make a case for Les Paul), but Hendrix broke it wide open.

Everything that could be said has been said. I also agree with Teaflax.

An interesting thing to note is how the guitarsts of today are obsessed with speed and technical ability. Today, that's what people look at when they decide on who's the best guitarist in their opinions. However, just as Teaflax said, one has to consider the influence the guitarist has had on music. People tend to forget that rock music probably wouldn't sound like it does today if Hendrix had not revolutionized guitarplaying the way he did back in the 60's. Because back then, people saw Hendrix the way we see people like Steve Vai or John Petrucci today. And as guitarplaying evolves, it is possible that they too won't be as highly regarded in 35 years.

One thing about Hendrix that people tend to forget is that he actually was a talented songwriter. People who only have heard songs like Purple Haze or Little Wing tend to dismiss his lyrics as weird. But those two songs represent a minority of all the material he's written. There are more than a few gems of songwriting within Hendrix's catalog, and if he hadn't died such a sudden and unfortunate death, he probably would have developed greatly as a songwriter over the years.

Empathy wrote: Can you imagine if he had formed a band with Bootsy Collins? Would that not have been the trippiest, funkiest, mind-melting-liest thing you've ever heard?

Wow. That would sure be something. They'd probably have turned out some really awesome stuff...