Jimi Hendrix added to proto-prog

Jimi's solo style was so copied that now even Hendrix sounds like a parody of himself, that's what over-exposure will do to you.

I like his natural speech-like flow on the guitar, but he is far from my favorite soloist.

If want to hear someone really expand on what Hendrix brought to the table check out Pete Cosey, the psychedelic guitarist who plays the best solos I have ever heard on Miles albums like Agharta, Dark Magus and others.

The T wrote: I think Hendrix's music is overrated but his prog-connection underrated....   Anyway, he's here. Good.

My feelings exactly, and I have been saying that on this forum since I arrived. The smoke and mirrors surrounding his over-rated hype as a guitar hero (his guitar playing was surpassed long ago) makes it hard for people to remember that he was working side by side and moving in stride with The Nice, Pink Floyd and The Soft Machine while the seeds of prog were being planted.

There has been a 'guided by the masses' revisionist re-make of Jimi's career in which he has become a mundane guitar hero easily replaced by Van Halen or anyone and his real talent as a musical visionary has been dumbed down so he can remain the American cowboy guitar slinger.

Edited by Easy Money - April 11 2009 at 08:10

Great addition. For me Hendrix is one of the fathers of Prog.

 I think the PA would be quite poorer site without Hendrix. He definitely belongs to the "proto-prog".

Petrovsk Mizinski wrote: Okay, fair enough, you don't agree with his addition, to some extent I can sympathize but like you I understand it's not my call or yours either as you said. But when you say "We need significant connection with Progressive Rock", to what extent is "significant"? Is "significant" concrete in this context or subject to opinion? I don't believe either Iron Maiden or Jimi Hendrix have "Significant" connections to Progressive rock and a lot of other people seem to think so too. This tells me, in order to be placed in the prog related or proto prog genres, an artist does not need a significant connection to prog rock, but a connection to a certain extent which is not necessarily "significant" to be eligble for addition. That seems fair, no?

I'm sorry to say, but there's an apparent flaw in your logic. You don't see the significant connection, so you deduce that there is none ... while some other valued and respected collabs (including M@x) obviously see this connection.

I've seen this so many times before. In the end these prog-related additions are always done with the support of only *some* collabs, and the others will have to bite their lips and live with them ... the upside being that some day an artist that they approve of might be added as prog-related, and others (who might be in support of Hendrix now) will have to bite their lips.

Are people getting somewhat desensitized or are we in the midst of Hendrix fans, this addition seems to be far less controversial than - in my opinion! - more legitimate past additions like Beatles or Metallica (which of course was added in PR, not PP).  Not that I am protesting this at all, Hendrix certainly deserves to be in the Proto-Prog category, in my opinion again.

Prog Ears beat us to it by a good margin; but he is here. How prog or not he is can probably be discussed until the sun goes supernova, but his influence on psychedelic music as well as progressive music is undeniable - indeed few have influenced rock music in general to the extent he did.

manofmystery wrote: so if we are putting in every artist people enjoy and don't always fit the norm can I nominate the Charlie Daniels Band be put somewhere, maybe a new zany subgenre can be added   don't get angry, i realize i've no say, just venting

All I can say is that it's about time.  The man turned the music world upside down.  I'll enjoy revisiting his albums for my reviews.  The Prog Gods are smiling.

I think it is a good edition as well.  And as impressive as Jimi was with his guitar playing, the two guys playing behind him in both incarnations were pretty darn good too and also performed some progressive music in their own right.