Why Jimi Hendrix is so Important

[fhm555]

Neither Billy Gibbons nor Buddy Guy are rock guitarists...Eddie Van Halen influenced more kids to take up the guitar than anybody in history...

If you think Gibbons and Guy are not rock guitarists, you've never seen them live. As for Eddie and his influence on kids, I'd say Elvis and Buddy Holly inspired more kids than Eddie.

Tom Morello recently said Ace Frehley influenced more kids to take up guitar than any other guitarist in history. Apparently the influence of individual guitarists as inspiration for kids to take up guitar is as subjective an opinion as who is the "best" guitarist.

 

[mellowinman]

One other thing, Jimi was a great artist and he did change rock music, but he was not a very good guitarist in an absolute sense. Great guitarists are people like Steve Morse and Brent Mason -- If you put either of those guys in a Hendrix band they kill it. I'd like to see Jimi try his hand at Cruise Missile!

I'm sorry, but this argument, for me, has little merit. Nobody had ever played guitar like that before him, and the greats of the era were amazed by his chops. To say he was "not a very good guitarist" in any sense is simply absurd. Steve Morse may possibly have more technical skill, but he doesn't have anywhere near as much soul and expression. Playing a musical instrument, especially in rock music, is not about technical skill. It's about saying something that matters. Jimi Hendrix, in a very short career said more than any guitarist before or since. I don't know who Brent Mason is, and I don't know what Cruise Missile is.

I have never heard a top-notch player who didn't muddle their way through Jimi's songbook before becoming the player they became.

 

[mellowinman]

If you think Gibbons and Guy are not rock guitarists, you've never seen them live. As for Eddie and his influence on kids, I'd say Elvis and Buddy Holly inspired more kids than Eddie.

Tom Morello recently said Ace Frehley influenced more kids to take up guitar than any other guitarist in history. Apparently the influence of individual guitarists as inspiration for kids to take up guitar is as subjective an opinion as who is the "best" guitarist.

And that IS important. It is very subjective. I did this thread to express my feelings about why Jimi Hendrix is so important, and that's why I titled the thread as I did, and not "Jimi Hendrix is the Best Guitarist."

Now, granted, I started off my Opinion Piece with the line, "Jimi Hendrix is the greatest rock guitarist of all time," and I stand by that. I didn't say "best guitarist." I said "greatest rock guitarist of all time." And I stated in the OP why I believe that.

I don't mind at all if people disagree; it's not much of an argument if it doesn't hold up to counterpoint.

 

[king_biscuit]

If you think Gibbons and Guy are not rock guitarists, you've never seen them live. As for Eddie and his influence on kids, I'd say Elvis and Buddy Holly inspired more kids than Eddie.

Tom Morello recently said Ace Frehley influenced more kids to take up guitar than any other guitarist in history. Apparently the influence of individual guitarists as inspiration for kids to take up guitar is as subjective an opinion as who is the "best" guitarist.

I can see all of them live I want on youtube. They are not rock guitarists and they do not play in rock bands. I think one of the reason people get so jazzed up about guys like them is that they are approachable. Any kid with a guitar can lean any ZZ Top song -- or Hendrix song for that matter -- rather easily -- if a bit crudely. What kind of chance would those kids have with Al DeMeola or Eric Johnson?

 

[mellowinman]

Hendrix was not just a great guitarist and songwriter, he was also perhaps the greatest rock star. Every kid with a guitar ever since has dreamed of being that cool, that iconic, that god-like figure. Sure, it's all show business BS, but Jimi was, still is, a symbol for what rock and roll is all about.

About his music being "progressive"; I'd say it was "space rock", which was what immediately led to prog. Like Pink Floyd and Hawkwind, but heavier and bluesier. Just my opinion.

Anyway, I understand people not digging the music. Something different for everyone. And you simply can't talk someone into liking what they don't. As a life-long Rush fan, believe me, I know this.

But for those of us who love Jimi, we live a happier life for it.

You ain't just whistling Dixie with that last line, my friend.

There are a lot of musicians I love, but none so much as Mr. Hendrix. Not because of who he was as a person, but who he was as an artist.

 

[Atlanta Dave]

I think Hendrix's music stands the test of time and as the OP said, he played guitar, sang and arranged. Of course he had a pretty darn good bass player in Redding. Stevie Ray Vaughan is another guitarist who left us too soon and who also inspired many to take up blues/rock guitar.

 

[mellowinman]

I can see all of them live I want on youtube. They are not rock guitarists and they do not play in rock bands. I think one of the reason people get so jazzed up about guys like them is that they are approachable. Any kid with a guitar can lean any ZZ Top song -- or Hendrix song for that matter -- rather easily -- if a bit crudely. What kind of chance would those kids have with Al DeMeola or Eric Johnson?

There is little evidence kids with guitars want to play Al DiMeola or Eric Johnson.

 

[king_biscuit]

I'm sorry, but this argument, for me, has little merit. Nobody had ever played guitar like that before him, and the greats of the era were amazed by his chops. To say he was "not a very good guitarist" in any sense is simply absurd. Steve Morse may possibly have more technical skill, but he doesn't have anywhere near as much soul and expression. Playing a musical instrument, especially in rock music, is not about technical skill. It's about saying something that matters. Jimi Hendrix, in a very short career said more than any guitarist before or since. I don't know who Brent Mason is, and I don't know what Cruise Missile is.

I have never heard a top-notch player who didn't muddle their way through Jimi's songbook before becoming the player they became.

"Feel," and "saying something" are personal and really subjective. I encourage you to check out Brent Mason, and a whole host of other great serious players. I love Hendrix too, and he was influential, but he was a great artist, not a great guitarist. My opinion.

 

[king_biscuit]

There is little evidence kids with guitars want to play Al DiMeola or Eric Johnson.

None today want to play Hendrix either, sadly

 

[Nev375]

While I agree with all of Mellowinman's points, I'm not sure that is the definition of "Greatest".

I don't believe art can be quantified, nor should anyone waste their time in trying. Because if it can, then art becomes nothing more than a cheap sport. And if that happens, then the winners will be tallied and declared. And while we wait for someone to come along and break the record of greatest, we will have to invent new statistics so that another artist can come up a winner in some category just so we have something worthwhile to listen to.

I like art being fuzzy and un-quantifiable. Hendrix is obviously greatest in Mellowinman's mind and he is certainly not alone in that opinion. Personally, I think Eddie Van Halen is and always was a hack guitarist, the same as Dave was a hack singer. The fact that others may disagree with me does not invalidate my opinion even if I am outnumbered. For you can't quantify art by popularity among the masses either. If that were true then there would only be good music on the radio and American-idol type TV shows would be worth watching.

Art just is what it is. It is only good if it stirs the soul inside you.

 

[mellowinman]

"Feel," and "saying something" are personal and really subjective. I encourage you to check out Brent Mason, and a whole host of other great serious players. I love Hendrix too, and he was influential, but he was a great artist, not a great guitarist. My opinion.

Years ago, a good friend and fellow Led Zeppelin fanatic asked me, (as a musician,) if I believed anyone was as good a guitarist as Jimmy Page. I said, "well I can think of one guy who's better, and his name is Roy Clark."

We can get into who is the best guitar player all day long, and it would be subjective.

I would put, as contenders, such names as Roy Clark, Al DiMeola, Chet Atkins, and all kinds of luminous names on the list.

But Jimi Hendrix WAS a great guitarist, by just about any definition.

And, he was very important.

 

[kzr750r1]

Arguing semantics is not going to win anyone over. Either you love his music or you don’t. I overdosed on Hendrix and others to the point I don't listen often. But as players? Musicians? You have to hold some respect for a guy that broke ground in composition and showmanship.
I was born a decade too late and was witness to the apex of the players Hendrix influenced.
I feel as some others here there has been a load of garbage thrown at the public that was never intended to see the light of day. My band is recording every rehearsal to learn and improve our craft. Hendrix did the same.
So if you love his music or hate his music at a bare minimum must respect him for what he was able to pull off.

 

[mellowinman]

None today want to play Hendrix either, sadly

Sure they do.

Here's my band's guitar player, when he was about 22:



I doubt you'll hear him playing an Al DiMeola!

 

[king_biscuit]

I would put, as contenders, such names as Roy Clark, Al DiMeola, Chet Atkins, and all kinds of luminous names on the list.

Agreed, all great guitarists. Here is a taste of Brent Mason btw:



Not that I am even that big of a Brent Mason fan. How cool is Michael Rhodes though!

 

[king_biscuit]

Sure they do.

Here's my band's guitar player, when he was about 22:

I doubt you'll hear him playing an Al DiMeola!

I seriously doubt he could. Shoot him the link to the Brent Mason tune above, and have him post a video of himself knocking that out of the park.

 

[fhm555]

I can see all of them live I want on youtube. They are not rock guitarists and they do not play in rock bands. I think one of the reason people get so jazzed up about guys like them is that they are approachable. Any kid with a guitar can lean any ZZ Top song -- or Hendrix song for that matter -- rather easily -- if a bit crudely. What kind of chance would those kids have with Al DeMeola or Eric Johnson?

Youtube is the same as live? With that mindset it's little wonder you think like you do.

Before ZZ Top adopted the corny beards and goofy suits, they were three young guys who rocked down any house they played. In one of his appearances on the Dick Cavett show Jimi Hendrix was asked about being the greatest guitarist in rock. He said he'd just seen the greatest guitarist in rock and it was not him. When asked who it was he said it was that young cat in the Moving Sidewalks. That was Billy Gibbons he was talking about.

As for Buddy Guy, you are partially right, he is not (just) a rock guitarist, him, and every band I've ever seen him with were whatever kind of band Buddy wanted them to be, and covered everything from rock to blues to soul to country, and whatever else he wanted to play, and did it all very well.

IMO a band like Van Halen verges on boredom due to the very narrow slot they live in. With few exceptions their songs are interchangeable in their sameness.

As for the rest of the above, it explains why you believe the things you do. Oh and BTW Al Di Meola and Eric Johnson are not rock guitarists, and technical prowess is simply proof of dedication to craft, not artistic ability.

 

[mellowinman]

I seriously doubt he could. Shoot him the link to the Brent Mason tune above, and have him post a video of himself knocking that out of the park.

I'm having some trouble understanding the relevance of this. What would be the value in Arthur spending countless hours learning a song like that?

I didn't start this thread to debate who is the best guitar player. I started this thread to express why Jimi Hendrix is so important.

Jimi Hendrix MAY not be the Greatest Rock Guitar Player of all Time, (although I still believe he absolutely is,) but Brent Mason, Al DiMeola, Billy Gibbons, Steve Morse, Chet Atkins, and all the other players we mentioned, (with the exception of Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen,) are not even CONTENDERS.

No one is arguing that, are they?

 

[GregT]

Way, way before Jimi was Django Rinhardt. If you read about who he was, what he went through, and listen to what he could play with only two workable fingers and two that sort of worked, you will see another great guitarist long gone. I think he was the greatest guitarist of his era. But this is about Jimi, isn't it!....

I agree that Jimi was the greatest inspiration to electric guitarists of my lifetime. He definitely came out of left field and made it look easy. Even if you don't like what he played, you can turn it off and watch him as a showman. In an era where studio musicians recorded so much of the music we listen to, there is no doubt who played guitar on his albums.

 

[fnordlyone]

this makes jimi special:



He was moving to progressive tunes in the last era
a player, not the best, or whatever… just a damn fine player and writer.
fnord!

 

[king_biscuit]

Youtube is the same as live? With that mindset it's little wonder you think like you do.

Before ZZ Top adopted the corny beards and goofy suits, they were three young guys who rocked down any house they played. In one of his appearances on the Dick Cavett show Jimi Hendrix was asked about being the greatest guitarist in rock. He said he'd just seen the greatest guitarist in rock and it was not him. When asked who it was he said it was that young cat in the Moving Sidewalks. That was Billy Gibbons he was talking about.

As for Buddy Guy, you are partially right, he is not (just) a rock guitarist, him, and every band I've ever seen him with were whatever kind of band Buddy wanted them to be, and covered everything from rock to blues to soul to country, and whatever else he wanted to play, and did it all very well.

IMO a band like Van Halen verges on boredom due to the very narrow slot they live in. With few exceptions their songs are interchangeable in their sameness.

As for the rest of the above, it explains why you believe the things you do. Oh and BTW Al Di Meola and Eric Johnson are not rock guitarists, and technical prowess is simply proof of dedication to craft, not artistic ability.

Early ZZ Top is edgy Charlie Daniels-esq country/blues. As far as the rest of your post, ok.