I like Hendrix but.....

jbitzel · 03-03-2010, 01:21 AM

First off I love Jimi Hendrix. I have at least 5-6 of his CDs that I paid hard earned money for.

But am I the only one who think he is overrated? I mean He really did slay it but sometimes I feel as though he lacked a tiny bit of precision that some other virtuosos had. Of course his style was very loose and expressive compared to most. But does his talent as a performer and artistic expression hide any imperfections.

I guess I am trying to get at the idea that I don't recall any solid clean blow me away compositions from him. Compared to someone like say Knoppfer who had very precise solid lead playing. Much like I have never seen a Jackson Pollock painting that made me think he ranked as high as he does.

I could be way off base and I am prepared for the backlash......

Underdog · 03-03-2010, 01:25 AM

Wow... I used to think I was the only one who thought like that! I appreciate him and all but he seemed to be more than a bit sloppy in his playing. Call me a Commie but I just don't think he is the be all and end all so many have made him out to be.

Silimtao · 03-03-2010, 01:39 AM

Well, here's what I said on the subject. This topic comes up over and over again.

>Hendrix underrated? I doubt half the members here in this forum would be here w/out Hendrix. Just about everyone's guitar hero mentioned by any member- well, THEIR guitar hero was Hendrix. Why is that? Because Hendrix revolutionized rock guitar. Parenthetically, Hendrix owes a lot of his success to Lennon and McCartney because when Hendrix was playing England, it was both John and Paul that were calling their rock buddies and saying, "Jimi's playing tonight, be there." I read an interview with Clapton, and Clapton said when he first heard Hendrix, he was ready to give up playing.

So, yeah, I'd say also, "you had to have been there." It's a matter of context. When you hear someone, and have no one to compare them to, you know there's something special.

And since Zep was mentioned, I disagree there also. Zep was unique in their brand of rock, possibly creating a new genre. Though I'm not crazy about Page individually, the band as a unit kicked ass. As did the Who, Cream, Kinks (first punk band, imo)- pre-70's, there's not that many.<< The full post is here, but we were talking about other things too: Over-rated guitarists

It's a you hadda be there kinda thing.

jbitzel · 03-03-2010, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silimtao

Hendrix underrated? I doubt half the members here in this forum would be here w/out Hendrix. Just about everyone's guitar hero mentioned by any member- well, THEIR guitar hero was Hendrix.

Don't take this the wrong way but thats a canned answer. Did he inspire yes of course but to hinge everything on one artist is a little irresponsible. Would Hendrix exist without Robert Johnson, of course he would. Did Hendrix inspire and piss off Clapton to no end when he found out that while Clapton was touring America Hendrix stole his whole country by storm, yes.

Did he change rock and bring blues/funk/r&b to the main stream yes. Did he invent distortion and the riff. No, actually Clapton beat him to it Cream had combined Blues with blistering loud distortion slightly before the experience was even formed. Besides I did claim that he slayed it and Hendrix has almost no peers when it comes to expression. I was just begging to look outside the box and evaluate Hendrix objectively. I already know that he is a legend that everyone looks up to.

Just for the record Silimtao, I don't disagree with you. I'm just looking to see if there are any chinks in the armor.

HairyBear · 03-03-2010, 02:41 AM

For his class and his era he perfected it as well as he couldve man. Different periods of history, different genres, different perfectors. I definatly wouldnt say hes overated man. I think its the way he controlled the crowd dude.

HairyBear · 03-03-2010, 02:44 AM

perhaps the freddy mercury of guitars?

Telewanger · 03-03-2010, 02:56 AM

I know that Hendrix had a huge influence on Rock music, but I never listened to him growing up, and still have never listened to him very much, unless he happened to be on the radio. I guess I just didn't get into pre-70's music at all. At home we had Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Boston, Kansas, Styx, Bad Company, Rush, Yes, Fleetwood Mac, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Jethro Tull, Dolly Parton, Deep Purple, Foghat, and stuff like that.

This 29 year old dope addict / drunk down the street had a 1959 Les Paul Jr. and a Gibson amp. I used to sneak over and hear him play. He played Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, etc. When my mom found out, she beat my ass for 3 days.

I just had to get a guitar after watching him. I started learning Rush, Iron Maiden, Dokken, Styx, Triumph, Scorpions, Van Halen, Whitesnake, Dio, Yes, Skynyrd, Black Sabbath, etc., but never Hendrix for some reason.

Silimtao · 03-03-2010, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbitzel

Don't take this the wrong way but thats a canned answer. Did he inspire yes of course but to hinge everything on one artist is a little irresponsible. Would Hendrix exist without Robert Johnson, of course he would. Did Hendrix inspire and piss off Clapton to no end when he found out that while Clapton was touring America Hendrix stole his whole country by storm, yes.

Did he change rock and bring blues/funk/r&b to the main stream yes. Did he invent distortion and the riff. No, actually Clapton beat him to it Cream had combined Blues with blistering loud distortion slightly before the experience was even formed. Besides I did claim that he slayed it and Hendrix has almost no peers when it comes to expression. I was just begging to look outside the box and evaluate Hendrix objectively. I already know that he is a legend that everyone looks up to.

Just for the record Silimtao, I don't disagree with you. I'm just looking to see if there are any chinks in the armor.

I'm not taking it the wrong way. You have an opinion, and I'm offering one as well; there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to something so subjective as music. But Hendrix- he brought something new to the table, as I've said. He didn't create feedback, but he used it in a way no one else had before him. To most guitarists up to that time, feedback was a nuisance. No, Hendrix wasn't as clean in his playing as others; shit, he was out of tune most of the time when playing live, if not tripping. Hendrix isn't even my favorite player to listen to, but I appreciate the influence on millions of people and players.

I think it's difficult to look back and have a fair evaluation of anyone. And it does come down quite a bit to context. Like you weren't alive when JFK was assassinated; I was. Because of that, I have a little bit more perspective, in that, I experienced the mood of the country; the sense of loss. Just like I can't really know how soldiers felt fighting in WWII. It's history I'm reading about. Really, the short answer, no matter which guitarist you look at now that plays rock; it's like playing 8 degrees of Kevin Bacon- all roads lead to Hendrix in one fashion or another. For the most part, IMHO. I'm not sure anyone is hinging everything on him though. I surely don't.

Just like the thread on the 100 greatest guitarists; there's no definitive answer. Only opinions. But it's really difficult to escape his massive influence on rock, and guitarists in particular. Even if someone hates Hendrix, they'd be hard put to deny that influence. And that's really the heart of how I feel about him. He didn't create rock guitar; but he surely nearly reinvented it.

Of course, he's not the ONLY guitarist that influenced other guitarists. But for the most part, it seems the consensus is, among the current great guitarists, everyone is still saying "Hendrix."

Budda · 03-03-2010, 03:36 AM

So, it seems if you're asking a couple of different questions. Overrated Guitarist, or overrated Musician?

Guitarist? Well, I don't know if anyone considers him to be the "Greatest".

Musician? Well, that's a whole other ball o' wax! Maybe not the G.O.A.T. But, definately one of them.
Why? Because Jimi changed not just Rock Musics and Blues, etc. He changed ALL forms of Western Musics. Even Miles Davis was reportedly just sitting in the audience shaking his head and saying "WHAT is that Man doing?" It totally changed Miles' thoughts on Music, and his entire Approach.
It's like this, IMO:

There's 2 definitive Periods in 20th. Century Music, when discussing Jimi.

B.J. and A.J.

Before Jimi and After Jimi.

Of course, I could be wrong. But, that's how I see it.

Parralax view · 03-03-2010, 10:24 PM

I I guess you could be all over the map on Jimi Hendrix, but besides being a great guitarist, he was a great impressionist with his lyrics.. Songs like "Castles made of Sand" are poetic and image masterpieces full of stories that are tragic as well as uplifting. Who cannot be touched by the image of the Indian boy who would be chief the next day, only to be killed the night before.. the irony was unbelieveable for rock music in the early sixties that was still hung up on whether Louie louie had dirty lyrics...

It's fairly simple to be here now comparing his work to now and who can play exceedingly well now. But then, when you first heard his music, it was so different, new, and strange you couldn't help but be drawn in.

He was the Vai, the Satch, the Eddie of the age. And they all leaned on him in their age. Was he a virtuosic player that rang each note perfect, of course not, and he taught alot of us not to be too, which in someways is fantastic. Some of his live performances were painful to listen to, but he was wanting to expand where he was not allowed to go.

As said, Miles Davis was rapt to record with him, when asked what made him want to get with Jimi his answer was both suscinct and vulgur "That motherfukin "Machine gun" man"...

03-03-2010, 01:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
jbitzel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tampa Posts: 968	I like Hendrix but..... First off I love Jimi Hendrix. I have at least 5-6 of his CDs that I paid hard earned money for. But am I the only one who think he is overrated? I mean He really did slay it but sometimes I feel as though he lacked a tiny bit of precision that some other virtuosos had. Of course his style was very loose and expressive compared to most. But does his talent as a performer and artistic expression hide any imperfections. I guess I am trying to get at the idea that I don't recall any solid clean blow me away compositions from him. Compared to someone like say Knoppfer who had very precise solid lead playing. Much like I have never seen a Jackson Pollock painting that made me think he ranked as high as he does. I could be way off base and I am prepared for the backlash...... __________________ Damn right I got the blues! Fender Starcaster 3 tone sunburst, GFS Texas pups, Peavey Vypyr 15

03-03-2010, 01:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Underdog Fighting forum crime! Join Date: May 2009 Location: I live in the 14 inch bar mill and occasionally am allowed to see my wife and kids Posts: 5,609	Wow... I used to think I was the only one who thought like that! I appreciate him and all but he seemed to be more than a bit sloppy in his playing. Call me a Commie but I just don't think he is the be all and end all so many have made him out to be. __________________ Slim, I am NOT Mast! "I love humanity. It's people that I can't stand..." - Linus Van Pelt "Love is the answer, but while you are waiting for the answer sex raises some pretty good questions." - Woody Allen

03-03-2010, 01:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
Silimtao Super Model Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: here Posts: 10,686	Well, here's what I said on the subject. This topic comes up over and over again. >Hendrix underrated? I doubt half the members here in this forum would be here w/out Hendrix. Just about everyone's guitar hero mentioned by any member- well, THEIR guitar hero was Hendrix. Why is that? Because Hendrix revolutionized rock guitar. Parenthetically, Hendrix owes a lot of his success to Lennon and McCartney because when Hendrix was playing England, it was both John and Paul that were calling their rock buddies and saying, "Jimi's playing tonight, be there." I read an interview with Clapton, and Clapton said when he first heard Hendrix, he was ready to give up playing. So, yeah, I'd say also, "you had to have been there." It's a matter of context. When you hear someone, and have no one to compare them to, you know there's something special. And since Zep was mentioned, I disagree there also. Zep was unique in their brand of rock, possibly creating a new genre. Though I'm not crazy about Page individually, the band as a unit kicked ass. As did the Who, Cream, Kinks (first punk band, imo)- pre-70's, there's not that many.<< The full post is here, but we were talking about other things too: Over-rated guitarists It's a you hadda be there kinda thing. __________________ Instant Karma's gonna get you...... If you don't know where you're going, you will probably end up somewhere else. <http://www.xcomment.com/g3/img/poster___boobs052708113237.gif>

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03-03-2010, 02:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
HairyBear a super star Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: My castle, New York City Posts: 198	For his class and his era he perfected it as well as he couldve man. Different periods of history, different genres, different perfectors. I definatly wouldnt say hes overated man. I think its the way he controlled the crowd dude.

03-03-2010, 02:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
HairyBear a super star Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: My castle, New York City Posts: 198	perhaps the freddy mercury of guitars?

03-03-2010, 02:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
Telewanger Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 927	I know that Hendrix had a huge influence on Rock music, but I never listened to him growing up, and still have never listened to him very much, unless he happened to be on the radio. I guess I just didn't get into pre-70's music at all. At home we had Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Boston, Kansas, Styx, Bad Company, Rush, Yes, Fleetwood Mac, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Jethro Tull, Dolly Parton, Deep Purple, Foghat, and stuff like that. This 29 year old dope addict / drunk down the street had a 1959 Les Paul Jr. and a Gibson amp. I used to sneak over and hear him play. He played Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, etc. When my mom found out, she beat my ass for 3 days. I just had to get a guitar after watching him. I started learning Rush, Iron Maiden, Dokken, Styx, Triumph, Scorpions, Van Halen, Whitesnake, Dio, Yes, Skynyrd, Black Sabbath, etc., but never Hendrix for some reason.

03-03-2010, 03:36 AM	#9 (permalink)
Budda Plank Spanker Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 292	So, it seems if you're asking a couple of different questions. Overrated Guitarist, or overrated Musician? Guitarist? Well, I don't know if anyone considers him to be the "Greatest". Musician? Well, that's a whole other ball o' wax! Maybe not the G.O.A.T. But, definately one of them. Why? Because Jimi changed not just Rock Musics and Blues, etc. He changed ALL forms of Western Musics. Even Miles Davis was reportedly just sitting in the audience shaking his head and saying "WHAT is that Man doing?" It totally changed Miles' thoughts on Music, and his entire Approach. It's like this, IMO: There's 2 definitive Periods in 20th. Century Music, when discussing Jimi. B.J. and A.J. Before Jimi and After Jimi. Of course, I could be wrong. But, that's how I see it.

03-03-2010, 10:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
Parralax view Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 1,393	I I guess you could be all over the map on Jimi Hendrix, but besides being a great guitarist, he was a great impressionist with his lyrics.. Songs like "Castles made of Sand" are poetic and image masterpieces full of stories that are tragic as well as uplifting. Who cannot be touched by the image of the Indian boy who would be chief the next day, only to be killed the night before.. the irony was unbelieveable for rock music in the early sixties that was still hung up on whether Louie louie had dirty lyrics... It's fairly simple to be here now comparing his work to now and who can play exceedingly well now. But then, when you first heard his music, it was so different, new, and strange you couldn't help but be drawn in. He was the Vai, the Satch, the Eddie of the age. And they all leaned on him in their age. Was he a virtuosic player that rang each note perfect, of course not, and he taught alot of us not to be too, which in someways is fantastic. Some of his live performances were painful to listen to, but he was wanting to expand where he was not allowed to go. As said, Miles Davis was rapt to record with him, when asked what made him want to get with Jimi his answer was both suscinct and vulgur "That motherfukin "Machine gun" man"...